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Star Spangled Banner - Smithsonian
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): national anthem (2), war of 1812 (14)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an introductory activity for a lesson on the Flag's creating during a unit on the American Revolutionary War. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard before allowing students to explore it in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Have the students search the site with, answering specific questions on a follow-along (created by you) that encourages them to explore the site in depth. For help with making that follow-along, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here). Afterward, have a class discussion or some sort of reflection piece to allow students to vocalize questions and opinions about the information presented.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Lost in the Grand Canyon - PBS
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Try this one as a "compare and contrast" with Lewis and Clark's expedition or today's adventurers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Celebrating Yom Kippur - Katherine Neer - howstuffworks
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): holidays (292), yom kippur (14)
In the Classroom
Include this site as a resource as you study religious traditions and celebrations of different cultures. Consider using Read Ahead, reviewed here, to share this information with students. Next, ask students to compare religious traditions in different cultures. Create a comparison/contrast "map" to promote cross-cultural understanding. Replace paper and pencil by using a free online tool such as bubbl.us, reviewed here. Student groups can make their own maps or work together as a class on interactive whiteboard. Another idea would be to have students create a holidays and celebrations wiki using TWiki, reviewed here, with different groups explaining events in different cultures. Or try writing children's books to promote cross-cultural understanding. Make the books interactive using an online tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Celebrating Rosh Hashanah - Julia Layton - howstuffworks
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): holidays (292)
In the Classroom
Include this site as a resource as you study religious traditions and celebrations of different cultures. Have students create a holidays and celebrations wiki using TWiki, reviewed here, with different groups explaining events in different cultures. Or try writing children's books to promote cross-cultural understanding. Make the books interactive using an online tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jazz in America - Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1920s (26), 1930s (39), 1940s (68), 1950s (33), 20th century (170), africa (161), african american (130), blues (19), harlem (10), jazz (17)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered on this site! The lesson plans are meant to be taught in American history classes, so search and see how this site can benefit your classroom. Make sure and save this one as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Thoreau Home Page - Walden.org
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): literature (215), thoreau (3)
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Alaska and the Yukon - Quest Connect
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
There is also an accompanying set of lesson plans. If your students can't catch the next flight to Anchorage, this might be the best alternative.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Galileo's Battle for the Heavens - PBS/Nova
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): galileo (6), gravity (55), moon (87), renaissance (36), solar system (126)
In the Classroom
A teachers' guide is in the works, but was unavailable at the time of this review.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Long Walk of Nelson Mandela - PBS Frontline
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): africa (161), biographies (102), Nelson Mandela (29), racism (84), south africa (31)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities offered for ideas on how to integrate this site into your classroom! Students can use Blogger, reviewed here or Google Keep, reviewed here to store and share information they learn. This would be a great resource for almost any social studies teacher.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Adventure Learning Foundation
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
There are lesson plans and links for each expedition.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Who2
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): biographies (102)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a starting point for students working on research projects about a famous historical character. Though the bios are brief, they offer some solid information that could help students in the beginning phases of their research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Energy Kids - U.S. Energy Information Administration
Grades
K to 12tag(s): conservation (104), energy (136), nuclear energy (20), science fairs (22), solar energy (35)
In the Classroom
Have students work in small groups to complete one of the site's hands-on investigations, such as solar, circuits, friction, or energy surveys, then compare their observations and evidence with the expected results. Assign students an inquiry challenge using the site's energy information and recent statistics, then have groups post claims, supporting evidence, questions, and source links on Padlet, reviewed here, for a class-wide evidence board.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Berlin Wall - The Newseum
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1980s (21), 20th century (170), china (79), cold war (40), egypt (60), german (51), germany (25), iran (7), politics (119)
In the Classroom
Teachers should plan on spending ample time previewing the site before using it in class. Initially, view the video as a class and have a discussion. Have small groups choose which of the extension activities they would like to investigate. Allow students to create a final project other than an essay to share their findings and present to the class. Suggest something like an online poster using Genially reviewed here, or a simple infographic using Snappa reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Best of History Web Sites
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): europe (83)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite on your classroom desktop and use it as a reference for virtually everything! It's amazing how many resources they have managed to find - incredibly more helpful than a Google search would have been.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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USS Constitution History - U.S. Navy
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): american revolution (99), boston (10), evolution (85), massachusetts (8), navy (8)
In the Classroom
This one would be great for a study of the American Reovolution, the navy, or the role of the sea in the formation of the nation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Monitor - NOAA The Mariner's Museum
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): civil war (148), museums (58), navy (8), virginia (16)
In the Classroom
Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have them go through the interactive tour of the monitor and take notes, with the end result being shared on Padlet, reviewed here. Padlet offers virtual sticky notes, perfect for collaboration and note-taking. Also, since this site has audio features, be sure to include headphones or earbuds near computers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): jefferson (20), lewis and clark (16)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a lesson on Lewis and Clark and their travels. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard before allowing students to explore the site in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Students can summarize their entire journey, or focus on one specific aspect, such as the explorers interactions with Native Americans. American history teachers will definitely be able to incorporate this one into their classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How Air Force One Works - Howstuffworks
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): aircraft (25), flight (33), presidents (154)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a starting point for students working on research projects or papers on the President and the many services surrounding him. This site has a lot of great information and would be a great springboard for further research. Make sure to include this site on any resource sheets concerning their research!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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FireWise
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): ecosystems (115), environment (245), fire (28), fire prevention (19), fire safety (21)
In the Classroom
As your students study about safety or environmental issues, include this site as a resource. Ask students to create a fire pro and con list as they discuss the more obvious safety issues of fire and the balancing role that fire can play in renewing habitats and nature's cycles. Extend learning by using an online graphic organizer tool such as bubbl.us, to map out the many impacts that wildland fires can have.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Children's Internet Protection and the Courts - A Context - American Library Association
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): freedom of speech (17), internet safety (117), speech (64)
In the Classroom
This would be a great case study for a discussion on freedom of speech.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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