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Political Commercials: Leading or Misleading Voters - PBS News Hour
Grades
9 to 12
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Critical thinking and current events come together in this well-planned lesson that asks students to analyze political commercials and look for logical fallacies. After examining the...more
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Critical thinking and current events come together in this well-planned lesson that asks students to analyze political commercials and look for logical fallacies. After examining the techniques used in the commercials, students use a storyboard template to plan their own commercials for fictitious candidates. As an extension activity, coordinate a video project, and record your students' original political commercials. Downloadable handouts and worksheets are provided. Aligned to National Council for the Social Studies Standards.
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National Museum of the American Indian - Smithsonian
Grades
8 to 12
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This national museum dedicated to the Native people of the Americas provides beautiful collections of online multimedia exhibitions on a variety of cultural and historical subjects....more
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This national museum dedicated to the Native people of the Americas provides beautiful collections of online multimedia exhibitions on a variety of cultural and historical subjects. The Education (under Lesson Plans) link offers a search feature that can include the Featured Nation. Choose lessons from Civics, History, STEM, and Geography. Also find downloadable classroom guides and gentle suggestions on how to avoid stereotyping when teaching your students about Native American culture. Although the site strongly emphasizes artistic contributions of Native Americans, several exhibits examine the tragic loss of native traditions at the hands of social reformers.
tag(s): native americans (137)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a picture walk in your classroom during a unit on Native American culture. Select 10-15 of the more descriptive and diverse images, hanging them around the classroom in different places. Have students rotate around the classroom, moving every 30-45 seconds jotting down what they see in each image. At the end of the walk, have a class discussion based on what students saw in the images and what the walk has portrayed about Native American culture in the time period being studied. This is a great way to introduce the unit in a non-lecture format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nostalgia Central
Grades
8 to 12
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Students can gain insight into the fads, fashions, movies, and music that formed the fabric of America during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Year-by-year synopses feature calendars that...more
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Students can gain insight into the fads, fashions, movies, and music that formed the fabric of America during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. Year-by-year synopses feature calendars that highlight political and cultural events. This is a great resource for gaining an understanding of American life during the mid to late 20th century.
tag(s): 1950s (33), 1960s (54), 1970s (30), 1980s (21), 20th century (171)
In the Classroom
Use this site to teach students about the counter-culture movement of the 60's in a non-lecture format. Use this site on the interactive whiteboard to showcase popular culture in that decade. This would be a great resource for a US history course focusing on the modern century.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Vote: The Machinery of Democracy - Smithsonian
Grades
7 to 12
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Voting methods in the United States are examined in this beautifully designed on-line exhibit created by the Museum of American History. The varied practices within individual states...more
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Voting methods in the United States are examined in this beautifully designed on-line exhibit created by the Museum of American History. The varied practices within individual states are explored as well as the historical evolution of our ballots and voting systems. Use this site to help students understand the Florida 2000 crisis, as well as the role technology and innovation have played in shaping our experiences at the polls. Although this resource was created for the 2000 election, the background information is valuable for teaching about elections in general and for comparing elections as part of U.S. history. There is a lot of information to learn from this site, even though some of this site requires Flash.
tag(s): civics (130), college (36), elections (87), electoral college (24)
In the Classroom
Use the interactive exhibition portion of this site as a learning center or station during a unit on the US election process. (extra bonus if your class is specifically studying the 2000 election!) Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as podOmatic.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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State Facts for Students - US Census Bureau
Grades
3 to 6
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This practical research tool provides useful, kid-friendly information about each of the fifty states. Students can learn about the census, discover state-related facts, and test their...more
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This practical research tool provides useful, kid-friendly information about each of the fifty states. Students can learn about the census, discover state-related facts, and test their knowledge with some challenging quiz questions. An interactive map serves as an easy navigational tool to reveal state-by-state information including total population, urban and rural residences, school enrollment, and languages spoken.
