Social Studies Sites

Black History

Current Events

Geography

Government

History

Miscellaneous

Presidents

Black History
(Back to Top)

African American Art
http://www.artic.edu/artaccess/AA_AfAm/index.html
Here's another great website to help your students celebrate Black History Month. This site showcases one hundred years of African American art achievement . Artwork ranges chronologically from the Civil War era to the Harlem Renaissance, from civil rights struggles to the contemporary period. A click on a work of art produces notes about the author and his work. Art Access provides lesson plans for grades 6 through 12 and activities for families.

African-American Mosaic
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/african/intro.html

Africans in America
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/home.html
This site is divided into four parts. Each part contains a Narrative that relates the history of the period and provides links to entries in the Resource Bank. The Resource Bank offers People and Events entries, Historical Documents, and Modern Voices. There is also a teachers' guide section.

African Voices
http://www.mnh.si.edu/africanvoices/

AFRO-American Almanac
http://www.toptags.com/aama/
The AFRO-American Almanac ® is an on-line presentation of the African in America. A historical perspective of a nation, its people, and its cultural evolution. From the beginning of the slave trade through the Civil Rights movement, to the present. Information that will give you a better understanding of the problems we face today as a nation.

Afrocentric News
http://afrocentricnews.com/
This is a good site for older students to visit for Black History Month.

Black History Month
http://www.gp.k12.mi.us/ci/ce/multi/bhmmhs.htm
Here are many ideas to use in your classroom for Black History Month for grades 6-12. The Gross Point Schools have designed a matrix for the topics of Civil Rights, History and Places, Humanities, and People. They have also provided a column for sites that provide Interactive Activities. All in all, there are over 150 pertinent sites to choose from. Topics range from the Underground Railroad to Civil Rights to former Secretary of State Colin Powell.

Black History Month
http://www.galegroup.com/free_resources/bhm/index.htm  
This is Gale's Black History Month free resource site. Gale has assembled a collection of activities and information to complement classroom topics.

Black History Month: Pursuing the American Dream
http://www.mped.org/MarcoGrams/Feb2004.html
This year marks an important anniversary in the field of education -- the 50th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, a pivotal court case in which the U.S. Supreme Court declared segregation in education to be unlawful. Join the MarcoGram in celebrating Black History Month with activities and lessons about the Underground Railroad, African-American poetry and much more. Use the warm-up activities below to help students learn about important people and events in African-American history, then scroll down for links to more lessons and resources.

Celebrate Black History Month
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/blackhist/
The History Channel complied this archive of biographies of famous African Americans. Athletes, generals, musicians, abolitionists, scientists, and writers are profiled. Most articles offer links to events or associates of the person being written about. A special feature discusses 1944's Port Chicago Mutiny.

Cooking African American Style
http://library.thinkquest.org/10320/Recipes.htm
As discussed at this site written by students, "what we know as 'soul food' is the descendant of slave cooking. It is the brilliant masterpiece that derived from want." In addition to a brief history of African-American cooking styles, recepes are given here, divided into categories Soups, Salads and Vegetables; Main Dishes and Casseroles; Breads; and Desserts.

Culture & Change: Black History in America
http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/  
Another great site from Scholastic Teacher's Online Activities section. Meet famous African Americans, listen to jazz music, and explore history with our interactive timeline. Amount of content varies by grade level. No teacher's guides. Set up in sections of varying sizes. Links to external resources.

Family Education Network: Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://familyeducation.com/topic/front/0,1156,1-4644,00.html

History of Jim Crow
http://www.jimcrowhistory.org/home.htm
This site was designed by teachers and presents teachers with new historical resources and teaching ideas for the Jim Crow years. At this site, teachers will find historical essays, personal narratives and lesson plans. In addition, the site contains an image gallery, an American literature book list for middle school, high school, and college-level students; and an interactive encyclopedia that offers users access to terms, people, and events relating to the history of Jim
Crow.

History Makers
http://www.thehistorymakers.org/
"The HistoryMakers is dedicated to preserving African American history as the missing link in American history. Focused on American history, oral history and education in general and more specifically on African American history, education, music, law, the arts, science, technology, media, medicine, entertainment, fashion & beauty, business, the military, politics and sports, The History Makers is a combination archive, library, museum, stock footage collection, on-line educator and educational PBS/TV programming. Its topics include but are not limited to African American organizations and associations, slavery, reconstruction, the labor movement, the civil rights movement and black authors."

Internet African American History Challenge
http://www.brightmoments.com/blackhistory/
The Internet African American History Challenge© is an interactive quiz that helps you sharpen your knowledge of African American History. It's an "open book" test. So if you're not sure of an answer, you can check their reference material for help. Level I is the easiest and has 7 questions while levels II & III have 10 questions each and are a bit more challenging.

King, Martin Luther, Jr.
http://blackhistory.eb.com/micro/321/84.html
Encyclopedia Britannica presents this brief summary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life. A video and an audio clip of his "I Have A Dream" speech are available, as are descriptions of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Montgomery bus boycott, and King's letter from a Birmingham jail.

Legends of Tuskegee (National Park Service)
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/exhibits/tuskegee/  
Who are the Legends of Tuskegee and what do they have in common? This three-part web exhibit highlights the achievements of Washington, Carver and the Tuskegee Airmen. Booker Taliafero Washington, George Washington Carver and the Tuskegee Airmen all came to Tuskegee and created their own legends. Tuskegee was a bold experiment and a site of major African-American achievements for over 100 years. The Tuskegee Airmen's achievements, together with the men and women who supported them, paved the way for full integration of the U.S. military.

Lest We Forget, The Triumph Over Slavery
http://digital.nypl.org/lwf/flash.html  
Available in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, the web site was created to mark the United Nations General Assembly resolution proclaiming 2004 as the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition. Clickable vignettes along the bottom and sides lead to further explanations and photos.

Literature and Life
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/litandlife/toc.html
PBS explores African-American literature, from slave narratives to the work of contemporary artists. This comprehensive site explores the authors, era, and impact of the literature. There are also audio clip readings and video clip interviews.

Martin Luther King, Jr.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/mlk/
Celebrate the 72nd anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth with this tribute to the man, the movement, and the legacy. This resource features photographs and time lines of King's life and the civil rights movement, sound clips from his speeches, and discussion questions for students in grades 4 and up.

One More Once: A Centennial Celebration of the Life and Music of Count Basie
http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/ijs/cb/index.html
To join in the celebration of Black History Month, here is a great site devoted to the life and music of Count Basie. A musicography tracks his creations through the decades of his life, and there are also photo essays to add interest to this excellent site.

Pilgrimage of Jesse Jackson
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/jesse/
Jesse Jackson is well known for his part in the civil rights movement and his work with Martin Luther King, Jr., but since the 1960's, he has also been working hard in politics. An interview with his biographer, a timeline of his life, and interviews with his friends and advisors provide extensive materials on Jackson's life and accomplishments.

Reporting Civil Rights (Library of America)
http://www.reportingcivilrights.org/  
Reporting Civil Rights presents the reporters and journalism of the American Civil Rights Movement and the efforts of various journalists, activists, and others to secure civil freedoms and liberties for African- Americans. An interactive timeline that chronicles the years 1941 to 1973. The Library of America companion site is a two-volume anthology that brings together nearly 200 newspaper and magazine reports, book excerpts, and features by 151 writers.

Rosa Parks: Pioneer of Civil Rights
http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/par0int-1
Most historians cite December 1, 1955, as the beginning of the modern civil rights movement. On that day, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. This site offers a brief biography and interview with Rosa Parks, who is often called "the mother of the civil rights movement." The main attraction of the site is the interview, which covers the bus incident in Alabama, her childhood, her influences and beliefs, and her association with Martin Luther King, Jr.

Stamp on Black History
http://library.thinkquest.org/10320/Stamps.htm

Time For Kids: Black History Month
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/specials/articles/0,6709,97217,00.html
Explore Black History Then to Now, The Fight for Rights History Challenge, Oh, Grow UP! (try to guess who they are from their kid pictures), Now Hear This (listen to some famous moments), and Special Spotlight: The Arts.

Underground Railroad
http://www.undergroundrailroad.org/
This website supports the mission of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinatti. The section on Slavery's Past is interesting. One feature (Places) is a clickable map showing locations of railroad stops. Another is the People section that contains stories of the work of people involved in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad. Students can add locations or stories to these areas. Freedom Today will pose various questions to visitors of this website and allow them to respond.

Voices from the Days of Slavery (Library of Congress)
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/vfshtml/vfshome.html  
Voices from the Days of Slavery: Former Slaves Tell Their Stories provides the opportunity to listen to former slaves describe their lives. These interviews, conducted between 1932 and 1975, capture the recollections of twenty-three identifiable people born between 1823 and the early 1860s and known to have been former slaves. Almost seven hours of recordings were made in nine Southern states and provide an important glimpse of what life was like for slaves and freedmen. The former slaves discuss how they felt about slavery, slaveholders, how slaves were coerced, their families, and, of course, freedom. They have much to say about living as African Americans from the 1870s to the 1930s, and beyond. As part of their testimony, several of the ex-slaves sing songs, many of which were learned during the time of their enslavement.

