Learn a New Language Have your students check out these sites. Language Lessons Languages Around the World Say Hello to the World

Government Sites

African American History - Library of Congress - An excellent resource on the African American experience.

African American History Month for Teachers - (Library of Congress) - Browse ready-to-use lesson plans, student activities, collection guides and research aids.

African Americans - FREE - Find great resources for your classroom, including the Civil Rights Movement, Jim Crow, Slavery and more.

African History and Culture - (Smithsonian) Learn about African history and culture.

Alamosaurus - (National Park Service) - Alamosaurus is the only known sauropod in North America from this time period (Upper Cretaceous). All North American sauropods died out about 105 million years ago. Then, after a 35-40 million year gap, Alamosaurus appeared in North America about 70 million years ago. (All dinosaurs became extinct about 65 million years ago.)

America’s Story from America’s Library - (Library of Congress) - Learn about amazing Americans like Buffalo Bill and Harriet Tubman, find out about interesting inventions, and get fascinating facts and read stories about all the states and Washington D.C.

American Indian Heritage Teaching Resources - (Smithsonian Institution) - Find great lesson plans and activities here for American Indian Heritage Month in November.

American Memory - Advertising - Learn how advertising began in America and how it changed over the years. If you are into vintage things, this is an interesting site.

Architecture and Landscape - (Library of Congress) - See how architecture and landscape of America has changed throughout history. This site features some early photos and building designs.

Asia and Pacific History and Culture - (Smithsonian) - Learn about Asian art from neolithic times to the early 20th century.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Teaching Resources - (Smithsonian Institution) - Find great lesson plans and activities here for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May

Asian Pacific American History and Culture - (Smithsonian) - Explore the history of Asian Pacific Americans and their contributions to our country.

Black History Teaching Resources - (Smithsonian Institution) - Find great lesson plans and activities here for Black History Month in February.

Bureau of Indian Education - Informational resources if you've ever wanted classroom teaching activities about American Indians beyond the Thanksgiving holiday. Also included are resources that will get you started if you need to research the history of American Indian Education or best teaching practices addressing American Indian learners.

Census in Schools - (Census Bureau) - Take advantage of this once a decade learning opportunity. This site offers easy-to-use, content rich, standards-based lesson plans and teaching kits tailored for all grade levels. Access free products including maps, lesson plans and historical data. Spanish-language materials will also be available.

Cities and Towns - (Library of Congress) - Examine how some of American's cities and towns have changed throughout the years. There are many photos to explore!

Constitution of the United States - (National Archives and Records Administration) - This is a great site to view high resolution scans of the original, signed Constitution; read an essay about the Constitutional Convention; learn dozens of fascinating facts about the Constitution; and learn about each of the signers at this site from the National Archives and Records Administration.

Correspondence Match - Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - World Wise Schools matches up Peace Corps Volunteers in the field with U.S. classroom teachers. The result? A vibrant two-year exchange of ideas, stories, pictures, and artifacts that helps U.S. students in the classroom learn about the people, geography, environment, and culture of the world from the direct experience of Volunteers living in other countries.

Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - This program fosters an understanding of other cultures and global issues by facilitating communication between Peace Corps Volunteers and U.S. classrooms, and publishing free print and online classroom resources based on the Peace Corps experience.

Culture and Folklife - Library of Congress - The stories, photos, and music of America's numerous ethnic groups. This collection contains the personal experiences of many groups settlling America.

Department of State for Parents and Educators - Here are some resources to help you share the exciting world of foreign affairs and international diplomacy with your children and students.

Egyptian Mummies - (Smithsonian) - Learn about how mummies were made in Ancient Egypt.

Egyptian Pyramid - (Smithsonian) - The pyramids of Egypt fascinated travellers and conquerors in ancient times and continue to inspire wonder in the tourists, mathematicians, and archeologists who visit, explore, measure and describe them. Learn more about them.

Encyclopedia Smithsonian - Encyclopedia Smithsonian features answers to frequently asked questions about the Smithsonian and links to Smithsonian resources on subjects from Art to Zoology.

