America Dreams through the decades
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/97/dream/index.html
Teacher educators Leni Donlan and Kathleen Ferenz have taken a new
twist on the WebQuest model in this Activity. Like all good WebQuests,
"American Dreams" challenges students to tackle a complex topic, access
rich resources , and work together to synthesize their learning into an
informed perspective on the topic. What makes "American Dreams"
especially noteworthy is the strategy of using the resources provided
by one (very) robust Website: the American Memory sections from the
Library of Congress. In this way, Donlan and Ferenz capitalize on the
great supporting resources developed by the LoC, thereby cutting down
on what the teachers need to develop. Furthermore, by viewing the LoC
resources through a WebQuest prism, "American Dreams" turns great
information into great learning. Doesn't this sound like what good
teachers have always done: take a rich resource, explore it to come up
with the most educational aspects and then shape a learning activity
for students.
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).
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.
Between
the Lions Stories (PBS)
http://pbskids.org/lions/stories.html
Between the Lions consists of Stories, Games, Things to Print, Songs,
ideas in Parents & Teachers, a site Map, Newsletter, and
Recommended Books. There are at least 70 stories that you can read and
watch online. Each story links to related games. You can also print the
story. Parents & Teachers includes more information about each
episode and its curriculum, and features over 300 literacy tips. You
can also use the Episode guide to view a brief summary of the episode
and then select the appropriate story based on desired learning goals
(http://pbskids.org/lions/about/episodes.html). Between the Lions is
produced by WGBH Boston and Sirius Thinking, Ltd., in association with
Mississippi Public Broadcasting.
Biography
Maker
http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/biomaker.htm
These online lessons explain what a biography should be and walk
writers through questioning, learning, synthesis, and story-telling.
The site includes embedded links to relevant Internet resources and
tips for effective writing.
Picturing a
Canadian Life: L.M. Montgomery's
Personal Scrapbooks and Book Covers
http://lmm.confederationcentre.com/
L.M. Montgomery's novels are famous world-wide; most of the titles have
remained in print since their first publication and many of them have
been translated into other languages. Part of Montgomery's genius lies
in her creation of everyday life in turn-of-the-century and early
twentieth-century Canada. An avid record-keeper, Montgomery kept
personal scrapbooks that included photographs, fabrics, souvenirs and
clippings. These collections are housed in four different locations and
are fragile. Thus, these rarely-seen materials could not be widely
accessible for study or enjoyment except through this digital
exhibition. This site is extremely rich and includes a variety of
materials including book covers, information about Montgomery's
writing, importance of images in her writing, creating your own
scrapbooks, changing role of women, chronology, Teacher Tips page
Postcard
Geography 2001-2002
http://www.cyberbee.com/pcg/howto.html
This is not a repeat of last week's Blue Web'n (that was a project with
e-postcards). Paper postcards are still the rage! 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.
Teaching
Tolerance
http://www.splcenter.org/center/tt/teach.jsp
A project of the Southern Poverty Law Center, Teaching
Tolerance
encourages people from all walks of life to "fight hate and promote
tolerance." For educators, there are curriculum packages that can be
ordered at no cost, as well online lesson ideas. For Kids has online
activities and games that promote multiculturalism and tolerance.
The
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.)
The Kid's
Philosophy Slam
http://www.philosophyslam.org/
The Kids Philsophy Slam is a program designed to make philosophy
accessible and fun for students of all ages and abilities. This site
encourages students to think for themselves and allows them to express
their ideas in a variety of formats, such as writing, drawing,
painting, or poetry. This contest is for grade levels K-12 and has a
special division for special education students.
The
Library of Congress: Webcasts [Real Player]
http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/index.php
Over the past six years, the Library of Congress has documented several
hundred of the talks, discussions, and conferences that have taken
place under its leadership. On this site, visitors have access to all
of these talks in their entirety, along with webcasts from the National
Book Festival. Visitors can scan through a complete list of all 303
webcasts, or browse a thematic list that organizes the talks into areas
such as religion, government, and education.