tag(s): states (128)
In the Classroom
Use this site during state research. Compare various states and have cooperative learning groups create two circle Venn Diagrams comparing two specific states using a site such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient China - British Musem
Grades
7 to 12
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Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical...more
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Discover the culture of ancient China with this outstanding, interactive site that explores its artisans, geography, tombs, writings, and more. Each section of the site provides historical information, a story, an in-depth exploration, and a challenge. The challenge activities promote higher level thinking and are ideal for independent practice and review.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on Ancient China. There is a lot of content on the site, so it would be beneficial to create a graphic organizer for students to help organize their notes. (If looking for an easy find, we recommend using Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here).) Teachers can also use the challenges to assess student participation, not to mention that kids will enjoy the brief respite from note-taking! A very useful resource for the world history classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Electoral College
Grades
8 to 12
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand ...more
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Most students are a bit fuzzy on the role the Electoral College plays in choosing our president every four years. This site answers many questions in an easy to understand format. The history behind the system is discussed along with the particulars of its function. An overview of the intricacies of the 2000 election is also provided. This is strictly an informational resource - no bells or whistles - so use your creativity to build a lesson around it.
In the Classroom
While we're aware this is a public domain site with the reputation of being a bit unreliable, the images on this site would be an excellent resource for government teachers teaching about the Electoral College and its history. Use these images in a lecture or PowerPoint slide to help clarify how the electoral college has functioned in the past.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Apollo 11 - NASA
Grades
4 to 12
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA ...more
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It's July 20, 1969 and millions of Americans are glued to their television watching Neil Armstrong take that first historic step on the surface of the moon. This multimedia NASA site recreates that Apollo 11 mission, from its launch to its splashdown. Students can view vintage photographs, listen to the mission's audio recording, browse news articles, and tour the video gallery.
tag(s): moon (88)
In the Classroom
Use the video clips over the interactive whiteboard to supplement the text in discussing the Apollo missions. The clip of the first landing would be a great way to introduce the topic, putting all students at the same level of understanding before beginning a lecture or class discussion. Great resource for a US history classroom!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Death of the Father - John Borneman & Linda Fisher
Grades
9 to 12
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This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines...more
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This rather specialized resource takes a look at six former political leaders who created entire political regimes: Mussolini, Ceausescu, Hitler, Hirohito, Stalin, and Tito, and examines their respective regime. Concise text, maps, photographs, and sound bytes, contribute to a multimedia experience that provides a clear and compelling introduction to these six political systems. A glossary, series of timelines, and links to related sites make this a very user-friendly site for student research.
tag(s): 1920s (26), 1930s (40), 1940s (70), 20th century (171), hitler (5), world war 2 (168)
In the Classroom
What's helpful about this site is the list of commonly used vocabulary and terms that can help ESL students or lower-level readers prepare for the unit. Browse the site before beginning a unit and collect a list that would be helpful to such students. Having the lists with them can help them prepare and participate in the classroom setting with more understanding.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What was the exchange Rate Then? - Economic History Service
Grades
9 to 12
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Add a little bit of economic reality to a 20th century American history lesson. Just choose a country and year, and this site will provide exchange rate data between the ...more
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Add a little bit of economic reality to a 20th century American history lesson. Just choose a country and year, and this site will provide exchange rate data between the United State dollar and foreign currency. Changes in currency units for countries throughout the world and links to related resources are included.
tag(s): 20th century (171), currency (12)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an aid for discussing the price differences and comparisons between todays world and now. This information would be great when discussing early American history, when most books and colonizers make reference to British currency. Teachers can either translate the currency before class, or can have students complete it as an in-class activity. One way to do so would be to find a primary document or textbook article that mentions the severity of a tax on the 13 colonies. Have students complete the calculator to find out what colonists were really paying in comparison to what British-bound citizens were paying. use this to spur a discussion that then pro's and con's how severe taxes were and whether they were ample reason to revolt against Great Britiain.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Humor's Edge: Cartoons by Ann Telnaes - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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This site features the Pulitzer Prize-winning talent of Ann Telnaes, a contemporary political cartoonist who accurately depicts the drama and news of the day with clarity and wit. Use...more
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This site features the Pulitzer Prize-winning talent of Ann Telnaes, a contemporary political cartoonist who accurately depicts the drama and news of the day with clarity and wit. Use these online examples from Library of Congress exhibit to introduce current political issues or challenge your students to design their own political cartoons.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to discuss the role political cartoons can play in US government. Select a few of Telnaes's images, displaying them over the projector. Have a class discussion about the images, discussing perspectives, effects and what is being portrayed by the cartoons. This is a great way to discover how humor can affect opinions, and dissect how it is done.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Life Picture Collection - LIFE
Grades
7 to 12
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The LIFE Picture Collection offers a vast digital archive of iconic photographs from LIFE magazine, featuring the work of some of the most influential photographers of the 20th...more
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The LIFE Picture Collection offers a vast digital archive of iconic photographs from LIFE magazine, featuring the work of some of the most influential photographers of the 20th century. The collection documents major moments in U.S. history, politics, social movements, arts, and popular culture through powerful, primary-source images. Teachers can project selected photos to introduce historical events, spark class discussion, inspire student photographers, or serve as visual prompts for narrative, descriptive, or analytical writing. The site is searchable and easy to navigate, allowing users to browse by topic, era, or photographer. While images can be viewed freely online for educational exploration, a fee is required to license or download high-resolution images.
