Social+Studies

In keeping up with current events, finding up-to-date maps and demographic information, and gathering references on a famous person, the Internet is one of the resources that teacher-librarians, educators, and students use. This column focuses on good resources for social studies. Ideally, you will find a number of gems to share via your blog, Podcast, web site, or newsletter. Wayback, http://pbskids.org/wayback/prez/index.html, is a companion site for PBS's long-running American Experience. Elementary students can explore U.S. presidents, technology, discrimination, flight, and a number of other options. The U.S. presidents option includes "secret" information on each president and a complete look at the campaign trail. The flight selection examines the flight of the Wright brothers, airmail, and barnstormers. This site serves as an excellent springboard for research and study of many topics. The Greatest Places Online, www.greatestplaces.org, is the web site companion for an excellent educational film that takes viewers to seven locations throughout the world. Video clips, still images, audio files, and a number of high-quality links are available for each location. Hands-on activities tie in geography and science as well as engage learners. A series of questions of the week serve as starting points for exploration. The Star Spangled Banner, http://americanhistory.si.edu/ssb/, is the virtual exhibit for the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Here learners of all ages can find the story of the flag, the history of the national anthem, and discussions of the preservation techniques. A series of questions, such as "Is there battle damage?" or "Why was the flag altered?" serve as the basis of a student mystery activity. The primary source materials available via the site serve as excellent reference and teaching tools. Looking for a quick reference to start a project on a specific country? Try Geographia, http://www.geographia.com/index.html. Here students will find concise factual information, cultural knowledge, and a number of superb still images. Tourism information is included, as are data on the areas of Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America. Consider suggesting this site as a source for quick engagement activities for learners in elementary through high school classrooms. Engage learners of all ages with a look at Egypt that results from a collaboration between the Egyptian government and IBM: Eternal Egypt, www.eternalegypt.org, is available in English, French, and Arabic. Once a language is selected, the main page provides a number of ways to explore the collection. Learners can check out highlighted objects, look at connections between the objects, check out the library of articles, view multimedia choices, view an interactive timeline, or simply search the plethora of learning options. In addition to being a top-notch reference, this site would work well for a single-computer class. Looking for an editorial cartoon site? Check out the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists, http://editorialcartoonists.com/index.cfm, which has images from professionals and students. The search option is easy to use and provides access via keyword and date. Be sure to check out the "Cartoons for the Classroom" link. Here educators will find a well-crafted single-page lesson plan each week. The PDF file includes a version of the cartoon that is large enough to use with students, an explanation of the background for the cartoon, and talking points. Teach the judicial process via a mock trial involving the Titanic. Check out the web site designed by a law office, [[[|http://www.andersonkill.com/titanic/home.htm,|www.andersonkill.com/titanic/home.htm],]] as a tool for accomplishing this lesson. The site includes a number of primary source materials and contains instructions for the entire role-playing exercise. The mock trial can be done in one period but works best if done over a 2-day period. Students are engaged in learning and experiencing the justice system as they complete this activity. This site can also be used as a springboard for gathering information on the Titanic and the judicial system. Explore the national parks of Canada at [|www.pc.gc.ca/]. The site is available in both French and English. Investigate the "Youth Zone" and "Play and Learn" links to gather information about Canada's history and famous women. A photo gallery and a number of three-dimensional tours make engaging single-computer activities and serve as project resources for students. Sections on marine conservation lands and historic park sites are also included. Canada in the Making, [[[|http://www.canadiana.org/citm/,|www.canadiana.org/citm/],]] is yet another excellent resource that makes use of primary source materials. Based on many of the materials found on Early Canadiana Online ([|www.canadiana.org/eco/index.html]), the site presents three themes--"Constitutional History," "Aboriginals: Treaties and Relations," and "Pioneers and Immigrants." Each theme is linked to over 300 digitized documents and 175 maps. The site is well constructed and takes learners to a glossary, additional information, and links to numerous other Canadian history sites. The site of smARThistory, [[[|http://www.smarthistory.org/site/,|www.smarthistory.org/site/],]] is a masterful web-based text for integrating European history and art. Here students will find myriad materials to incorporate into humanities projects. The site was developed by two university educators and brings the best of technology tools to education. This is a true treasure to share with colleagues. Looking for Podcasts in the social studies area? Check out First Amendment Minute, [[[|http://www.firstamendmentminute.com/,|www.firstamendmentminute.com/],]] which presents a concise factual look at freedom of speech, religion, and other liberties protected by the First Amendment. Also check out Kansas state history, [[[|http://www.kshs.org/audiotours/kansasmemory/kmpodcast.htm,|www.kshs.org/audiotours/kansasmemory/kmpodcast.htm],]] and use its audio files as a model for making your own set of state history Podcasts. Finally, check out History Podcast, http://historyonair.com/, for another well-researched and produced option. Transcripts are available so that students may follow along as they listen.