Voices of Civil Rights
http://www.voicesofcivilrights.org/
This is a strong, forceful site focusing on Civil Rights and can be used in the classroom as a resource for diversity and multiculturalism study. This joint project of AARP and the LCCR seeks to provide a common place for people to share their experiences from the turbulent historical beginnings of the civil rights' movement as well as contemporary insight. The "Stories of Hope and Courage by Ordinary People" are truly inspirational. These stories contain deep personal feelings never told before. Other inspiring aspects of this site include the "Unfinished Business" of the Brown v. Board of Education decision and "New Voices," about the young activists who seek to carry out the visions of the original leaders. The large compelling graphics, an interactive timeline, and a video of striking photos set to music make this a dramatic website.

Who Will Give Voice to the Past? African Americans 1800-1870
http://www.culver.org/academics/infolit/Faculty/foleyd/Teacher_files/craftingfreedom/cfindex.htm  
"Who Will Give Voice to the Past?" is a lesson plan developed in conjunction with the workshop, "Crafting Freedom," "Crafting Freedom" is a part of a series of workshops called the "Landmarks of American History" that are offered nationwide through funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The lesson focuses on a specific area of history - life of African Americans 1800-1870 and guides users on how to conduct research using a variety of sources and strategies on lesser known African Americans. The Lesson Plan will identify some figures for research and serve as a guide on how to research these "unknowns." The intent is that teachers search out additional names of people from their own communities or states to encourage students to learn more about their local history. The research skills that students acquire, especially with primary sources, special reference works, archival materials, historic sites, and interviews with experts can be applied to other history and humanities assignments.

With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty (Library of Congress)
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/  
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This decision was pivotal to the struggle for racial desegregation in the United States. This exhibition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of this landmark judicial case. "With an Even Hand" is divided into three sections. The exhibition examines precedent-setting court cases that laid the ground work for the Brown v. Board decision, explores the Supreme Court argument and the public's response to it, and closes with an overview of this profound decision's aftermath. The exhibition features more than one hundred items from the Library's extensive holdings, including books, documents, photographs, personal papers, manuscripts, maps, music, films, political cartoons, and prints. A film compilation captures the historic events and highlights media coverage of the struggle for desegregation.

Current Events

10 X 10: 100 Words and Picutres that Define the Time
http://www.tenbyten.org/
10x10 is an interactive exploration of the words and pictures that occur in the news all over the world. Every hour the site collects 100 frequently used words and pictures from various international news sources and presents them as one large patchwork image. You can then click on an individual picture to learn more about the story behind it. From this unique and fresh perspective, you can explore the news from an entirely different angle and make your own patterns and connections about the world.

Big Class Action
http://www.bigclassaction.com/
This site has been created by Online Legal Services Ltd, which states that it receives its income from fees charged to law firms using its services. If you have a case you want evaluated, the site claims to forward your case to lawyers who advertise on the site for free evaluation. The site stipulates that the service is free but that all cases will not be evaluated. The site is not a lawyer referral service, but cases will be forwarded to lawyers who advertise on the site. Not all cases will be evaluated. Students of law or simply those interested in learning about class actions and legal advocacy might find the site of interest, particularly the link listing current class actions pending and the "Hot Issues" link.

CBC4Kids
http://www.cbc4kids.ca
Produced by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), this site is loaded with features that are sure to appeal to young people. Click on News & Sports to access CBC4Kids' Top News Story of the Day. Suitable for grades 2-6.

CNNfyi.com
http://fyi.cnn.com/fyi/
Produced by Cable News Network (CNN), this site is ideal for classroom use. Its creators supply plenty of news targeted for students and also provide teachers with ideas for introducing continuing news stories into the classroom through lesson plans and suggestions for discussions or activities. There is also a special section full of homework resources.

Don't Buy It (PBS)
http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/
Don't Buy It attempts to engage students in media literacy (the ability to access, evaluate, analyze and produce both electronic and print media) by dissecting pop culture and advertisements. Media literacy education can help students build critical thinking and analytic skills, become more discriminating in the use of mass media, distinguish between reality and fantasy and consider whether media values are their values. The activities were designed for ages 9-11 and touch on the six levels of Bloom's Taxonomy: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and evaluation. Each lesson is aligned with the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) Standards. In addition to the activities, there are guides for teachers and parents, a glossary, downloadables, and links to related resources.

Free Press
http://www.freepress.net/index.php  
Free Press is a national nonpartisan organization working to increase informed public participation in crucial media policy debates, and to generate policies that will produce a more competitive and public interest-oriented media system. They hope to open up the media system to allow more diversity of opinion to be expressed, to present a broader perspective, and to increase the caliber of information available to everyday people. The site is huge. The Free Press Library provides books, reports and articles are on media activism, media policy, society, culture and democracy, indexed by issue area. Fast Facts supplies quick access to tidbits on a variety of topics such as advertising regulation, outdoor billboards, commercialism in schools, and much more. Core Concerns which deals with censorship, election reform, globalization, labor, racism, etc. There's a Beginners Guide to media issues, and Activitist Issues links to over 40 different media reform issue areas, listed by category. Each has a summary, headlines, links and other resources for that issue.

Global Connections: Putting World Events in Context
http://www.pbs.org/globalconnections
Global Connections: Putting World Events in Context, produced by public broadcasting station WGBH, is a new Web site designed to provide the background information needed to understand events occurring in the Middle East. Users can view this site either through a timeline containing events that span the past 100 years or by looking at single themes such as economics or religion. This site was designed particularly for educators and contains lesson plans, activities, and connecting questions which pose higher-level inquiries. Suitable for high school students.

Invasion of Iraq (PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/invasion/  
Invasion of Iraq takes viewers behind the scenes of the allied invasion on Baghdad. Through interviews with key commanders and soldiers -- U.S., British, and Iraqi -- as well as Iraqi civilians, the documentary offers a rare battlefield perspective on the war, as told in first-hand accounts of those who lived it. The website offers interviews, chronology, analysis, links to further readings, an FAQ, video excerpts from the TV show, and a teachers guide with lesson plans. From PBS.

KidsNewsRoom.com
http://www.kidsnewsroom.com/
"This site provides children with a safe, kid-friendly Internet site loaded with stories, pictures, contests and opportunities for learning. Each week, a new issue is added to the site with the latest news in sports, music & entertainment, health, history, local events and happenings around the world, all designed with kids in mind." The Games page has been added to the K-4 Web Sites page.

Multimedia Features (Associated Press)
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/fronts/MULTIMEDIA?SITE=NYPOU&SECTION=HOME  
AP Digital is a division of The Associated Press, the world's largest news agency. They produce these short Flash movies, called Multimedia Features, on a variety of topics both international and domestic including: Focus on Iraq, Weapons of War, Opium's Trail, Zimbabwe, Raising the Kursk, Homeland Security, Oil Addiction, On the Grill, Drought's Deadly Grip, Pearl Harbor, and more. Some are quite short, others more complicated.

Newseum: Today's Front Pages
http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/#
The Newseum's popular exhibit, "Today's Front Pages" is now available online. Select a region and see the newspapers that are available. Click on the paper you are interested in and see the front page.

NewspaperLinks.com
http://www.newspaperlinks.com/  

New York Times Learning Network
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/

Private See Dispute: Drafting Definitions of Privacy in the Age of Camera Cellphones
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/lessons/20031013monday.html  
Every kid seems to want their own cell phone; and the more gadgets, the better. But have they thought about finding themselves plastered on a web page or the subject of thousands of email jokes? From the NY Times Daily Lesson Plans, this lesson gets students to define "reasonable expectations" of privacy with regard to camera cellphones and digital cameras. Then, using their definitions, they work cooperatively to draft recommendations to send to their representatives in Congress. There is a link to the article, "Smile, You're on Candid Cellphone Camera," at the top of the page.

Rebuilding Iraq (Scholastic Inc.)
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/war-iraq/  
Lots of information including Latest News; New Government; Humanitarian Needs; During the War; Path to War; History of Conflict; country info, activities, and lessons. Information is broken down into manageable chunks for students and picks up on some topics not covered by other sources.

Tsunami Disaster in South Asia
http://www.my-ecoach.com/online/activity.php?projectid=3984  
What can we do to help the victims and their families of the Asian Tsunamis? Several countries have been affected by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake centered off the west coast of northern Sumatra which resulted in devastating tsunamis. One step in lending support to the victims is awareness. For this activity, you will work with other students to learn about the countries affected, the impact this devastation has caused, and plan a course of action your class can collectively take to help the victims and their surviving families and relatives. Suggested timeframe to complete: 1 hour a day for 3 days.