tag(s): cultures (295), great depression (32), photography (136), politics (121)
In the Classroom
Use the photos found on this site for writing prompts. Search within the site or browse the subjects offered to find one that corresponds to a unit being studied. A good example is the images taken during the Great Depression. Pull up a select few of the images and prompt students to tell the story of what is happening in each image, the emotions it conveys, and the impact it is meant to have on the viewer. This site would benefit teachers of nearly any subject, especially history, language arts, civics, and science.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Quiz Hub
Grades
1 to 12
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Students can test their core knowledge of English, French, German, math, social studies and more with this entertaining collection of interactive quizzes, puzzles and games. Click on...more
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Students can test their core knowledge of English, French, German, math, social studies and more with this entertaining collection of interactive quizzes, puzzles and games. Click on the Learning Hub and select a level (elementary, middle school, or high school) to explore age-appropriate challenges across content areas. Many of the activities on this site are free, but registration and a fee are required to access some of the special features.
In the Classroom
Use the free quizzes to help students review OR as pre-diagnositc quizzes to determine what students already know about the topic. This is a great way to assess which areas need strengthening and which areas students need less help in. Teachers wanting to focus their classrooms more efficiently will appreciate this one.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Population Institute
Grades
9 to 12
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The issue of worldwide overpopulation is addressed in this site that explores the problem as well as potential solutions. Population facts and figures are presented along with descriptions...more
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The issue of worldwide overpopulation is addressed in this site that explores the problem as well as potential solutions. Population facts and figures are presented along with descriptions of crises concerning natural resources, endangered species, the environment, and urbanization. This is a timely and thought-provoking resource that can generate some purposeful class discussion.
tag(s): population (51)
In the Classroom
This is a great site for a Cultural Geography class studying population and TFR. Use the fact sheets on this site about several developing nations to start a class discussion on population growth, and factors that contribute to a growing or decreasing population. This could lead into projects where students track population and label factors that may be affecting the numbers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Structure of Congress - PBS Newshour
Grades
9 to 12
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This Web-based lesson plan introduces high school students to the structure of Congress and its various functions. Working in small groups, students are asked to research legislative...more
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This Web-based lesson plan introduces high school students to the structure of Congress and its various functions. Working in small groups, students are asked to research legislative terms and responsibilities, and then participate in a simulated press conference in which they will role play members of members of Congress and the media. Focus and discussion questions are provided along with links to online resources. Lesson objective are aligned to national standards.
tag(s): congress (37), house of representatives (7), senate (11)
In the Classroom
Test the links ahead of time, as this lesson plan is dated - but still very useful.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Childe Hassam: American Impressionist - Metropolitan Museum of Art
Grades
9 to 12
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Take your art students on a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with this impressive retrospective highlighting the work of Childe Hassam, one of America's leading impressionist...more
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Take your art students on a virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art with this impressive retrospective highlighting the work of Childe Hassam, one of America's leading impressionist artists. Many oil paintings, watercolors, pastels, and prints are featured, depicting nostalgic views of well-known sites across America and Europe. Details of each image can be explored with a click, and descriptive captions are provided for each work. A lengthy chronology of Hassam's life is included. Portions of this site would be quite at home in an American history class! Be sure to investigate the "Learn with Us" link, which offers Learning Resources, #MetKids, a Timeline of Art History, and others.
tag(s): art history (109), artists (105), impressionism (4), painting (49)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an introductory activity on impressionism in the U.S., using an interactive whiteboard or projector. The images on the site are excellent representations of impressionism and can be used as examples to help students characterize it.Divide students into cooperative learning groups to explore the site. Have them compare and contrast what they note about impressionism with other styles studied in class. Use an online tool such as the Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here. Have students print out their diagrams OR display their findings on the interactive whiteboard to their peers.
