social studies sites

Social Studies Sites

First Quarter Sites
Second Quarter Sites
Third Quarter Sites

1). Smithsonian Sources
Resources for Teaching American History
Grades 5 - 12

This site provides primary sources for a variety of topics including civil rights, colonial America, inventions, Native American history, westward expansion, and transportation. The Smithsonian Sources site focuses on primary source analysis and promotes critical thinking skills. The lessons are divided by topic and then by grade level.

There are lesson plans, videos, and primary source information including photographs, documents, and images of artifacts for each topic. The videos, which were filmed at Smithsonian museums and restoration facilities, are designed to introduce students to artifact analysis and include interviews with Smithsonian curators, historians, and educators.

Essay questions for the upper grades are provided for downloading along with primary source materials needed to answer the question.

Examples of questions provided:
The radical views of the colonial revolutionaries clashed with the conservative philosophy of the loyalist colonists.
Evaluate this statement using the documents and your knowledge of colonial history from 1764 to 1776. Consider the political, religious, economic, and social reasons for the American Revolution.

The relationship between Native Americans and the Colonies between 1607 and 1763 was largely negative. Assess the validity of this statement. Use the documents and your knowledge of the period between 1607 and 1763 in constructing your response.

2). Exploring Maryland’s Roots
Grades 4 -8

This well designed, interactive Web site allows students to explore life in Maryland in the 17th century. The site provides abundant teacher resources including background information, printable resources, vocabulary lists, lesson plans, and help for less skilled readers. Students are able to choose if they wish to explore Indian life and culture, discover the dangers involved in journeying across the Atlantic to a new home, understand the hardships of building a colony in the new world, or learn how archaeologists and historians explore the past. Videos introducing each of the different topics provide students with valuable background information. Navigation is uncomplicated and with the variety of choices available for students, this site is quite worthwhile.

3). Ancient Greece
Grades 9 – 12

Students can explore ancient Greece with the vast collection of images and resources on this site. The numerous maps and photographs help history come alive. The site provides information about Greek history, archaeology, culture, architecture, and art. An extensive timeline depicts important events in Greek history. There are also selected links to museums along with extensive photographs of Greek art and architecture.

4). Time for Kids
Grades 2 -6

Students can keep up with current events at their own reading level on this interactive news site from TIME magazine. Kids get involved, learn and explore. Homework help is also available along with trivia, games, and many recommended reference Web sites.

The teacher resource section provides lesson plans by grade level along with worksheets and graphic organizers.

5). The New York Times Learning Network
Grades 3-12

This New York Times site, which is updated daily, provides the day’s top news stories written specifically for students. Students may submit letters to the editor, ask a reporter a question, take a quiz, or play crossword puzzles. Students may also explore On this Day in History, check the Word of the Day, or try the Test Prep Question of the day. The News Snapshot section is geared primarily to grades 3-5 where students explore the daily news through photographs. The Student Navigator section provides recommended links in all subject areas.

Teachers are provided daily lesson plans written for the appropriate grade level. Previous lesson plans are archived in thematic units.

6). Underground Railroad
Grades 4 -8

Students can explore the many aspects of slavery and the Underground Railroad on this extensive, well-organized site. Students will learn about life as a slave as well as what the Underground Railroad was and how it functioned. They will be asked to make choices as they follow the path of the Underground Railroad to freedom. Audio is available for all of the passages to help less skilled readers.

The site provides extensive material for students and teachers alike. There are numerous resources easily accessible including eye witness accounts, a glossary, an interactive map, video clips, lesson plans, activities, Internet links, information on secret signs and symbols, and music.

7). Freedom: A History of US

The Freedom: A History of US site includes webisodes of important periods in our history starting in 1776 with the Second Continental Congress through the next two hundred and twenty-six years.

As you follow the segments of each webisode, there are extensive documents, photos, sounds, timelines, quizzes and additional resources available. This extensive site is easy to navigate and even incorporates games and freedom stories. A teacher guide, teacher index, and workshop videos are accessible on the site.

Second Quarter Sites

1). CNN Student News
Grades 9-12

CNN provides superb news coverage at the student level. Students can learn what is happening around the world as well in our own country. This site provides videos, podcasts, weekly quizzes, maps, as well as classroom activities. An I-team toolkit is provided so that students can create their own news stories and send them to CNN.

2). America’s Story
Grades 3 - 6

This history-based Web site is from the Library of Congress. The site was designed especially for young students. The site is updated frequently and is produced by several different specialists working for the Library of Congress. America's Library contains many images of documents, prints, photographs, maps, recordings and other materials from the past.

The site is divided into 5 unique sections: Meet Amazing Americans, Jump Back in Time, Explore the States, Join America at Play, and See, Hear, and Sing. Each section has a wealth of information along with games and activities for the students. Students can easily search for information on famous Americans on this well organized site.

3). Portals to the World
Grades 9 -12

On this site, The Library of Congress has provided authoritative links providing in-depth information about the nations from around the world. The site can be searched by country or area and contains links to valuable information about each location. The links were selected by Area Specialists and other Library staff using Library of Congress selection criteria so one can be assured that the links contain reliable information for student use. Each location has information broken down by topics with substantial links provided for each topic. The site provides a vast amount of information on nations around the world.

4). Map Machine
Grades 4 – 12

Students can travel around the world through the use of satellite pictures, road maps, and physical maps on this engaging site. Students can search for specific locations around the world and will be taken to that location. Once a location is established theme maps may be used to locate more specific information. The themes include population, natural disasters, resources, weather, and boundaries.

5). Lewis and Clark
Grades 4-8

This site provides students the opportunity to travel with Lewis and Clark on their exhilarating journey to explore the uncharted West. Maps and journals of the expedition are provided. Students can follow the trail and see plants, animals, and Indian tribes that were discovered and recorded by these two explorers. The timeline, maps, and journals, and photographs provide students with real insight into the accomplishments and discoveries of Lewis and Clark.

6). Social Issues
Grades 7-12

The Social Issues site provides links to many Web sites containing information concerning the important social issues of our time. Students can find quality sites with in-depth research on most current topics of interest. The sites provide research and information from various perspectives.

Third Quarter Sites

1). African American Lives
Grades 6- 12

The lessons on this PBS site, which follow the national standards, provide student handouts, links to other online resources and ideas for cross- curricular lessons. Each of the different topics is divided into segments to be taught in the classroom. Some of the topics included are: prejudice, racism, and injustices suffered by African Americans throughout history.

Each grade level has lessons appropriate that that particular age group. Included in these lessons are videos, profiles of famous black Americans and a timeline in history. This is an excellent site which can enhance students’ understanding of black history.

2. African American World
Grades 6 – 12

This Web site provides vast resources and information on African American culture and history. Included on the site is a timeline, a reference room with numerous additional resources, a special kid’s section, along with sections on black history, arts, culture, society, and profiles of African Americans.

3). American Visionaries: Fredrick Douglass
Grades 7 - 12

Frederick Douglass came from slavery and became one of the leading African American voices of the nineteenth century. This site is dedicated to his achievements. It is packed with information, photographs, and resources about Frederick Douglass and life of African Americans.

4). The Underground Railroad
Grades 4-8

This National Geographic site shows students how the Underground Railroad worked. Students can choose to take a journey and make decisions along the way, view maps, explore the time line, or read biographies of abolitionists. There are lesson plans for teachers and also a section with numerous other resources and Web links.