USAID: Earthquake and Tsunami Relief
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia_near_east/tsunami/
The Asian Earthquake and resulting tsunami is being called the worst disaster of our time. To find out who was affected, check out the section "Current Situation". This tells you not only who was affected by the Earthquake and Tsunami but also the International Response to the situation. If you scroll down the page you will find a section called "Background". This section tells you the facts of what happened as well as provides and graph with map to show you the scale of the effects. This is a very helpful site to let people know what's going on.

WhoYouShouldKnow.com
http://www.whoyoushouldknow.com
WhoYouShouldKnow.com is a free educational Web site that provides a daily profile of an international leader or a person of significant global influence. The primary focus of WhoYouShouldKnow.com is to highlight international leaders as well as key business and humanitarian figures. Each weekday WhoYouShouldKnow.com features a different International leader and his or her home country. The featured profile contains a picture of the leader, a map of the country’s location in the world, a more detailed map of the country, as well as the country’s flag, links to other important statistics and factual data about the person and the country. Click on Archive for past profiles.

Geography
(Back to Top)

Adventure Learning Foundation
http://www.questconnect.org 
This site takes students and teachers on real and virtual expeditions around the world. Through a collection of original pictures and journal excerpts, visitors can accompany travelers exploring the natural environment, culture, and peoples of different continents. Past expeditions include Alaska and Yukon, Baja California, American Southwest, and Southern Africa. Each expedition is accompanied by a mixture of information, links, and classroom activities.

Africa
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/
This website was created to support the series of PBS shows on Africa. There is something for all levels of students. For younger children, go to Africa for Kids. Learn about the daily lifeof students in four African nations, play a virtual thumb piano, or figure out how the hero of a Swahili folktale can accomplish his mission. Teacher tools has four units on Africa. Photography teachers can use the Photoscope area to get students talking about the impact of photographs. For those who think they already know it all, take the Africa Challenge.

A Journey to a New Land
http://www.sfu.museum/journey/
This multi-level educational resource represents a series of reusable learning objects, thus maximizing its educational potential. Based on a spiral curriculum approach, the site targets multiple learning styles as well as cognitive, affective and other domains to present complex current research in a public forum. There are stunning visuals, engaging games, interactive timelines and video interviews with leading scientists, all accessible by a large variety of viewers.

All the World's Maps
http://www.embassyworld.com/maps/maps.html
This is the site to go to if you need a map of any country. There are many maps to choose from for each country. You can also access maps of cities within each country.

Amazon Interactive
http://www.eduweb.com/amazon.html
Explore the geography of the Ecuadorian Amazon through online games and activities. Learn about the rainforest and the Quichua people who call it home. Discover the ways in which the Quichua live off the land. Then try your hand at running a community-based ecotourism project along the Río Napo.

Ancient Stones of Scotland
http://www.stonepages.com/ancient_scotland/

Animated Atlas: Growth of a Nation
http://www.animatedatlas.com/movie.html  
A ten minute narrated movie, divided into smaller segments, which depicts the geographic history of the United States from the beginning of the nation to fifty states. Geographic elements are interactive, as is the timeline. It will take sixty seconds to load with a 56K modem. A teachers' guide is located at http://www.animatedatlas.com/teachersguide.html

Arctic Studies Center
http://www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/index.html
Learn about the Alutiiq people in southern Alaska or research the Vikings within this site. For those grades whose curriculum involves the Western Hemisphere or the study of indigenous tribes, this is a good resource. To make cross curricular connections as students read about Alaskan Yup'ik masks, explore the "Archeology, Anthropology and other Sciences" in-depth student research, and choose from a number of online exhibitions on native peoples of the north. The "Exhibitions" link serves as a site map of sorts for students who wish to focus on a particular people.

Asia for Educators
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/
Teachers will like the organization of this website on Asia. Results can be found by viewing Subject Area, like geography, government, history; or File Type, like key points and central themes, lesson plans, maps; or Time Period from the beginning of Asian history to the present. There are also excellent units on the "Mongols in World History," "The Song Dynasty in China," and "Japanese Society and Culture."

Be WorldWise
http://www.beworldwise.org/
Travel the seas virtually aboard a Tall Ship on a 19 month, 22 country voyage. On board, you will learn about the two teachers who signed on for the journey and their fellow crew members. Although the journey began in November of 2000, there are 12 months left to follow, so join in and track their progress. Classroom activities and lessons on Exploring the Oceans and Environmental Investigations.

Campus Tours
http://www.CampusTours.com
Campus Tours is for students who are planning ahead for college, or for people who just want to see what other places look like. Colleges are listed by U.S. state; links can lead to VR tours (Virtual Reality), streamed video, or a website.

Cave of Lascaux
http://www.culture.fr/culture/arcnat/lascaux/en/

Degree Confluence Project
http://www.confluence.org/
"The project is an organized sampling of the world. There is a confluence within 49 miles (79 km) of you if you're on the surface of Earth. We've discounted confluences in the oceans and some near the poles, but there are still 12,555 to be found." They are taking pictures of all these confluences. So that means that there are tons of photos for you to browse through of these special places and from all over the world. If you are only interested in seeing different countries you can scroll down the page and go by the country listing. Just choose the country you want to view and it will take you to the pictures of the confluences in the those countries.

Desert Life in the American Southwest
http://www.desertusa.com/life.html
This online guide to the Southwest American desert presents information about plants, animals, and people. This is an excellent way for students to get an idea of what it might be like to visit the region and this correlates nicely with American geography and social studies curriculum.

Discovering the Rainforest via Five Themes of Geography
http://www.mpsaz.org/webquest/Stout/rainforest_webquest2.htm
An interactive WebQuest that has the students work in groups of five to explore the rainforest through the five themes of geography. Each student researches a different theme, and then the group works together on a final presentation. The Websites listed as resources are great.

Enchanted Learning Geography
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/geography/
This great Web site helps younger students begin exploring the continents of the world. Print-outs, activities, crafts, quizzes, games, and facts for each continent can be found here.

Everest 50
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/everest/index.html
Travel with National Geographic to the top of the world. This is an excellent, exciting site about Everest. There are so many interesting aspects. Take a Virtual Climb that employs actual footage. View Everest and the surrounding mountains from the peak. Travel with renowned photographers to Tibet. Also for all those "Into Thin Air" readers, here are interviews with some of the survivors. Be sure to click on "Everest Expedition to Uncover Its True Height" for a panoramic view. Many more interesting articles and lesson plans for K-12 are here.

Explore the World's Most Mystic Places
http://exn.ca/mysticplaces

Explorers
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/explorers/explorers_start.htm
This site provides an excellent way to learn about the explorers. The esays, written by students, offer profiles of most of the great explorers of the past. Click on the name of any explorer to access a brief biography and summary of explorations. In addition to the profiles, their are suggested activities and online quizzes.

Flag Game - Guess The Nation
http://www.flw.com/flaggame/login.php  
The Flag Game to allows the player to guess the name of the country based on clues including; capital, continent, neighbors, map outline, currency & anthem. Login as guest and give it a shot. A nice way to peak student interest in geography. Project on a the wall and play as a class, or play on individual computers. Quick and simple interface; but tough game!

Flags of the World
http://fotw.fivestarflags.com 
Flags of the World (FOTW) is the Internet's largest site devoted to vexillology (the study of flags). Here you can read more than 26,000 pages about flags and view more than 48,000 images of flags. The site is fed with news and images posted to the FOTW mailing list and with other contributions from interested readers and visitors. Flags of the World is produced and maintained by an Editorial Staff of unpaid volunteers and the contents of these pages are offered freely to the Internet community.

France: Carte Geographique
http://www.quid.fr/france.html
This French site includes a map of France with the regions and departements and their capitals marked, as well as links to photos, a picture of the flag, and official government sites. Even if you can't speak French, you can find information by clicking on the links.

Geography Action! (National Geographic)
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction/  
Geography Action! is an annual conservation and awareness program designed to educate and excite people about natural, cultural, and historic treasures. Each year, they will present a different topic related to conservation and the environment. The Geography Action! program features: a) Kids Take Action!, an activity-based conservation awareness program ; b) Geography Awareness Week, a series of events to celebrate conservation; c) Lesson Plans; d) Games; and e) Photo Galleries. Topics so far include: Biodiversity, Conservation, Habitats, Population, Rivers, U.S. Public Lands.

GeoNet
http://www.eduplace.com/geonet/
This is an online geography game. Students may choose between two levels - Easy and Hard. To begin a game you first choose a country or region. The questions for that game session will be based on the country or region you chose. You can play the game over and over, choosing the same region or a different region for each game. If you become a GeoAdvisor, GeoExpert, or GeoChampion, you get a certificate which you can print or save.