The Moonlit Road
http://www.themoonlitroad.com
Take a walk down The Moonlit Road if you want to read or listen to
interesting folktales presented at a state-of-the-art Website. Producer
Craig Dominey and his team have taken a simple concept and created a
quality contribution to the Web community. Beginning with compelling
stories of the American South, then adding RealAudio versions read by
celebrated stoytellers and appealing graphics, The Moonlit Road can be
a satisfying detour for young children and lifelong learners alike.
This is a good
Ad*Access Project
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/adaccess/
"The Ad*Access Project, funded by the Duke Endowment "Library 2000"
Fund, presents images and database information for over 7,000
advertisements printed in U.S. and Canadian newspapers and magazines
between 1911 and 1955. Ad*Access concentrates on five main subject
areas: Radio, Television, Transportation, Beauty and Hygiene, and World
War II, providing a coherent view of a number of major campaigns and
companies through images preserved in one particular advertising
collection available at Duke University."
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 Writers
http://www.americanwriters.org/
Created by the cable network C-SPAN to accompany its series of the same
name, this website gives information about the featured author, and
links to lessons and activities. From the main page (left column),
choose classroom. You can either register, or view the lessons as a
visitor. In the middle column for resources, you have access to
Teachers Resources or Study the Source, which gives questions for
critical analysis.
Cyber Newseum
http://www.newseum.org/cybernewseum/html/index.htm
The Cyber Newseum, the only interactive museum of news, highlights
several exhibitions in their online exhibit area. War Stories tells
what it is like to a war correspondent, with interview clips from
correspondents from World War II, the Korean conflict, Vietnam, Desert
Storm, and other international conflicts. Holocaust, the Untold Story
examines the role of the press during WWII. The Pulitzer Prize winning
political cartoons of 1999 by David Horsey are highlighted. Students
can also learn about the roles that the media and news technology
played in the space race.
CyberGuides
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/SCORE/cyberguide.html
CyberGuides are back! For those of you that missed them, CyberGuides:
Teacher Guides and Student Activities, are back after a brief hiatus.
The guides were created by California teachers as supplementary,
standards-based, web-delivered units of instruction centered on core
works of literature. So, all you literature and literacy teachers,
check out the newly revised works.
Absolute
Whootie:
Stories to Grow By
http://www.storiestogrowby.com
This collection of stories and tales from around the world includes a
lesson plan and simple questions for each story. You can search the
stories or see a complete list with descriptions, age range, and time
required to read the story. Children are invited to illustrate selected
stories and share their answers to end-of-story questions.
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.
American Experience: A Midwife's Tale (PBS)
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/mwt/index.html
In 1785 Martha Ballard began the diary that she would keep for the next
27 years, until her death. At a time when fewer than half the women in
America were literate, Ballard faithfully recorded the weather, her
daily household tasks, her midwifery duties, and countless incidents
that reveal the turmoil of a new nation. Historian Laurel Thatcher
Ulrich discusses the importance of Martha Ballard's diary and what it
reveals about 17th century America and women's roles at that time.
Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book of the same name by Laurel
Thatcher Ulrich, "A Midwife's Tale," Teaching Activities may be adapted
in the absence of the for-fee film. See also Do History at
http://dohistory.org/ for related materials.
American Folklore
http://www.americanfolklore.net/
This site makes folktales from different U.S. states easy to find.
Contains retellings of American folktales, Native American myths and
legends, tall tales, weather folklore and ghost stories from each and
every one of the 50 United States. You can read about all sorts of
famous characters like Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Jesse James, Davy
Crockett, Daniel Boone, and many more. The target audiences are
storytellers, teachers, folklore fans and students needing state
folklore for school projects. Does not support keyword search; but does
have categories and a story index
(http://www.americanfolklore.net/sindex.html). The site is updated
regularly. Created by Sandra E. Schlosser.
American Journalism Review
http://www.ajr.org/
The American Journalism Review comes out six times a year. The print
magazine is available here for the general public in an electronic
format, and contains articles ranging from the changing media landscape
in the United States and to discussions about whether newsrooms should
use the names of illegal immigrants in their reporting on various
events. Visitors can browse the archives of this publication all the
way back to 1991.