Environment and Conservation Movement - (Library of Congress) - The history of the conservation movement in America.

ExchangesConnect - (Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs) - Join Exchanges Connect and become part of a growing global community of people interested in cross-cultural dialogue and international exchange.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence - Read all kinds of interesting documents from a variety of categories including science, math, history, and language art. Not to be missed!

Flags of the World - The World Factbook - (Central Intelligence Agency) - This page shows each countries flags; you can also click on the country name for more facts.

For Teachers - Library of Congress - More than 10 million primary sources online pertaining to history, the arts, community and more.

Free for Teachers - (Federal Citizen Information Center) - has free publications, colorful posters, practical lesson plans, and you can get online newsletters and e-mail updates of your favorite pages on USA.gov and Pueblo.gsa.gov.

Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program (Grades K-5) - (Federal Highway Administration) - Find out about the inventor Garrett A. Morgan and what the Federal Highway Administration does for you.

Geography and Map Reading Room - (Library of Congress) - The Geography and Map Division (G&M) has custody of the largest and most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world. The Reading Room provides in-person, telephone, and written reference assistance to Congress, Federal agencies, state and local governments, the scholarly community, and the general public.

Geospatial Intelligence - For Kids - Collecting information above or below the earth's surface can answer questions about a particular place. That information can be used for all kinds of stuff. See how it is done.

Government and Law - (Library of Congress) - Collections of all kinds of historical documents, photos, and even some recordings pertaining to our government and historical events.

Hispanic Heritage Teaching Resources - (Smithsonian Institution) - Find great lesson plans and activities here for Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 - October 15.

Historical Documents - Includes information on the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and more.

Immigration and American Expansion - (Library of Congress) - Collection of documents pertaining to immigration and the American expansion. Collections contain many photos and personal storied from immigrants and early settlers.

Indian Health Services - Kids Page - Learn more about Native Americans culture. Read their tales and folklore.

Join the Signers! - At this site, you have the opportunity to explore the legacy of our Founding Fathers through special features, exhibits, classroom activities, and more.

Kids in the House - Explore the role the Office of the Clerk plays in the U.S. House of Representatives. Learn about the legislative process and its effect on you.

Language Lessons - Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - Listen to language lessons from around the world.

Latino History and Culture - (Smithsonian) - Learn about the role Latinos have played in history and learn about Latino culture.

Learning Page - Especially For Teachers - (Library of Congress) - Learn about United States history and culture. View unique and rare documents, photographs, films, and audio recordings.

Library of Congress Webcasts - Get more than 400 webcasts on topics ranging from the space age to poetry.

Library of Congress Webcasts for Kids & Families - Get links to more than 500 webcasts on everything from writing music, forecasting the weather, publishing the Declaration of Independence, and much more.

Literature - Library of Congress - Collection of literary documents including poetry, books, periodicals, and even an author's notebook.

Maps - Library of Congress - Collections of historical maps, including maps from the American Revolution through War II.

MapStats for Kids - Check out this site and you can learn concepts about maps and statistics through cool games.

MapStats for Kids-Resources for Parents and Educators - Get an overview of the learning objectives and national standards associated with the learning activities on MapStats for Kids.

Multimedia Gallery - USGS - (Geological Survey) - A comprehensive list of USGS photo and image collections, video clips and animation, and podcasts.

NationalAtlas.gov - Make interactive maps within your web browser! This program allows you to make your own maps. Select, change, and display map layers. Roam across America and zoom in to reveal more detail. Point at map features to learn more about them. Locate and map more than 2,000,000 geographic names in the United States. New map layers are added each month.

Native American History - (Library of Congress) - Search these collections of photos, documents, and even recordings of the Native American People.

Native American History and Culture - Explore the art, history and the culture of Native Americans.

Nez Perce National Historic Trail - Educators Guide - (Forest Service) - Get helpful resources including a Educators Guide to help you teach the Nez Perce Trail history.

NGA Kids' Site - Games - (National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency) - Connect the dots, make a map, word search, and more.

Our Nation - (Government Printing Office) - Find our Quick Facts about the United States and our Nation's Capitol.