Global Online Adventure Learning Site
http://www.goals.com/Index.htm
This is a terrific site for teachers interested in taking their students on virtual journeys. Each location allows students to view graphics and read about an area. They can then e-mail the explorers with comments and questions. The Classroom link provides lesson plans and activities.

HomeTownLocator Gazetteer
http://Gazetteer.HomeTownLocator.com  
Gazetteer with data for 1.8 million physical and cultural features, census information for 98,000 local areas and distance calculations for 177,000 populated places. Links to aerial photos, regional, local and topographical maps. Seach by city, town, county, state or zip code.

Journey into Amazonia
http://www.pbs.org/journeytoamazonia/
Journey into Amazonia features the swollen rivers, flooded forests, and dense canopy of the vast rain forest recognized as one of Earth's natural wonders. The site is divided into 3 episodes that correspond to the PBS broadcasts: 1) Waterworlds, features the churning waters of the world's mightiest river; 2) Land Reborn, reveals a new world teeming with predators; 3) Episode 3: The Big Top, the luxuriant mantle of the world's greatest rainforest. Also includes an interactive game.

Journey to a New Land
http://www.sfu.museum/journey/
"People first arrived in the Americas at least 12,000 years ago. The timing of their arrival and the route by which they travelled are not known. Did they follow an inland ice-free corridor route from Siberia to the unglaciated regions south of the ice sheets? Or did they take a coastal route, travelling by boat down the Pacific Coast? Did people arrive during the ice age, or not until after the glaciers receded? This site explores these and other questions, and looks at some of the evidence and ideas that have been proposed to resolve them." The site is divided into five levels - Primary, Elementary, Middle School, Secondary and Post-Secondary.

Kid Info Reference Resources: The World
http://www.kidinfo.com/Geography/The_World.html
Young people interested in learning more about the world will want to bookmark this site. The links here include categories such as Countries of the World, Currencies of the World, Costumes, Famous Landmarks, Flags, World Holidays and Festivals, Maps, and Trivia.

Kid’s Web Japan
http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/
Whether you use this site to teach your kids about Japan, or use it yourself to learn about Japan, you will find that it is a real delight. Sections include Explore Japan, Culture Corner, Cookbook for Kids, Kids Life, Say it in Japanese, Hi-Tech Japan, and Kids Travel Agency. Lot's of information!

Longman Atlas Online Companion Website
http://www.longman.com.au/atlas/compweb/  
The Longman Atlas features a range of information including maps, tables of statistics, diagrams, graphs, pictures and satellite images. Includes use of state-of-the-art satellite imagery which goes beyond Landsat images and includes Spot and NOAA imagery. The Companion Website contains among other things, Case studies. These somewhat interactive units of work that develop understanding of current geographical issues and phenomena. From within a particular case study topic, use the menu bar at the top of the page to navigate between the Introduction, Case Study, Activities, Useful Links, or return to the Companion Website Contents.

Map Collections: 1500 to 2004
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/gmdhtml/gmdhome.html
The Library of Congress has a great collection of maps. With maps dating as far back as the 1500's and as recent as 2004 there's a lot this site has to offer.
Topics include Cities and Towns, Conservation and Environment, Discovery and Exploration, General Maps, Cultural Landscapes, and Military Battles and Campaigns. When you view maps if you click them to make them larger, you will also be able to use the Zoom feature. So you can zoom in and out for more or less detail.

Map Guessing Game
http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/usaquiz.html
Test your geography skills with this map quiz. Choose from eleven different maps.

MapMachine (National Geographic)
http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/mapmachine/  
Find nearly any place on Earth, and view it by population, climate, and much more. Plus, browse antique maps, find country facts, or plan your next outdoor adventure with the trail maps. Save the maps and return to them later. Also includes Country Profiles (191 independent nations plus U.S. states and Canadian provinces).

Mexico Para Ninos
http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/
This site is truly Mexico para Ninos, and in addition to Spanish, the site includes English, French and Italian translations. Students can explore the states of Mexico as well as the government and history. Diversity not only covers plants and wildlife, but the indigenous peoples of Mexico. Cultural information on Mexican mythology, foods, games and music can be found throughout the site.

Mughal India
http://www.mughalindia.co.uk/room.html  
The British Museum produces this interactive website on Mughal India. Totally Flash-driven, the site is set up to simulate a room filled with various items including a globe, file cabinet, books, and a calendar. When you roll over interactive items in the room, you can click and learn about paintings, coins, weapons, jewelery and models from The British Museum's collections. Don't miss "the Staff Room" -- pages developed to help teachers. Several lessons are included as well as practical guidance on classroom set-up, using the website, printing, and navigation.

National Geographic: Egypt Pyramids
www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/pyramids.html
Laid out in a timeline from the first pyramid to the last, this National Geographic site makes excellent use of multimedia to explore the pyramids individually and place them within a historical context. When visiting each pyramid page, place your mouse over the photo of the pyramid to view a diagram of its internal structure. Most of the featured pyramids also have additional photos available; click the Images button in the upper right-hand corner to view them.

National Geographic Map Machine
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/index.html

National Geographic WildWorld
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/
Through this site, your students can learn the latest about the rarest and most endangered areas on earth, as well as fragile ecosystems in their own region. Sights and Sounds brings interviews and information about specific regions of the world. The current focus is the Bering Sea. The WildWorld Contest, in which classes submit a scrapbook, entries are due March 23, 2001.

National Geographic Xpeditions
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/main.html

Nation Master
http://www.nationmaster.com/ 
The Nation Master is an excellent resource for finding out current details about just about any country in the world. For easy reference, the main Web page features the most frequently requested stats, such as televisions and military expenditures per capita. Nation Master also allows visitors the option of creating their own graphs in order to effectively compare different nations. The site also has links to national profiles. Additionally, the site has a search engine, and a place where visitors can read short facts on the different countries. Apart from being interesting to browse through, the site will be helpful for students looking for basic statistics on the world's different countries.

Netstate.com
http://www.netstate.com/states/
Almost anything you want to know about the individual states of the United States can be found at this site. For a good overview of a state, click on its entry under Almanacs. Other sections cover state symbols, famous people, state forums, state news, geography, cool schools, and state size.

Panoramas.dk
http://www.panoramas.dk/index.html
Students will enjoy geography when they can actually step into a "panorama" of the place they are visiting. Visitors actually feel as if they are in the most exciting, beautiful, historic, and remote parts of the earth through these panoramas. The site suggests its newest and most sought after panoramas like the Moon, Mars, Mt. Everest, and the Eiffel Tower, but students can also search for specific countries or places in the news. This is a great way to get students involved in world geography.

Picture Australia
http://www.pictureaustralia.org/index.html
Picture Australia is a well-done searchable database allowing users to look for specific historical and contemporary images. Students might want to take a trail, where images are grouped by category. Olympic images are featured, as well as Antarctic expeditions, wildflowers and birds of Australia, and art. The trails are very easy to navigate.

Postcard Geography 2001-2002
http://www.cyberbee.com/pcg/howto.html
Here is a project that entails students exchanging postcards with other classrooms. Through what is now lovingly referred to as snail mail, these postcards allow cultural exchanges, polish writing and mapping skills. Registration runs from August 15 to September 14, 2001, with mailings happening September 17 until February 15. Other activities will take place in spring.

Project Africa
http://mage.geog.macalester.edu/Africa/
Project Africa is a comprehensive site on the Geography of Africa (cultural and physical). The site has annotated links, on-line quizzes, downloadable lessons, a bulletin board where questions may be asked, and more. The site was created in support of a seminar on Africa for teachers.

Pyramids: The Inside Story
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/
"Have you ever dreamed of exploring the pyramids of Egypt? If so, enter here, wander through the chambers and passageways of the Great Pyramid, and learn about the pharaohs for whom these monumental tombs were built. You can also follow the 1997 field season of a team of archaeologists as they excavated the bakery that fed the pyramid builders."

Rainforest
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/africa/explore/rainforest/rainforest_overview.html
Explore African rainforests at this richly illustrated and informative site from PBS. Learn about the people, customs, and economy of these dense forested zones.

Sands of the World
http://www.chariho.k12.ri.us/curriculum/MISmart/ocean/sandintr.html
Sands of the World is the work of fourth grade students in the M.I. Smart! Program (Multiple Intelligences Program) in the Chariho Regional School District of Rhode Island. In order to expand knowledge about sand, site visitors are invited to send sand from a local beach to Charlestown, Rhode Island with specific labeling instructions. The sample is to be accompanied by a drawing or photographic of the beach from which the sample is taken. In a display of reciprocity, there's an offer to send site visitors Rhode Island sand. An interesting Home Page offers links to all kinds of sand for study. This exploration of sand offers ideas for pursuing sand studies through multiple intelligences with links to a sand museum, and the option to join a sand project with students of other schools. Lesson plans for teachers are also available for download.