Bartlett's Familiar Quotations
http://www.columbia.edu/acis/bartleby/bartlett/
An online version of this classic from the Bartleby Project allows
rapid searching for quotes. This on-line version is even better than
the actual tome.
Beast Within: An Interdisciplinary Unit
http://www.cyberlearning-world.com/nhhs/html/beast.htm
This multidiscipline unit involves a study of the darker side
of human nature as explored by the literature and history of 20th
century man. The 9th grade US Government course calls for an
examination of authoritarian government as compared with a democratic
system. To achieve this goal, we examine the human rights abuses of
such regimes as Nazi Germany, Iraq under Saddam Hussein, Cuba under
Fidel Castro, and China under the Communist Party.
Chaucer Metapage
http://www.unc.edu/depts/chaucer/index.html
For teachers and students trying to understand Chaucer, or for those
trying to get a feel for life in 14th and 15th Century England, visit
this site to read about Chaucer's work, hear the work read aloud, and
figure out the meanings of Olde English words found in his work.
Child Labor in America 1908-1912
http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/childlabor/index.html
Although the focus is somewhat narrow, the content is compelling. High
quality photographs of children dwarfed by the adult work world speak
volumes about their lives and the world that surrounds them. Explore
the expressions on the children's faces and the evocative background
settings. Don't miss the about
page or the link to the 1997
International
Conference on Child Labor report at the UNICEF web site. The
site
could be used with students of many grade levels for social studies and
language arts.
, reviewed 6/11/99
)
Electronic Reference Formats Recommended by APA
http://www.apastyle.org/elecref.html
When in doubt, go to the source. The APA, one of the major style guides
for academic writing, has revised their guidelines for electronic
citations. Keep up with the latest information for citing all your
electronic sources, including electronic databases. Having these
resources online sure beats buying a book every time something changes.
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.
Graphic Design
from the 1920's and 1930's
http://www.travelbrochuregraphics.com
Trying to set the scene for the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald or the
rise of Adolph Hitler? This is an online gallery created to share a
collection of 1920s and 1930s travel-related ephemera (printed matter
of passing interest).
Great American Speeches
http://www.pbs.org/greatspeeches/
Eighty years worth of great speeches are captured here, as well as some
interesting exercises for students of speech and American History. The
Critics Corner features Richard Nixon's Checkers' Speech, as well as
background information, and links within the speech to explain the
context of specific words or terms used in the speech. If you watch
excerpts of Presidential speeches on tape, you should have students try
Could You Be A Politician, where they get a chance to read from a mock
teleprompter while looking honest, sincere, and trustworthy. Some
trick! Several more activities to liven high school and college
classrooms.
Hezzie Goes to War: World War I through the Eyes of a Mid-Missourian
http://coas.missouri.edu/anthromuseum/pattrickwwi
For students who communicate with servicemen abroad, parallels can be
drawn between current world conflicts and conflicts of the past. This
website gives some insight into one soldier's experiences during World
War I.E A past Blue Web'n pick, Letters from an Iowa Soldier in the
Civil War at http://www.ucsc.edu/civil-war-letters/home.html,
can provide a view from another time.
EDSITEment
http://edsitement.neh.gov
EDSITEment offers a treasure trove for teachers, students, and parents
searching for high-quality material on the Internet in the subject
areas of literature and language arts, foreign languages, art and
culture, and history and social studies. All websites linked to
EDSITEment have been reviewed for content, design, and educational
impact in the classroom. The site includes over
100 links to the top humanities sites and online
lesson plans
(K-12) which integrate EDSITEment resources to promote active learning.
From the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Council of the
Great City Schools, MCI and the National Trust for the Humanities.
Hero's Journey
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/smc/journey/
The purpose of this web site is to create an environment where anyone
can create a story using the mythical hero structure described by
Joseph Campbell. The site includes an extensive reference section,
ideas and examples, and a "StoryTool" for creating original Hero's
Journey stories. Hero's Journey is a project of the Maricopa Center for
Learning & Instruction (MCLI) and the South Mountain Community
College Storytelling Institute.