Paleobiology - (Smithsonian) - This site has resources on fossils to dinosaurs. Learn how long-term physical changes of ancient global geography and climate have affected the evolution of plants and animals.

Performing Arts, Music - (Library of Congress) - Explore these collections of sheet music, books, dance manuals, and other historical items.

Presidents - Library of Congress - Explore these collections of personal papers, portraits, and recordings of some of America's presidents.

Promise of Place - (U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Park Service) - Place-based education (PBE) immerses students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, natural resources, natural systems, stewardship opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. PBE emphasizes learning through participation in service learning projects in the local school and/or community. Examples of teacher-developed curricula is available in natural and cultural resources.

Publishing the Declaration - (Library of Congress) - This webcast features the American Declaration of Independence, focusing on its distribution through early American newspapers.

Religion - Library of Congress - Explore these collections of historical papers, books, and petitions.

Search for Stories - Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - Find a story that meets your classroom needs. Search by keywords, subject, region, country, and grade level.

Slide Shows - Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - Listen to Peace Corps Volunteers talk about their experience and express their opinions through their own photographs and in their own voices.

Smithsonian - For Educators - Includes lesson plans, a research library, and educational services.

Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage- Educator Resources - Get educational kits on all types of diverse cultures from the U.S. and around the world.

Smithsonian Images - Hundreds of photographs from the Smithsonian Office of Imaging and Photographic Services which can be used by teachers and students.

Smithsonian Institution Research Information System - The holdings of the Smithsonian’s archival library and specialized research collections can be found online in SIRIS. With over 1,700,000 records, SIRIS covers a wide variety of topical subjects from Art & Design, to History & Culture, to Science & Technology. Get information on innumerable historical events, scientific discoveries, cultural happenings, artistic styles, and social conditions.

Smithsonian Latino Center's Kids Corner - This site highlights Latino exhibitions and collections from across the Smithsonian; there are three major galleries: 1) a Kids Gallery with an activity that shows the importance of portraiture in cultural and artistic expression; 2) the Son Clave Lounge featuring Latino music from the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage video collection; 3) Meso Time, a unique space allowing the user to take a virtual visit through Mexico’s pre-Columbian past. 

Sports and Recreation - Library of Congress - Explore these collections of book, maps, music from America's past.

Students Abroad - (Department of State) - A one-stop reference for international travel. Students can download flyers called go! Guides, as well as a Tips to Go Wallet Card. The website also provides Country Specific Information, tips for safe travel, and other important information about traveling and living overseas.

Teacher’s Lighthouse Resource (Grades K - 4) - (Coast Guard) - Basic information about lighthouses, their purpose, history, operation and technology in a form presentable to young students.

Teaching With Historic Places - (National Park Service) - Uses properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places to enliven history, social studies, geography, civics, and other subjects.

Technology and Industry - Library of Congress - Explore these collections of papers, sound, and film about historical technological and industial events in America.

The American Presidency - Teacher Materials - The American presidency is an important and fascinating part of the curriculum in a broad range of grade levels. Whether you are teaching advanced placement United States history to eleventh graders, or social studies to fifth graders, we hope that this website will bring the study of presidential history alive in your classroom.

The Commons: The Library of Congress Photo Collection on Flickr - (Library of Congress) - Two 1500+ photograph collections on Flickr for both educational use and to have the public add tags and comments to make the viewing experience richer for others.

The National Map - The National Map is an online, interactive map service - the Nation's topographic map for the 21st Century.

Today In History - (Library of Congress) - This site contains informative information about what happened on, say, October 21. Each "Today" contains links to various archival documents that have been offered up online as part of the American Memory project.

Transportation History - (Smithsonian) - Americans have always been a people on the move - on rails, roads, and waterways. Collections include road, rail, and maritime objects.

U.S. Electoral College Teaching Resources - The Electoral College was established by the founding fathers as a compromise between election of the president by Congress and election by popular vote. This page links to various lesson plans and teaching guides.

U.S. History Topics - FREE - (Department of Education) - Wars, government, geography, people, presidents, inventors, explorers, movements, business, states and more.

