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Last update: April 8, 2002

All About the European Union - Grades 9-12 - The EU has finally created a web page that provides summary information in a format with which most students can cope. This site is still somewhat Eurocentric, but it outlines the basic principles behind European cooperation and economic interdependence. As such, it could be a valuable starting point for students interested in exploring the future of Europe.

The Balkans - A Beginner's Guide - Grades 6-12 - ABC news created this site to provide background and context on the ongoing crisis in the Balkans. It contains visuals as well as a history of the area's ethnic conflicts.

 

The Battle of Hastings - Grades 6-12 - This extensive site provides a wealth of detail on the Battle of Hastings in 1066, including military, political, and social background on medieval Europe. Great resource for studies of the Norman Conquest, the evolution of English law, or a multidisciplinary look at the middle ages. Privately published.

 

The Berlin Airlift - Grades 5-12 - This site chronicles the airlift that kept West Berlin alive during the period immediately after World War II. Though written from an American perspective, there is coverage of the broader European involvement in one of the first cold war crises.

The Berlin Wall - Grades 6-12 - This highly visual site commemorates the tenth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall. Available in several languages, (we've marked the English version) it provides an interesting perspective on the impact of the wall during the cold war, and the effect of the fall of communism in Europe.

Britannia - British History on the Web - Grades 6-12 - This is a commercial British site which offers an extensive collection of British historical reference materials, including biographies of monarchs and prime ministers, dates, and background information on historical events. This is a great reference source for term papers and other uses.

British History Encyclopedia - Grades 4-12 - A slightly quirky British resource which provides basic information on people and events in British history. We found lots of details on the lives of monarchs and prime ministers, but not a lot of summary information to put it all in context. Good site for details that other overviews might not include.

Discovering New Horizons - Grades 4-8 - This is an elegant, student-developed site that introduces more than a dozen different explorers from Marco Polo to Neil Armstrong, including a number of those who first explored North America. There are explanations of exploration routes, navigation equipment, biographies, and some nice visuals as well. Students will enjoy this one. Both Flash and HTML versions are available.

A Complete History of France - Grades 6-12 -- Here’s a chronicle of French history from the second century BC to the 20^th Century. Information is presented in a clear, organized way. Excellent source for creating timelines.

Genealogy of the Kings & Queens of Europe

The Eiffel Tower Site - Grades 4-12 - C'est Magnifique! Take a cutaway look at all that goes on inside the most famous landmark in Paris. There's also lots of information on the tower itself, and a panoramic view from the top. Might be a nice way to introduce French geography and culture.

The European Union - This is the EU's US web site, describing the Union's goals and activities.

EuroDocs: Primary Historical Documents From Western Europe – Grades 9-12 - This site is a collection of links that connect to Western European (mainly primary) historical documents that are transcribed, reproduced in facsimile, or translated. They shed light on key historical happenings within the respective countries and would be useful to expose students to the use of primary sources in research and history.

 

French Geography -- Grades 6-12 -- This site contains comprehensive information on the geography of France. Includes links to historical, political and social sites. Use this site to create a scavenger hunt for your students to learn the basics of France.

France for Kids - Grades 4-8 - This site from the French Embassy in Washington offers an overview of French education, culture, and history for young people. Neither the formatting nor the writing are particularly "kid friendly," but there's good information here for school reports or general background for foreign language study.

Castles Web Site - Grade 4 and up - Pictures, descriptions, and information on daily life in castles in Europe and the British Isles. Good information for teachers; fun for students.

Castles in Wales - Grade 4 - 8 - A collection of photos and short narratives on Welsh castles. Includes brief discussions of the various purposes for which the structures were built.

 

Discoverers' Web - Grade 4 and up - A starting point for information on explorers. Lots of links to other sites and information.

 

Cybrary of the Holocaust - Grade 6 and up with supervision - A wealth of holocaust information. Confusing layout and design, but the information is there.

Holocaust Timeline - Grade 6 and up with supervision - From The History Place.

Iceland - Grades 6-12 - This site offers a historical and cultural introduction to Iceland, its people, and its culture. Well illustrated, with useful information on each section. Students may need a little help with the cryptic section headings.

Knighthood, Chivalry, and Tournaments - Grades 4-8 - Here's a site for the fans of knights in armor. There are details about life in the middle ages, how knights were expected to behave, how they fought, and their place in society. There are also a number of links to medieval reenactor groups and activities. Great resource for elementary reports and students interested in lots of detail.

 

The Labyrinth: Resources for Medieval Studies - Grades 9-12, AP. This site which is text heavy, provides the student scholar with college-level electronic resources in the field of Medieval Studies. Under development is a section for students in grades K-12.

 

The Marshall Plan - Grades 9-12 - This section from the Library of Congress' American Memory site provides an overview and details of the Marshall Plan for the economic reconstruction of Europe in the years immediately following World War II. It's text-heavy, but there's enough information here for a really good term paper or any student interested in learning about the people and policies which helped rebuild post-war Europe.

A Medieval Technology Timeline - Grades 5-12 - There's more here than meets the eye. This site offers a time-line showing the evolution of simple tools and technologies during the middle ages. Those who are persistent will also find more detailed drawings and explanations of the various implements. This is a great site to show how major changes can arise from simple inventions.