Mount
Rushmore: American Experience
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/rushmore/
This online exhibit chronicles the planning, design, implementation and
minutiae of Mount Rushmore, the U.S. monument commemorating four
presidents. Between January 1, 2002 and May 24, 2002, American
Experience is holding an essay contest with this topic question: "If
the Park Service ever were to add an inscription to Mount Rushmore,
what do you think it should say?" There is also an activity for
students to design a memorial commemorating the September 11, 2001
terrorist attacks. These activities, as well as activities in the
disciplines of civics, history, economics, and geography can be found
under Teacher's Guide.
Only a Matter of
Opinion?
http://library.advanced.org/50084/
Editorials, columns, and editorial cartoons are classified as opinion
pieces. Only a Matter of Opinion? introduces opinion pieces,
encouraging all to write and to draw their own after instruction and
research.
Project
Gutenberg
http://promo.net./pg/
THE collection of electronic texts. A good starting point for students
to create their own hypertext version of the classics. (If you want to
view/download novels or plays, make sure you have plenty of memory
allotted to your browser.)
The
Online Journalism Review
http://ojr.usc.edu/
The Online Journalism Review is a Web-based journal produced at the
Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Southern
California. This site covers a full range of journalistic issues in all
media, but with a particular emphasis on the Internet. A great resource
for Journalism students at high schools or colleges. OJR's Guide to
Online Reporter Resources is a great place to start students that want
to do journalism research online.
Understanding
the Kosovo Conflict: A lesson in Media Literacy
http://www.lhric.org/war/lesson.html
New York educators Katerina Ceman and Mrinalini Rajwar developed this
site to look at bias in the media and in government rhetoric. The
lessons require critial reading and thinking, and is a good example of
how the Internet can support rich learning activities.
Vintage Books Reading Group Center
http://www.randomhouse.com/vintage/read/
"Reading groups are a popular way for book lovers to get together to
talk about books. Groups are formed in a variety of ways--through
bookstores, organizations, and also privately with friends. Vintage
Books has designed Reading Group Guides to enhance a group's reading
and discussion of a book. They include a description of each book,
questions, discussion topics, author biography, and sometimes a note
from the author to assist the group in having a stimulating and
interesting discussion." Most of the works are contemporary fiction
best suited to adult groups or Advanced Placement English students.
Westward, Ho
http://www.cyberbee.com/wwho/
Westward Ho is now taking registrations.E 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, which will be filled with thrills and perhaps chills,
register at http://www.cyberbee.com/wwho/wwho_reg2.html.
SparkNotes
http://www.thespark.com/sparknotes/
Created by Harvard University students and alumni, SparkNotes isa
collection of free online study guides to approximately 100 literature
classics Each SparkNote contains sections on context, characters,
overall summary, chapter-by-chapter summary and commentary, study
questions, and a message board for collaborative learning.
High School
Journalism
http://www.highschooljournalism.org/
Sponsored by The American Society of Newspaper Editors and The Radio
and Television News Directors Foundation, to help scholastic journalism
grow where it does not exist and flourish where it does. This site is
geared toward teen journalists, their teachers and guidance counselors.
Content includes skills-building exercises, sample lesson plans, a
spotlight on high school newspapers across the country, interaction
with professional journalists, updates on scholastic press freedom
issues, a database of journalism scholarships and links to university
journalism programs.
History and Politics Out Loud
http://www.hpol.org/
Hear some of the voices of US History: Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F.
Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr, Richard Nixon and more. HPOL is a
searchable, browsable site that houses audio files in the public domain
that are relevant to American history and politics.
Indigenous Australia
http://www.dreamtime.net.au/
Hear the tales of the indigenous peoples of Australia, and better
understand the role of storytelling as well as other areas of cultural
heritage. Students can access a dictionary of terms that may be new to
them, and the "How do I find...?" area can help them find the
information on specific topics, such as medicines and land ownership.
Although the tales are recorded in English, it is important for
students to understand the concept of indigenous language
Purdue University Online Writing Lab
Renaissance Secrets
http://www.open2.net/renaissance2/doing/doing.html
A joint offering of the BBC and Open University, this website explores
four mysteries from a historian's point of view. Although built to
support a television series on the BBC, teachers can use this site to
explore conspiracy, medicine and inventions in Renaissance Europe. Use
this site to trigger a discussion of overlooked careers and standards
in historical research.
