Social+Studies+Websites

=** Social Studies Websites **=

Area Historical Sites Middle School Social Studies Training Class The following websites provide general information about organizations, government, historic sites, or topics in U.S. history. Sites are listed alphabetically. [|**http://guest.portaportal.com/mnpssocstudies**] This is a web portal with a variety of social studies websites listed and categorized.
 * __ General Resources/Links Page __**
 * MNPS Social Studies Porta Portal**

[|www.civiced.org/index.php] The website provides information about We the People: Project Citizen, a program for middle school students. The program promotes civic and service learning by having students identify a problem within their community, developing solutions to that problem, and writing a public policy for the implementation of a solution. Students participate in a showcase along with other students from across the state. This website also provides information about We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution. This program engages students in learning about the function and foundations of American government. Students participate in mock Congressional hearings and compete against other schools from across the state. **Colonial Williamsburg** [|www.history.org] Great website providing students with research information and facts. Students can “tour” the town virtually entering the numerous historic buildings. Students can watch video conversations with the likes of Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and George Washington. Students can also hear audio excerpts from historical documents including the Declaration of Independence. In addition, the site provides slide shows, lesson plans, time lines, and on-line exhibits. [|www.digitalhistory.uh.edu] This amazing website provides online exhibits of primary sources, an online database to locate historic newspapers, landmark documents, trial scripts of court cases, etc. It also provides teachers with lesson plans, class handouts, resource guides by period, quizzes, timelines, games, mini-movies, and the list goes on. **Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History** [|www.gilderlehrman.org] This valuable site provides teaching modules related to major topics in U.S. history. These modules include primary sources, interpretation guides, quizzes, etc. The website also features letters from American wars along with other primary sources from the collections. In addition, the site provides historian pod casts and traveling exhibits. **Historic Maps in K-12 Classrooms** http://www3.newberry.org/k12maps This is a phenomenal website is a project of the renowned Newberry Library. It provides 18 modules divided into six major themes: discovery and encounter, migration and settlement, environmental history, historical geography of transportation, political and military history, and the geography of American communities. Each module includes four lesson plans (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12). Each plan supplies historical background of each map, supplemental texts, document, prints, and photos. In addition, the site includes a list of online materials related to each lesson plan. **Historyteacher.net** [|http://www.historyteacher.net] This is an impressive website developed by a high school history teacher in Chappaqua, NY. It contains web quests, 140 PowerPoints, links to historic sites, museums, and primary source repositories. All materials are related to standard and A.P. U.S. history, A.P. European history, and Global Studies. [|www.archives.gov] This valuable website has sections for teachers and students. The student pages include introductory research activities, biographies of the Founding Fathers, and interactive section titled “Sign the Declaration”, online exhibits featuring primary sources, and a How-to Research Guide. The teacher pages include Teaching with Documents Lesson Plans (which are divided into eight historical eras) and exhibits. NARA supplies historical background of documents, demonstrations, teaching activities, document analysis activities and modern connections for each lesson. **National Council for History Education** [|www.history.org/nche] This is a professional organization for all history educators (not limited to American history.) The website includes a section about History Education and No Child Left Behind (NCLB). The site also includes online publications such as articles, papers, and videos. These materials support why students should study history, the state of history education, what “good” history education should look like in the classroom. **National Council for the Social Studies** [|www.ncss.org] This is a professional organization for social studies educators (including history, government, economics, sociology, and psychology.) The site includes social studies education trends and strategies. **National History Day ** [|www.nationalhistoryday.org] This helpful website provides teachers and students with the A B Cs and 1 2 3s of implementing National History Day in the sixth through twelfth grade classrooms. The program allows teachers to engage students in historical research and the interpretation and analysis of primary sources. From how to select research topics related to contest themes to how to put together NHD projects, this website is an invaluable guide and resource for taking students beyond the textbook and engaging them with project-based learning. **National History Club** [|www.tcr.org/nhc] National History Club is a national organization that was created to encourage the reading, discussion, writing, and enjoyment of history among secondary students and their teachers. Schools in forty states now have NHC chapters, and there are over 6,200 students involved. The website offers a clearinghouse for information about the activities of member chapters around the country, and shares ideas and experiences which promote an interest in history, both foreign and domestic, ancient and modern. **National Library of Congress** [|http://www.loc.gov/teachers This amazing website provides resources for teachers and students. The teachers’ resources feature lesson plans and activities on using primary sources in the classroom found in the section titled //The Learning Page//; //American Memory// features millions of