States and Capitols
http://www.50states.com/

State Web Games
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/web_games.htm
This site contains web games that are a wonderful way to learn about our fifty states. Students learn state capitals, abbreviations, and locations. The games provide clues that include over 500 important and engaging facts.

Test Your Geography Knowledge
http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/
Choose a quiz by clicking on an area of the map. Then answer the questions correctly to build up your score. Good practice for students studying Geography.

Travel the World With National Geographic!
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/education

Volcano World -- The Premier Source of Volcano Info on the Web
http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/

Voyage of Exploration: Discovering New Horizons
http://library.thinkquest.org/C001692/
This well designed site follows in the footsteps of some of the world's greatest explorers, reliving their expeditions into the unknown.

Westward, Ho
http://www.cyberbee.com/wwho/
Westward Ho is now taking registrations. The wagon train leaves in January, so pack your wagon and start heading to Independence, MO, the starting point for the journey. If you want your class to participate in this trip, go to the site and register.

Where Do People Live?
http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/explore/population.html
Where do people live? Why do they live there? Why do they move? Information from the World Almanac for Kids lists fun facts and figures. For example, what is the population of the United States? What are the smallest countries? These are facts students love to consider and can lead to discussions on population growth, overcrowding, immigration, emigration, etc.

Where Is That?
http://www.funbrain.com/where/index.html
Where is That? is a challenging Internet geography game that allows players to choose among five skill levels. Players also select an area of the world they want to test themselves in. You can even play a two person version of the game. It's loads of fun for everyone from map beginners to geography wizards!

Wired Antarctica
http://www.geophys.washington.edu/People/Students/ginny/antarctica/

World Atlas
http://www.graphicmaps.com/aatlas/world.htm
More than just another online atlas, this site provides loads of general geographic information about the countries of the world. Particularly helpful is the List, which provides comparative information about the countries of the world in such categories as area, age, gross national product, and population.

World Conflict Map
http://nobelprize.org/peace/educational/conflictmap/
The Nobel Peace Prize organization has provided an interactive map that shows conflict areas in the world from 1900 to 2001. A description pops up when a specified conflict area and time frame are chosen. This activity map will be very intriguing to students and will definitely prompt their study of conflict and conflict resolution.

World Heritage
http://whc.unesco.org/
UNESCO designates natural and man-made sites of "outstanding universal value" around the world as World Heritage sites to protect them for future generations. Students can zoom in on a world map to discover Heritage sites close to them as well as in far away places. This organization faces the challenge of protecting historic buildings and places such as Iran's ancient City of Bam and the Ruins of Songo Mnara in Tanzani. Natural sites like Mammouth Cave are also on the list to be preserved for the future. This is an excellent site to use for World Culture studies as it discusses conservation, diversity, conflict and cooperation, and many other geography standards.

World in the Balance (PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/nova/worldbalance  
World in the Balance, the companion Web site to NOVA's Earth Day special, features educational resources on population and the environment. Produced by TV station WGBH Boston, World in the Balance provides interactive population maps, classroom role plays, and activities including a population growth calculation, a global trends quiz, and a demographic matching game. The site also offers articles, expert interviews, and recommended links and books. Drawing from moving personal stories in India, Japan, Kenya, and China, World in the Balance gives visitors a deeper understanding of the massive baby boom in developing nations, the plunging birth rates in industrialized countries, and the impact these trends will have on the global environment.

Xpeditions Activities
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/
Xpeditions activities offer younger and older Xpeditioners the opportunity to use geography to complete a variety of missions. Parents, teachers, and friends can lend a hand. Xpeditioners are encouraged to use the "X-tras"—maps, games, stories, Web sites, and interactive features—to complete the tasks and to visit related annexes in Xpedition Hall once their mission is through.

Your Mission: The Last Mission
http://score.rims.k12.ca.us/activity/the_last_mission/
Your students are charged with finding a location for the last California Mission, and work as a team to research the geography, native peoples, and natural resources of the region. This can be a great alternative to the traditional “mission model.” Teachers can also use the hotlist of resources to supplement the fourth grade curriculum.

Zoom Explorers
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/explorers/
This is one of the more comprehensive overviews of exploration, covering not only the explorations of the Earth's surface, but also expeditions beneath the sea and into outer space. Suitable for grades K-8.

Government
(Back to Top)

Air Traffic Command Tour
http://www.fly.faa.gov/Information/Tour/tour.html

American Currency Exhibit
http://www.frbsf.org/currency/
Money hasn't always looked like it does today. Explore the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's American Currency Exhibit online and watch history come alive as you step back in time to our nation's beginning. Learn how the United States’ rich history is closely tied with our currency.

American Presidency
http://americanhistory.si.edu/presidency/
The American Presidency is a site for understanding everything about the President of the United States. The site contains interactive activities on five subjects, including the roles of the presidency. The resource section of the site contains a complete set of presidential resources, ranging from a list of presidents to a description of the military history of the various presidents. The upper menu bar of the site contains a scrollable presidential "lineup" associated with interesting artifacts and historical developments of the presidential period. Clicking on either the president or artifact links to a descriptive resource supported by interesting graphics.

AmericanPresident.org
http://www.americanpresident.org/  
When the site opens, you are presented with 2 pathways: History or Presidency in Action. The History section includes information on the Presidents themselves; biographies of each first lady; biographies of each cabinet member; listings of presidential staff and advisers; and timelines detailing significant events in the lives of each administration. Presidency in Action features the functional side of the American presidency, outlining the responsibilities of the President and the resources at his disposal. Includes essays; a graphically rich Organization Chart; and details about the offices the President relies on and the personnel inhabiting them. Biographies of leading staffers and advisers add further depth to this portrait of the White House at work. Brought to you by the Miller Center of Public Affairs, University of Virginia.

A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U.S. Constitution
http://americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/experience/index.html
How does a government balance human rights with a need for national security? This question is explored in an online exhibit from the Smithsonian. Immigration, Removal, Internment, Loyalty, Service and Justice are the areas available for viewing, with a special area for reflection by visitors. Classroom Activities are found under the Resources link at the bottom of the page.

Armed Forces Day
http://www.defenselink.mil/afd/
Armed Forces Day is celebrated annually on the third Saturday of May. This year it will be May 18. At this site, maintained by the U.S. Department of Defense, you can read the history of Armed Forces Day. The observance began in 1949 as a one-day celebration unifying each military branch's own celebration and remembrance day.

Ben's Guide to US Government
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/index.html     
This site provides learning tools for K-12 students, parents, and teachers. These resources will teach how our government works, the use of the primary source materials of GPO Access, and how one can use GPO Access to carry out their civic responsibilities. And, just as GPO Access provides locator services to U.S. Government sites, Ben's Guide provides a similar service to U.S. Government Web sites developed for kids.

Bill of Rights Institute
http://www.billofrightsinstitute.org/article.php?sid=270
Bill of Rights Institute has a large selection of free lesson plans available to teachers looking for a way to bring the Bill of Rights and the Constitution to life. Primary Source Activities, Citizenship and Character Lessons, and Historical Narratives offer new ideas for the study of the amendments to the U.S. Constitution and how those amendments affect U.S. society.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S.)
http://stats.bls.gov/home.htm 
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is the principal fact-finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics. The BLS is an independent national statistical agency that collects, processes, analyzes, and disseminates essential statistical data to the American public, the U.S. Congress, other Federal agencies, State and local governments, business, and labor. The BLS also serves as a statistical resource to the Department of Labor. Numerous methods for locating data including a search by Topic, by Audience, by Top 20 Requested Items, by Form, by Organization, by Location, and keyword.

Career Voyages (Dept. of Labor)
http://www.careervoyages.gov 
Current and updated lists of careers and "hot" occupations reported by states. The site lists the fastest growing occupations by state, the educational requirements for the occupations, and salary ranges. The site is maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Education and geared towards students, parents, counselors, and adults considering career change.

CIA's Homepage for Kids
http://www.odci.gov/cia/ciakids/
This site is divided into sections according to age. There is a page for K-5 and one for 6-12 with appropriate activities on each. This gives students a good look into what the CIA is what it does.

Congress for Kids
http://www.congressforkids.net/  
What do students think when they first hear the words "federal government?" Many think, "dull, boring, what's that got to do with me?" But learning about government doesn't have to be boring. Congress for Kids is set up as an interactive tour and helps students learn about the foundation of our federal government and how its actions affect all of us. Although designed for students in grades fourth through high school, other students, teachers, parents, and interested citizens will enjoy it too. Sponsored by The Dirksen Center.

CongressLink
http://www.congresslink.org/ 
CongressLink provides information about the U.S. Congress -- how it works, its members and leaders, and the public policies it produces. The site also hosts lesson plans and reference and historical materials related to congressional topics. CongressLink is divided into three major sections: Information Center (daily-updated guide to Congress); Features (historical info, basic congressional processes); and Classroom Resources (lesson plans, online historical materials, information to assist teachers, annotated links).The Dirksen Congressional Center, a non-profit, nonpartisan research and educational organization, designed the site as a service for teachers.