Teach With Movies
http://www.teachwithmovies.org
AtE times, movies are appropriate teaching tools. This site gives you
some discussion questionsE (and perhaps essay topics) for more than 200
movies. Search by keyword or browse theE alphabetically, by culture, or
by character development issues. Descriptions includeE benefits,
possible problems or issues raised by the movie, and background. Check
out the list of Movies Not Recommended as Teaching Tools.
The Legacy
Project
http://www.legacy-project.org/index.html
Explore the relationship between tragedy, war, genocide, and the visual
arts. This very powerful site is meant for only mature students of the
arts and history, dealing with the topic of loss in cultures around the
world.
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 both of
these areas. Freedom Today will pose various questions to visitors of
this website and allow them to respond
Voice of the Shuttle: Web Page for Humanities Research
http://vos.ucsb.edu/
This comprehensive hotlist includes general humanities resources,
anthropology, archaeology, architecture, area & regional
studies,
art, classical studies, history, legal studies, linguistics,
literature, minority studies, music & dance, philosophy,
photography, politics & government, religious studies, science,
technology, culture, technology of writing, women's studies, gender
theory, & more. Includes links to teaching resources.
What Did You Do in the War, Grandma?
http://www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WWII_Women/
This oral history project of Rhode Island Women during World War II was
written by students in the Honors English Program at South Kingstown
High School. Judi Scott and Linda P. Wood (in partnership with Brown
University) have done a nice job of providing online articles and
resource links about oral history as well as the time period. Others
can use the site for its interesting content, but also show it to
students as an excellent model. Like this site and the Foxfire series
from Appalachia, you can look to your own communities to uncover the
interesting stories behind the lives of seemingly ordinary people.
Candlelight Stories
http://www.candlelightstories.com
This site offers illustrated stories, games, animations and information
for kids, teachers, writers, illustrators and families. Professional
services such as messaging and resume posting are available. People can
get their stories and art published on Candlelight.
Diamond Ranch
http://www.cowboyhalloffame.org/diamondr/index.html
This site by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum contains
colorful characters and a variety of activities for young children
including songs, games, reading and coloring. Cowboy Jack and Dusty
Trails teach and entertain as children enjoy a visual ride through the
museum and interact with cowboys from the Diamond R Ranch to learn the
code cowboys live by....honesty, integrity and plain hard work.
Literary Research Tools on the Net
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Lit/
An incredibly comprehensive collection of Web sites related to
literature & the humanities. Includes Syllabi
and
Other Course Materials for Literature Courses. Compiled and
maintained at the University of Pennyslvania. Maintained by Jack Lynch
of
Rutgers -- Newark.
Nobel Channel
http://www.nobelchannel.com
Based on Nobel Prize achievements, this site offers resources and
historical references with compelling interactive media. Included is an
Interactive Learning Studio of lesson plans based on the Nobel Prize
themes: Peace, Physics, Chemistry, and Literature. Exercises contain
multimedia elements, references, resources, and Teacher Bulletin
Boards.
Reconstructions (MIT)
http://web.mit.edu/cms/reconstructions/front.html
A site launched by members of the MIT Comparative Media Studies
community in the emotional, intense, and confusing days following the
events of 11 September 2001. re:constructions is an on-line resource
and study guide, designed to spark discussions and reflections about
the media's role in covering the events of 11 September 2001 and their
aftermath. See http://web.
mit.edu/cms/reconstructions/education/ for
classroom activities and discussions.
Windows to the Future
http://www.mcn.org/ed/cur/ssp/men/
Designed and implemented by Mendocino teachers, this Integrated
Language Arts and Technology course merges vocational education,
college preparatory education, collaborative teaching, and learning.
Unique features include intergenerational modeling of continuous
learning, student empowerment, specialization, and technology to
overcome rural isolation.
)
World Treasures (National Library of Australia)
http://www.nla.gov.au/worldtreasures/
Have students explore the contributions of world cultures in this
online exhibit. Lessons in the teacher's section supports the online
materials. Each treasure lists the museum that houses it; an
interesting supplemental activity would have students uncover how
foreign museums ended up with another culture's treasure.