digitized primary sources documenting American history and culture; and the //Today in History// section features digitized images of primary sources related to events that occurred each day of the calendar year in U.S. history. The Kids & Families resources include the following sections: //Portals to the World, Places in the News// (from around the world); and //America’s Library// which provides U.S. history for elementary and middle school students. **National Register of Historic Places: Teaching with Historic Places** [|www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp] Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) uses properties listed in the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places to enliven history, social studies, geography, civics, and other subjects. TwHP has created a variety of products and activities (available on the website) that help teachers bring historic places into the classroom. These include a series of lesson plans; guidance on using places to teach; information encouraging educators, historians, preservationists, site interpreters, and others to work together effectively; and professional development publications and training courses. **Public Broadcasting System** [|www.pbs.org] This well known website features standards-based resources (interactive lesson plans and activities) related to PBS programming and historical topics. Teachers can select grade range and topics for lesson plans ranging from the analysis of primary sources to conducting oral history interviews. Plans offer detailed teacher and student procedures, media components, and assessments. **__Tennessee__** **__Resources/Links__** The following websites provide general information about organizations, government, historic sites, or topics in U.S. history. Sites are listed alphabetically. **Tennessee** **Encyclopedia of History & Culture ** [|http://tennesseeencyclopedia.net] This website sponsored by the Tennessee Historical Society provides information about everything you ever wanted to know about TN historical figures and events. Students and teachers can easily search the article entries in addition to pulling up digitized historical maps and images. **Tennessee** **Historical Commission ** [|http://www.tennesseehistory.com/class/CLASSRM.htm The Tennessee Online Classroom page is designed for teachers, students, and parents to use as a supplement to the Tennessee Online web site. This is an education oriented feature that offers outside links on a variety of classroom subjects and provides links to other schools in Tennessee as well as government resource links on social and historical studies. Other features include TN Trivia, TN Historic Sites, TN News Archives, and Resources. **Tennessee** **History for Kids ** [|www.tnhistoryforkids.org] This website is designed to provide teachers and students with information specific to Tennessee history, civics, and geography. The site features fun, informational article entries, great photographs, virtual tours, videos, and now student quizzes based on historical eras. **Tennessee** **State** **Library & Archives ** [|http://www.state.tn.us/tsla/educationoutreach/index.htm This website focuses specifically on linking educators with primary sources for educational use in classrooms. Students can also easily access the digitized primary sources on the website. Online resources include lesson plans, exhibits, and PowerPoints of Tennessee primary sources (found on the Teaching American History Eras section of website.) **Tennessee** **State Museum** [|www.tnmuseum.org] Provides teachers information about programs and lesson plans available at the State Museum. There is also an interactive kids page with games, trivia, and puzzles. [|www.Tennessee4me.org] This comprehensive website will provide information about Tennessee people and events once it is completed in July of 2008. The website is divided into 9 historical eras and contains stories, lesson plans, primary sources, and interactive videos. [|http://volunteervoices.org] "Volunteer Voices: The Growth of Democracy in Tennessee" is a grant project funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services that will allow K-12 educators and students free online access to a variety of primary, or first hand, sources related to Tennessee’s history, culture, government, and industry. The project is a state-wide effort involving collaboration between museums, libraries, historical societies, and archives to digitize over 10,000 artifacts and documents such as historical letters, maps, diaries, journals, art, and images. The primary goal of the project is to choose resources that significantly relate to the K-12 Tennessee social studies curriculum and other related subjects. The items are classified by the 10 historical eras described in the curriculum and provide a means of making history "come alive" for students. **__Tennessee__** **__Government__** The following websites provide information about the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government in Tennessee. **Tennessee** **Blue Book Online ** __[|http://www.tennessee.gov/sos/bluebook__ This online version has replaced the former hardbound publications from the Secretary of State’s Office. The Blue Book provides detailed information regarding the three branches of government, all departments, and offices of Tennessee. In addition, the website has a special section that includes state history, state historic sites, Tennessee symbols and honors, the state constitution, as well as statistical data about every county and city in the state. [|www.legislature.state.tn.us] This site provides everything you ever wanted to know about the Tennessee legislative branch of government, comprised of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Features include a coloring book of state symbols, matching games/quizzes, and a chart of how a bill becomes a law. [|www.state.tn.us/governor] This site provides information about the current governor’s platform, initiatives, and even has a kids’ page. This fun page has fun facts about the Governor and First Lady, Tennessee Trivia, fun recipes, and kids’ links.
 * Center for Civic Education**
 * Digital History **
 * National Archives & Records Administration **
 * Volunteer Voices **
 * Tennessee General Assembly **
 * Tennessee Governor’s Office **