Cyberbee Election 2000
http://www.cyberbee.com/election/election.html

Dirksen Congressional Center
http://www.dirksencenter.org/
An effective site that provides non-partisan information concerning Congress and its leaders. The website includes CongressLink, up-to-date information on the US Congress; Congress for Kids, an excellent resource for younger students on the American Government; Congress in the Classroom Online, lessons on the House and the Senate; and the Communicator, a web-based newsletter.

EASE History (Michigan State University)
http://edcomm1.educ.msu.edu/Easetrial/index2.html  
EASE (Experience Acceleration Supportive Environment) History Campaign Ads is an interactive learning environment where presidential campaign ads are entry points to learn about campaign issues and their historical context, as well as the persuasive techniques and strategies that are part of political campaigns. More generally, the environment can be used to learn about history, from a beginner or a more advanced perspective, using video clips of historical events. The Learning Guide contains ideas and suggestions for classroom activities. Features over 160 campaign ads covering 1952 to 2004.

Election Co-nection
http://exchange.co-nect.net/Teleprojects/project/Election

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo/
The U.S. Department of Energy developed this "Energy Savers Guide" that focuses on energy efficiency and renewable energy. There are lots of subjects to warm a Science Teacher's heart: Save energy via home improvements, heat & cool, buy clean electricity, make your own clean electricity, and buy energy-smart vehicles. Be sure to have your students click on "How a wind turbine works" for an upbeat explanation of wind power. They can also click on a U.S. map for state-specific information.

FBI Kids and Youth Educational Page
http://www.fbi.gov/kids/k5th/kidsk5th.htm
Students can find out about Working Dogs and Crime Prevention, as well as find out the history and mission of the FBI. For Middle School students, visit http://www.fbi.gov/kids/6th12th.htm . The Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety is available in both English and Spanish at http://www.fbi.gov/library/pguide/pguide.htm

FDA Kids' Homepage
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/kids/
The Food and Drug Administration page for kids offers young people some insights into the FDA's responsibilities in the areas of food for animals; approval of vaccines; and the inspection of facilities that produce food products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Federal Court Concepts
http://www.catea.org/grade/legal/index.html  
This unit is designed to introduce secondary and postsecondary students to the American federal court system. It contains basic information about the structure of the federal courts, what kind of cases that federal courts hear, and how to use federal court decisions in research. After completing this module, students should be able to: 1) Understand the differences and similarities between the various types of federal courts; 2) Identify the levels of the federal court system; and 3) Grasp the basic principles of legal research.

Federal Reserve Education
http://www.federalreserveeducation.org/FRED/
"The Federal Reserve System is committed to economic and personal financial education. Here you can find links to instructional materials and tools that can increase your understanding of the Federal Reserve, economics and financial education."

FedWorld
http://www.fedworld.gov/
FedWorld offers a comprehensive central access point for searching, locating, ordering and acquiring government and business information. It has search features for Government Databases, FedWorld information Web Pages, Government Reports, and a link to Government Web Sites. FedWorld makes information accessible through an electronic gateway of more than 100 Government bulletin boards.

Fema For Kids
http://www.fema.gov/kids/

First Among Equals
http://www.nlc-bnc.ca/2/4/index-e.html
First Among Equals is an online version of an exhibit on the twenty Prime Ministers of Canada. Students can learn about the role of each Prime minister, the path they take to gain power, and even their private lives during and after they've been elected. There is also a children's version of this site intended for grades 4-6.

Firstgov for Kids
http://www.kids.gov/
Welcome to the U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. It provides links to Federal kids' sites along with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations all grouped by subject. Look for state report information as well as music and transportation.

H.I.P. Pocket Change: US Mint's Site for Kids
http://usmint.gov/kids/ 
This site has been updated since last featured. The History In Your Pocket (H.I.P.) Pocket Change site showcases the connection between this country's coins and its people. Through games, stories, and other activities, the site brings to life both the extraordinary individuals who appear on U.S. coinage and the generations of citizens who've used this pocket change. Extensive teacher resources available.

Internet's Best Government Information Site!
http://www.govspot.com

Issues 2000
http://www.issues2000.org/

Kids' House
http://www.kids.house.state.tx.us/
"Where Texas Kids Meet Texas State Government." This new Texas House of Representatives "Kids' House" website premiered Wednesday before a Midland elementary school audience that included House Speaker Tom Craddick and his wife, Nadine. It was designed for Texas students in first through eighth grades. Kids' House features information about state government, elected state officials and state laws, including how laws are written. It also includes a video tour of the State Capitol and has links for teachers and students to related websites.

Living Room Candidate (American Museum of the Moving Image)
http://livingroomcandidate.movingimage.us/index.php  
The Living Room Candidate: Presidential Campaign Commercials 1952-2004 is an innovative online exhibition presenting more than 250 television commercials from every election year beginning in 1952, when the first campaign ads aired, and including ads from this year's campaign. Users can watch nearly four hours of TV commercials and explore the expanding world of Web-based political advertising. The site includes a searchable database and features commentary, historical background, election results, and navigation organized by both year and theme. Each commercial selected is accompanied by a list of related commercials in order to help guide the viewer through the collection.

Meet the Candidates
http://herrickses.org/searingtown/election/  
Your students will learn about candidates and elections as they participate in this timely project by working in teams to research platforms and policies, develop marketing plans, or plan for public awareness campaigns. All links are included and teacher planning materials are available for convenience. Grades 5 and up.

Model UN Headquarters
http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/modelun/index.asp
This site provides ways to model the UN in your own school. The first section on "Getting Started" includes how to start a MUN club and select a country to represent. The next section provides an overview consisting of tips for gathering information and developing Model UN skills. Research help for specific topics is given in a question and answer format. Students can also contact experts on the United Nations. Each expert has a page explaining their particular expertise and "Words of Wisdom" to students. The site has a new monthly feature called "Ask an Ambassador" where students can submit questions about that particular ambassador's country. Links to other resources on UN basics and global issues are included.

Money Central Station (US Bureau of Engraving and Printing)
http://www.moneyfactory.com/kids/start.html  
Bright, colorful, noisy games from the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Divided into two sections, 5-8 year olds and 9-13 year olds, each section contains 4 games that test players knowledge about money. The 9-13 section also has information on each denomition of paper money. Not informative enough to provide a full lesson; but useful as a culminating activity or special treat.

MuniSource
http://www.munisource.org/

National Interagency Fire Center
http://www.nifc.gov/
The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho is the nation’s support center for wildland firefighting. Seven federal agencies call NIFC home and work together to coordinate and support wildland fire and disaster operations. These agencies include the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, National Weather Service, and Office of Aircraft Services.

National Security Archive
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/index.html
Declassified U.S. Government documents are available from George Washington University. Some of these primary sources include "The Real Thirteen Days" (Cuban Missile Crisis), "Fujimori's Rasputin" (background documents that explain Peru's sudden shift in leadership), and the "U.S. and Chinese Nuclear Programs (1960-1964)." Many documents have blacked out areas that contain information that still might threaten national security.

National Student/Parent Mock Election
http://www.nationalmockelection.org/index.html
The National Student/Parent Mock Election makes students and parents aware of the power of their ballot by actively involving them in a FREE full-fledged campaign and national election. In the last two presidential election years alone, over 10 million students, parents and teachers participated in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and 14 countries/territories around the world where Americans are based. Over 40 million have participated since the project began. The National Student/Parent Mock Election is a non-profit, non-partisan organization and began as part of another project, the NBC Parent Participation TV Workshop. !!Mock Election Day is November 1, 2002!!

New Ways to Learn About Congress
http://www.congresslink.org

Official U.S. Time
http://www.time.gov/
Do you need to know the official U.S. time to the second? Go to this site and click on the correct time zone. You will find a ticking digital clock with the official time provided by the two time agencies of United States: a Department of Commerce agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and its military counterpart, the U. S. Naval Observatory (USNO). There is also a link called Time Exhibits that will lead you to interesting sites concerning time.

Oyez Baseball
http://baseball.oyez.org/ 
This activity will stretch the critical thinking skills of high school students. Players try to answer questions about similarities between Supreme Court Justices from the United States and baseball players. Perfect for team play; some students might possess a basic knowledge of well-known baseball players while others might know more about the historical and sometimes colorful figures of the Supreme Court. (This site requires Macromedia Flash which is ok to install.)

PBS Kids Democracy Project
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/
In this previously featured site, have your students discover the purpose of Election Day this November 5th. This interactive site allows children to learn from the past and prepare for their future as American voters through several activities. They can become President for a Day or visit the Voting Booth. There are also lesson plans for teachers.

