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Project Vote Smart
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): civics (129), college (44), elections (87), electoral college (24)
In the Classroom
Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of representative democracy. Select a few choice politicians from your state through the "Issue Positions" section. This activity would work even better if politicians selected were representative of your local area or hometown. Seperate students into groups and have them research the politicians based on certain issues. We recommend using issues such as crime, guns, and immigration. Have students compare and contrast the politicians stance to voting records in their area, or teachers can have students vote on the issues just in their classroom to determine their own "public opinions." Have the groups compare the public opinion to the voting record of the politician via venn diagram. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram. Have students use their results in a class discussion of the pros and cons of a representative government. Where are potential problems? What are the benefits? This would be extremely useful in a AP Government or Civics course.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Indian Parliament - Government of India
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
A World History or government class could use this site to compare and contrast India's government structure with that of the United States. Share the site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and use an online Venn diagram to compare what they're reading about India to what they already know about the US. Use an online tool such as the 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by ClassTools, reviewed here. This would be a great segue into a discussion of the effects of globalization, the influence of diverse cultures, or even a dialogue on how India came to have the government it does.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Park Photographs - National Park Service
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): images (267), national parks (28), photography (136)
In the Classroom
Use this site to search for images of a particular region being studied in a Physical geography class. These images can be incorporated into lectures, projects, displays, etc. Just research beforehand what parks are in the specific area, and search away!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Art of the Stamp - Smithsonian National Postal Museum
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): africa (162), african american (130)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a lesson on the evolution of mail services in the US, and how services such as the pony express was affected by Westward expansion. Allow students to explore the site on classroom computers, using the stamp template as a formative assessment of their understanding. To make the stamp activity more content-based, have students design their stamps to reflect what they learned rather than allowing them to draw anything they can think of. History teachers will like this one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Great Lakes Maritime History Project - Wisconsin Historical Society
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): wisconsin (5)
In the Classroom
Use this site to teach about the evolution of transportation in the US and how that affected areas such as the Midwest and the Great lakes regions. Search this site for primary sources that could be incorporated into your classroom, illustrating the content. These primary sources could be used to teach both the content and historical thinking skills in your classroom. Divide students into 5-6 groups, with each group assigned a different primary source to read and evaluate. (Sources should come from various perspectives to make the game more interesting) Have the groups present quick summaries of their source to the class, making sure to mention who the author is and whether or not there could be bias. After all have presented, have each team pick a representative to argue in front of the class as to why their source is the most reliable and valid. After all have made their argument, have the class vote off the least reliable "survivor style" until you are left with just one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hidden Pages in Anne Frank's Diary - History
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1940s (70), 20th century (168), anne frank (8), holocaust (42), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
Use this article (includes a video) as a learning center or station during a unit on WWII in a history class or during a study of her book in an English class. This would be a great way to introduce Anne Frank, the exhibit serving to put all students at the same level of understanding of her life. If in need of some sort of assessment to see what students have learned from the site, challenge students to create an online graphic to share using Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Native American Collections at The Bancroft Library - UC Berkeley Library
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): art history (104), native americans (129), painting (49)
In the Classroom
Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of Native American Culture. Besure to see the interactive timeline. It could be used to discuss Native American culture both pre-colonialism and during Westward Expansion. Have students research the site in order to better understand the way Indians have been depicted in modern culture rather than the reality. To show what they have learned from this site, extend learning by challenging students to create an online graphic to share using Visme, reviewed here. Visme allows you to choose to create a video, infographic, charts, and others.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Leaders Speak - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1910s (26), 1920s (17), 20th century (168), elections (87), politics (124), world war 1 (87)
In the Classroom
Beyond the audio files themselves, there is also a "collections connections" section that provides teachers with helpful advice for integrating the speeches into American History, critical thinking, and humanities lessons. Hearing the actual voices can be a powerful experience for students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Smithsonian Education - Smithsonian
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): cultures (290)
In the Classroom
The lesson plans in the educator's section are sorted subject area and cover arts and design, language arts, history and culture, and science and technology. The site also has helpful hints for planning a field trip to the Smithsonian, as well as a searchable database that allows educators to browse the lesson plans in search of a particular subject.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Abolitionism in America - Cornell University
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): abolition (15), africa (162), african american (130), slavery (79)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom, introducing the topic of Abolitionism. Select 10-15 of the more powerful and diverse images, hanging them up in different locations around your classroom. Have students rotate around the classroom every 30-45 seconds, jotting down what they observe and infer about each image until the entire class has completed the circuit. After the class is back in their seats, have a class discussion based on what they observed and what this says about abolitionism as well as slavery. A great way to get students thinking about the content in a way that's more personal and lecture-less!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lewis & Clark Lessons - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): lewis and clark (15)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities for this site! There are a lot of interdisciplinary uses for the tale of Lewis and Clark listed.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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New Perspectives on the West - PBS
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans on this site! Make sure to save it as a favorite on your desktop to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Global Edge - Michigan State University
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): data (211)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for research projects or papers within in an economics or government classroom. Students can use the databases to find important sources. Post the site on your teacher wiki or webpage, allowing them to access the database both in and out of the classroom. Not comfortable with wikis? Have no wiki worries - check out the TeachersFirst's Wiki Walk-Through.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Telling Their Stories
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1940s (70), 20th century (168), holocaust (42), jews (63), world war 2 (169)
In the Classroom
Beyond the obvious testimonials this provides to the content, this site can also be used as the perfect example of how students can complete a similar project. During a modern history unit, select a topic that students have the potential to interview their own family members on. Instead of the typical tape recording, try a new technology similar to one used on the website. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Peter and Paul, and the Christian Revolution - PBS
Grades
7 to 12In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite and use it as a learning center or station. To show what they have learned from this site, challenge students to create an online graphic to share using Visme, reviewed here. This site would be an interesting perspective to examine the monstrosity that was the Roman Empire, and how it impacted areas all over the world.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Egypt's Golden Empire - PBS
Grades
7 to 12In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities offered on this site. This would be a great resource for a World History classroom, middle or high school!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Queen Victoria's Empire - PBS
Grades
7 to 12In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities listed on this page! The interactive game can also be used to help students review for an assessment on Queen Victoria within a learning center or station. This would be useful in a British or World History Classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Greeks - PBS
Grades
7 to 12In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on the Ancient Greeks. Have students explore the site in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Have students research specific aspects of the site, with the intentions of students "teaching" their peers about the many different sections. Have students create paper-posters OR use an online poster creator, such as Padlet (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wide Angle - PBS
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): africa (162)
In the Classroom
Use the short clips or longer episodes on this site to show students real-life issues that are affecting people globally. This would be a great way to have students practically apply information they've learned about American government or NGO's in a government class. Have students look at some of the situations and brainstorm solutions from NGO's or international organizations such as the UN. Not only are students getting an understanding or the practical application or learning about the UN, but it also makes them more aware global citizens.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Islam: Empire of Faith - PBS
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): religions (120)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this site! This is a great way to introduce the background of the Islamic Empire as well as the spread of Islam across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Save this site as a favorite on your classroom desktop to allow for easy access and retrieval of the lesson plans!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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