The Middle Ages - Teachers and AP Students - Here's a comprehensive, densely written chronicle of the middle ages, the evolution of monarchies, feudalism, and the escapades of the Normans, Celts, Saxons, etc. Great resource for teachers who need a refresher on the content, or for serious high school research. There are also maps and other useful links and resources.

The Middle Ages - Grades 4 and up - A comprehensive look at the Middle Ages - religion, medicine, food, the arts, entertainment, and daily living. More text than pictures, but an interesting, high-quality presentation. Funded in part by the Annenberg Foundation.

Modern European History - Grades 9-12 - This Shockwave enhanced site from the BBC's education section provides a very concise walk through modern European history (1918 forward). The text - and it's mostly text - is presented in easily-digested segments, and there are supporting maps and other documentation where necessary. The site is particularly useful for its willingness to examine not just what happened, but why it happened. On-line quizzes make the site useful for self-study. You can get the Shockwave browser plug-in from the TeachersFirst Toolbox.

Modern European History Sourcebook - Grades 6-12 - Fordham University has created this outline of European history since about 1500, complete with links to quotable (no copyright) primary documents from various periods. It's an easy to use research resource for term papers or other assignments, and also a simple way to bring historical documents into the classroom.

Number 10 Downing Street - Grades 9-12 - This is the official site of the British Prime Minister, offering current news, the histories of famous prime ministers, and background information on political issues in the United Kingdom. Lots of flash and design; a good site to include in researching British government.

Remembering the Great War - This site from the BBC presents a distinctly European remembrance of World War I. There are links to first-hand accounts, as well as to some of the literature written during the war. It's an appropriate way to show how deeply Europe suffered from the events of that war.

The Renaissance - Grades 4-12 - This offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary introduction to Renaissance life and thought. Developed as part of the Annenberg/CPB project, it exposes students to the interplay of art, philosophy, and science which made the renaissance unique in European history. There is particular emphasis on the Italian renaissance.

The Renaissance - Teachers and AP Students - This elegant site - part of a college-level world culture series - presents the Italian Renaissance and discusses the social, political, and economic trends which contributed to the flowering of renaissance art and culture. Excellent, dense content would be suitable for advanced high school research, or as background reading for teachers working with this subject. From Washington State University.

Discover the Renaissance - Grades 6-12 - Here's a student-designed webquest about the Renaissance that offers lots of different pathways through the content. A useful introduction with links and other related information.

The Renaissance - Grades 4-12 - The Annenberg/CPB Project created this site as a companion to their site on the Middle Ages, listed above. The standards for text and graphics are high, though the presentation loops back on itself at frequent intervals. There are lots of nooks and crannies to explore, and the section on the development of the printing press is especially interesting.

Scottish History - Grades 6-12 - This on-line treatment from the BBC offers lots of depth, particularly in its treatment of early and medieval Scotland. It's not turf that's found in the typical American curriculum, but this site might appeal to students interested in a world cultures report with a different twist. The site could also be useful as background for study of English literature.

Timeline for Western and Central Europe - Grades 6-12 - This site, part of the Web Chron series, offers a concise time line showing major events in European history. It can be particularly useful for students who are only beginning to understand historical sequences and precedent. Many of the events include links to additional information.

The Tower of London - Grades 4-12 - While not designed explicitly as an educational tool, this site has features that will appeal to all ages. Elementary students will enjoy the images and maps; older students can make use of the extensive text describing the many facets of the Tower's 1,000 year history. Requires Shockwave, which is available from the TeachersFirst Toolbox.

Tudor England - Grades 9-12 - Long articles and lots of detail are available in this comprehensive "labor of love" about the Tudors and their rule of England. The site could be useful in conjuction with a study of Shakespeare or other English literature, or as part of a unit on European history of the period. Lots of research material as well, including bibliographic sources.

The World of the Vikings - Grades 4-12 - This British site is home base for a collection of Viking and Norse links, mostly from Europe and Scandinavia. They cover academic topics, history of sailing vessels, and even Viking re-enactors (!) The information is uneven but interesting, and often requires a little digging. Nonetheless, it's a good starting point.

Ukraine Information and Resources - Grades 6-12 - This site offers a collection of cultural, government, and economic information and resources about the Ukraine. It includes information on the roles of women, as well as a historical chronology of the nation.

Yugoslavia and the Balkans - Grades 7-12 - This BBC site presents an elegant retracing of the history of the Balkans and their ethnic divisions. While it concentrates on the present, the information includes timelines going back hundreds of years which show the origins of many present-day conflicts. Good resource for teachers or students working individually or in groups.

 

Victorian Web Overview - Target: Senior High - This site is a Victorian treasure-trove! This is a great resource for the politics, economics, religion, philosophies, literature, arts, sciences and technologies of the times. The "Victorian Web Search Engine" scouts out specifics such as info on The Crystal Palace and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Queen Victoria would be amused! Source: George P. Landow, Professor of English and Art History Brown University.

 

Remembering World War II - TeachersFirst's new collection of resources dealing with World War II includes materials for grades 6 and up dealing with all facets of the conflict.

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