Peace Corps: Kids World
http://www.peacecorps.gov/kids/
Learn about Peace Corps activites around the world, about countries where volunteers have made a difference, about what its like to live in a different country, and about storytelling from about the world.

Peace Corps World Wide Schools
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/
This wonderful addition to the Peace Corps site offers many resources for educators and students. Connect with a volunteer, find lesson plans relating to different countries, view video clips of Peace Corps educational videos, and read folk tales recorded by Peace Corps volunteers.

Present at the Creation
http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/features/patc/spin/index.html
When politics are concerned teaching students the difference between lies, the truth, and spin is not an easy task. The National Public Radio's exploration of American cultural icons focuses on the evolution of "spin," the "deliberate shading of news perception; attempted control of political reaction" that became a part of our vocabulary during the Reagan vs. Mondale election of 1984.

President Calling
http://www.americanradioworks.org/features/prestapes/index.html  
Three of America's most compelling presidents - Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon - bugged their White House offices and tapped their telephones. They left behind thousands of secretly recorded conversations, from momentous to mundane. In this documentary project, American RadioWorks eavesdrops on presidential telephone calls to hear how each man used one-on-one politics to shape history. Includes photographs and recordings.

Project Vote Smart
http://www.vote-smart.org/index.htm  
Project Vote Smart (PVS) contains information on thousands of candidates and officials in five basic categories: backgrounds, issue positions, voting records, campaign finances and performance evaluations. PVS alsom maintains CongressTrack, which monitors the status of major federal legislation and a calendar for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives. But wait, there's more: voter registration forms for each state; contact information for state and county election offices; polling place and absentee ballot information; ballot measure descriptions for each state (where applicable); and links to federal and state government agencies, political parties and organizations. Forty national leaders, including former presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, formed Project Vote Smart (PVS) in 1992.

State Report Section of ClassBrain
http://www.statereports.com
Although it is the ideal for students to consult many resources for state reports, teachers really need to be aware of what's on the web. Classbrain has assembled state report resources for all those students (and parents) doing reports on U.S. states. Templates, clipart and other resources are available here. The websites gathered for each state include the official state websites, so this will be a place to start for many students.

Supreme Court of the United States
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/

United Nations Cyberschoolbus
http://www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
This site contains resources and curriculum surrounding global issues and the work of the United Nations.

United States Copyright Office: The Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/copyright/
Here you will find key publications, including informational circulars; application forms for copyright registration; links to copyright law and to the homepages of other copyright-related organizations; news of what the Office is doing, including Congressional testimony and press releases; latest regulations; a link to online copyright records cataloged since 1978; and much more.

United States Mint h.i.p. pocket change
http://www.usmint.gov/kids/default.html

USDA for Kids
http://www.usda.gov/news/usdakids/index.html  
Dozens of links from this U.S. Department of Agriculture site help kids (and adults) get information about everything from the food guide pyramid to backyard conservation. Many of the links take users to related sites sponsored by others. The Twig Walkingstick site, for example, from the Ohio State University Extension program, gives kids answers to all kinds of science and nature questions including "Why are slugs so slimey?" and "How does the goo get inside chocolate-covered cherries?"

U.S. Presidential Election Maps
http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/elections/maps/
Check out the Presidential Election maps with this site. You can see the percentage of popular vote and electoral vote distribution and totals. View the information on popular vote on a map so you can see in which states the president was more popular. It is color coded by presidential candidate. For Electoral Vote Distribution and Totals, the information is also shown on a map and is color coded for ease of information.

Westward Journey Nickel Series
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/index.cfm?flash=yes&action=nickel_series
Lewis and Clark presented Peace Medals from the President of the United States to the various Indian tribes they met on their journey West. The United States Mint will modify the five-cent coin to represent these historic events. At this site students will find the two new engravings, the Peace Medal and the Keelboat, to be used on the coin. "New Nickel Lessons" reinforces the connection between history and the coins we have in our pockets. With a few clicks, all the wonderful colorful resources of the U.S. Mint "h.i.p. pocket change" section can be had for K - 6 students. The Teacher Feature entitled "Coins of the World" allows elementary students to travel through France to explore their history, culture, and currency. This activity plan reflects national standards in the Language Arts, Social Studies and Technology areas.

White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/
The president and First Lady Laura Bush recently showed off the newly redone whitehouse.gov to reporters in the stately presidential library in the White House complex. New features include photo essays that showcase some of the best work of the official White House photographers, better access for the disabled and a kid's area where younger visitors can meet the First Pets.

White House for Kids
http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/
This site is an educational opportunity for young Americans to learn about the White House and the President through fun and exciting features. A guide gives teachers ideas on how to use the site in the classroom and parent's ideas on topics to discuss with their child as they navigate through the site. The themes of reading, making good choices (such as going to school) and dreaming about the future are woven into the site's content through the personification of the President's pets and animals.

With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty (Library of Congress)
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/  
On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas, declaring that "separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." This decision was pivotal to the struggle for racial desegregation in the United States. This exhibition commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of this landmark judicial case. "With an Even Hand" is divided into three sections. The exhibition examines precedent-setting court cases that laid the ground work for the Brown v. Board decision, explores the Supreme Court argument and the public's response to it, and closes with an overview of this profound decision's aftermath. The exhibition features more than one hundred items from the Library's extensive holdings, including books, documents, photographs, personal papers, manuscripts, maps, music, films, political cartoons, and prints. A film compilation captures the historic events and highlights media coverage of the struggle for desegregation.

World Flag Database
http://www.flags.net/ 
This is a very large flag database alphabetized for easy browsing. The flags are full color, and you get several. If you pull up the United States in the U section, you will see our stars and stripes and then you can browse by state. You can also drop into the "Flags from History" section where you'll find flags from WWII and Viet Nam. There is also the "What’s New" section, which gives you updates and let you know when maps are updated.

World's Smallest Political Quiz
http://www.self-gov.org/quiz.html

History
(Back to Top)

1492: An Ongoing Voyage
http://www.ibiblio.org/expo/1492.exhibit/Intro.html
An exhibit by the Library of Congress supplies diverse facts on the famous 1492 voyage. The exhibition first examines the encounter between the European explorers and the native people. They explore five geographical areas: The Caribbean Island Societies, the Middle American Cultures, the Andes, Life in the Highlands, the South Atlantic Peoples, and the Diverse Societies of North America. The changing order of the Mediterranean World gives a new perspective to the discovery of America. The entry for Christopher Columbus, too, gives a different slant on the Man and the Myth. The entire site is fortified with pictures and descriptions of artifacts from the time. All in all, the Library of Congress presents multiple routes for discussions on Columbus Day.

9/11 As History
http://www.familiesandwork.org/911ah/911ashistory.html
9/11 As History is a multi-dimensional program and resource to help youth, parents and educators address the anniversary of September 11th with resiliency and hope. This educational initiative offers Web-based tools, lesson plans, resources and tips for educators to help students commemorate September 11.

A Biography of America
http://www.learner.org/biographyofamerica/
A Biography of America features 27 periods in American history, including such topics as westward expansion, slavery, and the Sixties. Each period contains resources about key events, maps, a transcript of the original TV program and a Webography of additional online resources. Each section also includes a featured, interactive resource that complements the other four components of the section.

About Famous People
http://www.aboutfamouspeople.com/
This site has a great collection of information on famous women throughout history. From First Ladies to Spies, you’ll find it all here, not to mention famous men as well. Get information on the Presidents, and their first ladies, homes and monuments that were erected to honor famous people, and what days of the year are dedicated to famous men and women around the globe.

A Colonial Family and Community
http://www.hfmgv.org/education/smartfun/colonial/intro/
Be a history detective. Go back in time and investigate the daily lives of the Daggetts, a colonial family from northeastern Connecticut. Collect clues to uncover answers to 7 questions about colonial life in the 1700s. Then prove your skills as a history detective by discovering "What's wrong with this picture?"

Academy of Achievement
http://www.achievement.org/
The American Academy of Achievement salutes nearly 90 men and women whose accomplishments, in the academy's view, helped shape the 20th century. The honorees are divided into five different categories, each of which has its own hall within the academy. Included are halls of arts, business, public service, sports, and science and exploration.

Access More Than 7,000 Historical Advertisements
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/adaccess

Akhet Internet: The Horizon to the Past
http://www.akhet.co.uk/

Alexander Hamilton (New York Historical Society)
http://www.alexanderhamiltonexhibition.org/index.html  
Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America. The virtual exhibition complements the physical exhibition and includes a virtual tour, information about New York and New Jersey during Hamilton's life, a document viewer for examining historic materials, Hamilton log - a month by month personal diary, a timeline, and information about his peers. There are photos, audio, interactive maps, and primary source materials.

America in the 1930's
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~1930s/front.html
This site from the American Studies at the University of Virginia gives a comprehensive look at The 1930's. Sections include the 1930's On Film, In Print, On Display, and On The Air. There is a Timeline and a Site Index that makes everything easily accessible.