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History Detectives - PBS
Grades
6 to 8
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Although this site is a companion to a PBS series by the same name, many of the activities can be used independently to tap into your students deductive reasoning abilities. ...more
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Although this site is a companion to a PBS series by the same name, many of the activities can be used independently to tap into your students deductive reasoning abilities. Prowl through the rooms of a virtual house to investigate clues and determine its age; open a time capsule to examine its contents and decide when it was originally buried; and learn about the many techniques used by historical sleuths, including forensic anthropology, DNA analysis, timber dating, and document examination. Some very creative interdisciplinary connections between science and historical research can be drawn from the resources on this site. Let your imagination run with this one!
tag(s): anthropology (9)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities offered on this site. Some can actually be used for other subjects beyond history - for example, there is a lesson on how to interview eye-witnesses that would be useful in a writing or English class. There are also videos of the show that can pertain to a particular unit. A few exist on the civil war that would be great to play during a US history course to add more interest and intrigue to the study of the war. Save this site as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval of lesson plans and activities!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Famous Moments in Early American History - Varsity Tutors
Grades
6 to 12
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These eight, high-quality mini-movies highlight true stories of historical significance using scenes and portraits from Early America. Titles include "The Ben Franklin Story," "Declaring...more
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These eight, high-quality mini-movies highlight true stories of historical significance using scenes and portraits from Early America. Titles include "The Ben Franklin Story," "Declaring Independence," "The Treason of Benedict Arnold," "Paul Revere - Messenger of the Revolution," and more! Project in the classroom, or take your students to the computer lab for an impressive multimedia experience. A high speed connection is a must! The videos reside on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable.
tag(s): colonial america (86), declaration of independence (26), franklin (12)
In the Classroom
Use these quick videos as a way to either review or introduce the American Revolution in your classroom. There is a lot of material in here, so we recommend creating some kind of graphic organizer or follow-along to help students digest and remember what's important.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Is the American Dream Dead? - Documentary Central
Grades
6 to 12
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"Is the American Dream Alive or Dead?" is a video that follows political comedian John Fugelsang on an epic cross-country journey investigating the current state of the American Dream...more
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"Is the American Dream Alive or Dead?" is a video that follows political comedian John Fugelsang on an epic cross-country journey investigating the current state of the American Dream amid decades of growing income inequality and shrinking economic mobility. This compelling documentary from Documentary Central examines whether the promise of opportunity and upward mobility still exists in modern America, offering thought-provoking insights into one of the nation's most fundamental ideals.
This site includes advertising.
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): money (114)
In the Classroom
After viewing, students can work in small groups to research specific aspects featured in the documentary, such as wage gaps, the cost of education, housing affordability, or job market trends. Groups can create infographics or presentations that compare economic data across decades to visualize changes in economic mobility over time. Have students create presentations using one of the many multimedia options at Adobe Creative Cloud Express, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Coloring-Page.net - Coloring-Page.net
Grades
1 to 2
1 Favorites
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Choose from hundreds of print-friendly coloring pages for your students. Find an image that relates to a holiday or curriculum topic, or check out the online kids' activities that include...more
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Choose from hundreds of print-friendly coloring pages for your students. Find an image that relates to a holiday or curriculum topic, or check out the online kids' activities that include interactive word searches, memory games, classic word games and so much more! Printable connect-the-dots activities and mazes are also available. These are great "filler" activities your students will love.
tag(s): colors (64), printables (35)
In the Classroom
Bookmark Coloring-Page as a resource for teaching materials throughout the school year. Take advantage of the free printables for use on bulletin boards, classroom management, and centers. Choose materials from the site to use in substitute folders. Be sure to share this site with your fellow teachers! You might consider finding snow day and vacation day activities to post on your class website for parent and student use.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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