Social studies web sites are the treasures to be found in this column. Sites were selected based on the range of curriculum resources and their usefulness for project-based learning. I have included a few sites that have subscription fees. These sites are exemplary and well worth the cost in both materials and time saved for your teachers and students. [|**AlternaTime**] Begin by examining this wondrous, whimsical site with a large number of timelines. It is broken into categories of history and cultures, science and technology, arts and literature, popular culture and science fiction, and is a treasure-trove of information for students working on social studies projects. For example, history students can explore a 20th Century timeline developed by Borders Books with ties to specific titles or a civilizations timeline. Be aware that there are some links to materials which can be considered controversial, so guide students to the exact site you want them to use. http://www2.canisius.edu/~emeryg/time.html [|**Unionville History Project**] A great site to introduce a class to project based learning, this is a virtual museum developed by a Grade 8 class with the help of community members. It includes a driving tour, digitized historical maps, information on Native Americans and the Underground Railroad and links to community sites. This model site serves as an excellent example of a joint school/community project. http://www.cfpms.ucf.k12.pa.us/uhistory/index.html Web sites can prove highly useful for the study of ancient civilizations, and here are four sites to consider: [|**Images from History**] Here researchers will find images from Archaic Africa, West Asia, Europe and the New World, images from ancient and feudal means of production, and images of both world art and archaeological digs. Students need to pay attention to fair use as these images are assumed to be copyrighted. [|http://www.hp.uab.edu/image%5farchive/menu.html] [|**Ancient Greek Civilizations**] Next, stop by this site, which richly chronicles the Minoans, Myceneans, the Dark Ages of Greece, Homer's writings and a number of Grecian cultures and cities. The information is concise and well written, and a number of graphic resources are included. http://emuseum.mnsu.edu/prehistory/aegean/index.shtml [|**Cradle of Civilization**] Another example of student production is this ThinkQuest entry on Africa. Information on ancient as well as modern times can be found at this resource-rich site. http://library.thinkquest.org/C002739/AfricaSite/1Main.shtm [|**Stone Pages: A Guide to European Megaliths**] Finally, learn about the Ancient Stones of France, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales. The brief descriptions and superlative graphics, some with QuickTime VR features, make this a rich site for students and teachers. Works very well as a single-computer teaching tool in the classroom. http://www.stonepages.com/ [|**Life Top 100 People**] Another way to liven up a research assignment. Students can use this list as a place to begin research and as the means for a debate assignment. Questions such as "Do Christopher Columbus and Ferdinand Magellan actually belong on the Top Ten list?" or "What government leaders would you choose for the Top Five list?" can provide excellent group projects as well as meaningful research assignments that do not invite plagiarism, but force students to construct their own knowledge. http://www.lifemag.com/Life/millennium/people/01.html [|**Historical Detective**] Another excellent site for single-computer classroom use is this feature from the Library of Congress. Archives are housed at http://learning.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/activity/detect/archive.html. Students search the resource-rich American Memory site to answer questions such as "Was Billy the Kid really killed by Pat Garrett at Fort Sumner, New Mexico?" or "True or False -- The only forms of transportation used during the Civil War were the horse and wagon and sailing ships." These quick mysteries help students sharpen their information literacy skills as well as spark interest in history. http://learning.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/activity/detectiv.html [|**History in Film**] Social studies teachers may be interested in this article on this site. It provides ideas on using Jefferson in Paris, All the President's Men, Braveheart, Amistad and other films, questions to consider for each film and ideas for using the CNN web site to find inaccuracies in these films. http://libraryspot.com/features/historyinfilm.htm [|**Nunavut**] Another virtual museum introduces students to Inuit Art, providing both English and French access. The visual and audio-rich site requires QuickTime VR, Real Player, and the Nunacom Font to be downloaded to fully experience the site. The visit is well worth the time needed to install the plug-ins. Users can rotate artifacts, listen to stories in native language and actually construct writings using the Inuktitut syllabics. http://culturel.org/NUNAVUT/ [|**Subscription Sites Worth The Price**]

Decisions, Decisions Online
Topics range from standardized tests, TV violence, cloning, gun control, hate crimes and others, with a new topic introduced monthly during the school year. Each topic follows the same pattern: Working in either groups or as a class, students in Grades 5-10 analyze the problem/situation, determine their goals, consider the options, make a decision and consider the consequences of the decisions. Scoring is based on how well the group's decisions match their goals. QuickTime movies and PDF format handouts make the program engaging and easy to use. A 12-month subscription is $99.95, giving access to all past and current topics, or a school license for up to 30 teachers costs $349.95. http://ddonline.tomsnyder.com/ 

American Government, State Geography, World Geography, American History or World History
At ABC-Clio, you can access a 30-day trial for one of these five web sites. Each site includes a news home page, feature story of the day, easy-to-search content from the home page, and the ability to customize for a classroom syllabus, pick content related to specific textbooks and standards, explore topics with a number of activities, access discussion questions and handouts, contact a cyberian and glean teaching ideas from veteran educators. Prices range from $499.00 to $599.00 per year. A 30-day trial is also available. [|http://www.abc-clio.com/schools/products/web%5fproducts.asp] 

WebQuests
http://topcat.bridgew.edu/~kschrock/fall97/wilson/ http://www.plainfield.k12.in.us/hschool/webq/webq1/webquest.htm http://itdc.sbcss.k12.ca.us/curriculum/sworntoserve.html http://tsc.kl2.in.us/stucurr/webquests/lewisclark/lewisand.htm http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/democracy/debtquest.html http://www.occdsb.on.ca/~tec/webquesteng.htm
 * The Fire Burns On** has students do research to rewrite Billy Joel's song, "We Didn't Start the Fire," describing important events from 1986 and 1987.
 * Webquest: The Great Depression** provides options for student to take on the role of a person working during the Depression and determine how much work would be necessary to buy specific items.
 * Sworn to Serve** has students take on the roles of people living in the 10th century who wish to serve Lord Whinesalot.
 * The Lewis and Clark Expedition,** developed by a middle school teacher-librarian, deepens student understanding of this historic event.
 * Look Who's Footing the Bill** allows students to take on the task of developing a balanced budget for the US.
 * Canada and Its Trading Partners** can be used to learn more about the products Canada imports and exports.