American Centuries: Views from New England
http://www.memorialhall.mass.edu/
American Centuries features a digital collection of approximately 1,800 objects from Memorial Hall Museum and Library of Deerfield, MA. Teachers will want to access the excellent curricula for Elementary or Middle School students. Activities include transcribing primary sources and training young eyes to observe artifacts of the past.

American Notes: Travels in America, 1750-1920 (Library of Congress)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/lhtnhtml/lhtnhome.html  
This site is comprised of 253 published narratives by Americans and foreign visitors recounting their travels in the colonies and the United States and their observations and opinions about American peoples, places, and society from about 1750 to 1920. American Notes includes the work of several major literary figures, including James Fenimore Cooper, Charles Dickens, Washington Irving, Frederick Law Olmsted, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Multiple access points including Search by Keyword; Browse by Subject Index, Author Index, or Title Index.

American Red Cross Museum
http://www.redcross.org/museum/
This is a good site about the American Red Cross. Especially interesting are the sections on History and Exhibits and Collections.

American Women
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/awhhtml/  
American Women is a gateway for Library of Congress researchers working in the field of American women's history. The site contains a slightly expanded and fully searchable version of the print publication "American Women: A Library of Congress Guide for the Study of Women's History and Culture in the United States" (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 2001). The guide has been redesigned for online use, with added illustrations and links to existing digitized material located throughout the Library of Congress Web site.

America on the Move
http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/onthemove/
This rich, varied site explores the role of transportation in America's history, thereby fulfilling many state standards on the importance of transportation in the building of America. Themes include Arts and Leisure, Immigration and Migration, Work and Industry, and other subjects connected to transportation in America. There are historical photos, tours through exhibits, a section on games for children, and a teachers' resource center. The Smithsonian has included an interactive activity in which students choose a transportation type, a particular vehicle, a purpose, an era in U.S. history, and a region and can then see stories and pictures of artifacts.

Ancient China (British Museum)
http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/menu.html  
The site is divided into five 'chapters' which address themes or topics relevant to ancient China. Within each 'chapter' there are three sections: Story (narratives), Explore (pupil controls the order in which they access the information) and Challenge (historical, analytical, mathematical, or observational activities). Main topics include Crafts and Artisans; Geography; Time (how time was kept in ancient China; Tombs and Ancestors; and Writing (nature and uses of writing in ancient China).

Ancient History (BBC)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/  
On this site you'll find in-depth articles, multimedia (games, virtual tours and animations) as well as bite-size material like timelines and short biographies of historic figures. Ancient History covers Anglo Saxons, Egyptians, Greeks, Prehistory, Romans, and Vikings. Done by the BBC, so some things like Programmes are not applicable to most students; however there are chats and forums with experts from BBC History programmes, recommended printable articles, and quizzes and activities on selected historical themes.

Ancient India
http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/  
This site has 3 main goals: 1) provide an educationally sound online resource that can be used independently by pupils; 2) provide teachers with an online resource that is user-friendly and combines suggested classroom activities and online activities with background support and information; and 3) present information about ancient India through the use of objects from the British Museum's collection. It is divided into these sections: Geography, Story of the Buddha, growth of civilization around the Indus Valley, ancient scripts, how time was kept in ancient India, and the evolution of the gods and goddesses and the development of the modern Hindu religion.

Ancient Mexico
http://www.ancientmexico.com/
Welcome to Ancient Mexico where you can learn about the history, art, and culture of Ancient Mesoamerica. There are sections called Map, The Gods, The Conquest, Timeline, and Documents. On the front page if you scroll down you can also find interesting articles on things in the news about Ancient Mexico. So, travel back in time and discover the rich history of Mexico.

AncientScripts.com
http://www.ancientscripts.com/  
According to the site creator, Lawrence K. Lo, "The aim of Ancient Scripts is not to replace texts books or instructional web sites. Instead, it is designed to give an introduction to writing systems, which hopefully will tantalize the reader into searching for more information on the web or in books and publications." Major divisions within the site are: 1) Writing Systems; 2) Phonetics; 3) Historical Linguistics; 4) Extra (ramblings, games, etc); 5) Bibliography; and 6) Web links. Quite extensive and written in a style that is accessible to young learners.

Anglo-Apache Conflicts
http://www.historyglobe.com/apache/  
This website provides an interactive map, summaries, biographies, and primary documents about major conflicts. Unusual format allows users to select "people" or "conflicts" and then the year. An interactive map displays locations. Limited amounts of information make is useful for younger students. Short quizzes are built-in. Created by History Globe.

Anne Frank the Writer: an Unfinished Story
http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/af/htmlsite/  
Anne's diary, published in 1947 and eventually translated into almost 70 languages, is for many young readers the first encounter with the history of Nazi Germany. Between the ages of 13 and 15, Anne wrote short stories, fairy tales, essays, and the beginnings of a novel. Five notebooks and more than 300 loose pages handwritten during her two years in hiding survived the war. This website presents an indepth look at her writings through the use of a narrated exhibition, interviews, an opportunity for site users to respond, artifacts from the museum, and links to other recommended sites. Produced by The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

Antietam on the Web
http://aotw.org/ 
The Battle of Antietam fought on September 17, 1862 near the small town of Sharpsburg, Maryland. It began in 1997 as a small personal project but it has grown well beyond that, both as an exercise in history research and as a Web project. Here's what you'll find: Frequently Asked Questions; Discussion Forum; Battle Overview; Battle Maps; Participant Search Tool; images; Articles & Exhibits (including eyewitness accounts and other primary source material); Special Subjects; Official Reports (by many of the officers for the Maryland Campaign of 1862); and a keyword search tool.

Asia for Educators
http://afe.easia.columbia.edu 
Featuring a variety of lesson plans, curriculum units, and other teaching materials categorized by subject area and time period, Asia for Educators (AFE) is designed to serve faculty and students in world history, culture, geography, art, and literature at the undergraduate and pre-college levels.

Aviation History Online Museum
http://www.aviation-history.com/
This is an interesting look at the history of aviation with sections including Aircraft, Photo Gallery, Airmen, Engines, Early Years, and Theory.

Battle Of Britain
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/bobhome.html

BBC Online: History for Kids
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/forkids/
BBC proves history can be fun with this site, which is designed for children of all ages but is well done enough to keep most adults interested as well. For the kids, there are games and quizzes to keep things lively. Visitors may search for historical information by time, place, event, or person.

BellSouth's Digital Storyteller
http://www.knowitall.org/bellsouthdigitalstoryteller/  
The BellSouth Digital Storyteller project is an opportunity for students to learn history first hand by interviewing veterans from WWII and Korea. After selecting a topic from the History Curriculum Standards, students identify veterans who have actually experienced the event(s) they are studying. Using video technology, the students interview the veterans, capture footage, edit the story, and record a living memory. During this process, the students put learning into practice while developing communication, research, and technology skills.

Betsy Ross Homepage
http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/index.html

Biography Center
http://www.biography-center.com/

California as We Saw It (California State Library)
http://www.library.ca.gov/goldrush/index.cfm  
The goal of the exhibit is: provide an overview of the Gold Rush, emphasize the strength of the Library's collection, and incorporate items that will simultaneously delight, surprise, and inform. The exhibit features many examples drawn from the California History Section's extensive manuscript collections including maps, journals, letters, printed books, pamphlets, periodicals, and newspapers. Within each section, you'll find descriptions and photos of primary source materials.

Camelot Village
http://www.camelotintl.com/village/street.html
This site provides a colorful interactive introduction to daily life in Britain during the Middle Ages. Visitors will have an entertaining look at some of Britain's historical places of the period, as well as Arthurian legends and daily life.

Campaigns That Have Made a Difference (Ad Council)
http://www.adcouncil.org/campaigns/historic_campaigns/  
For more than 60 years, the Ad Council has developed hundreds of public service advertising campaigns. The selected Public Service Announcements (PSAs) highlighted in the Historic Campaigns section have made a measurable difference in our society. There is some data in the Research section; but the campaigns themselves are fascinating and also include statistical info. Some ads have accompanying video clips and graphics.

Camp Harmony Exhibit
http://www.lib.washington.edu/exhibits/harmony/exhibit/index.html
This site documents the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Most impressive are the letters from elementary and high school students back to their teachers. The exhibit is based on all primary source materials such as newspapers, photographs, and other documents.

Canadian West
http://www.archives.ca/05/0529/052901_e.html
How did Westward expansion play out in what is now the Canadian provinces? Access early maps that show European cartographers' best guesses at the western lands. Learn how the fur trade and scientific expeditions impacted the future of the land and the peoples living there then witness the urbanization and industrialization of Canada in the 1920s.

Canela Indians of Northeastern Central Brazil
http://www.mnh.si.edu/anthro/