USA Freedom Corps Kids - (White House) - Like working with animals at an animal shelter, helping your neighbors or keeping our environment clean? Learn about different volunteer opportunities at this site.

Veteran's History Project-Youth Resources - Learn how your students can be involved in the Veteran's History Project.

Videos - Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - Vivid videos of daily life in Peace Corps countries from Kyrgyzstan and Sri Lanka to the Dominican Republic and Paraguay. Gender and Development videos are also available.

Visiting the Smithsonian for Kids and Families - Admission is free for all Smithsonian museums and the zoo in Washington, D.C. Plan your visit to the Smithsonian on your next trip to Washington DC

War and Military - Library of Congress - Explore these collections of documents and photos pertaining to the military and wars that America was involved in.

When in the World - (State Department) - U.S. diplomatic history has evolved over the past two centuries. These resources help you explore some of the most important foreign relations issues.

Women's History - Library of Congress - Explore these collections of scrapbooks, photos, and books pertaining to women in American History.

Women's History Month - (Library of Congress) - This site pays tribute to the generations of women whose commitment to nature and the planet have proved invaluable to society.

Women's History Teaching Resources - (Smithsonian Institution) - Find great lesson plans and activities here for Women's History Month in March.

World Fact Book - (Central Intelligence Agency) - Visitors can select various countries of the world and learn some basic facts about each country's history, their geography, their demographics, and their government. The site also contains a gallery of the flags of the world's nations, a number of helpful reference maps, and a history of the World Factbook itself.

Youth Engaged in Service - Whether you are starting a new program or want to add to what you already do, this toolkit can help you introduce youth from all walks of life to the personal growth and empowerment that comes from serving others.

Other Resources

Africa - Teacher Tools - From its diverse eco-systems to its kaleidoscope of cultures, Africa offers a wealth of valuable learning opportunities. AFRICA Online's Teacher Tools will show you how to make them come alive.

African American World - PBS Classroom - Want to bring abolitionism, jazz and Marcus Garvey into your classroom? Check out these PBS lesson plans and get your students excited.

American Centuries View from New England - In the Classroom - The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association's museum and library collections provide a rich resource for students of all ages. The material below has been developed by Massachusetts teacher teams and PVMA staff to provide access to the PVMA collections in alignment with the Massachusetts History and Social Science Curriculum Framework.

American History - New York Times Articles - Explore current issues in depth or search American history by topic.

American Presidency Project - The Project's site contains over 75,000 documents related to the study of the presidency. Visitors can start at the "Documents" area which contains sections such as "Public Papers of the Presidents", "Saturday Radio Addresses", and "Fireside Chats". The "Elections" area contains presidential election data from 1828 to the present day. The "Media" area contains speeches and video clips from Herbert Hoover to George W. Bush.

Big Apple History - Choose a lesson plan in each category by selecting the corresponding drop-down menu. Lead students through exercises involving everything from evaluating their town's economy, to writing a poem inspired by their community, to planning the construction of a local park!

Classroom - History.com - This site has great resources for you, including a classroom calendar and study guides. You may also sign up for The History Channel Education Update to receive educational programming info and news about special offers for teachers.

Colonial Williamsburg Parents and Teachers Page - Colonial Williamsburg helps the future learn from the past. Inspire your students with our award-winning teacher resources or plan a school visit to help your students understand the beginnings of America.

Crime and Punishment Curriculum - The curriculum is divided into three time periods: the Colonial Era, the Old West, and Modern America

Current Events - New York Times - Explore current issues in depth or search by subject.

DocSouth Collections - Classroom Resources - Get lesson plans and other classroom materials on southern history, literature, and culture from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s library.

e.encyclopedia - e.encyclopedia combines the best of a traditional encyclopedia with an extra digital dimension. It guides the reader to the most helpful, appropriate and amazing sites the web has to offer.

Ease History - EASE (Experience Acceleration Supportive Environment) History is a rich learning environment that supports the learning of U.S. history. Over 600 videos and photographs are currently available in EASE History. (Flash 7 required)

Education Place - For Educators - Developed by Houghton Mifflin, this site contains a number of helpful online educational, interactive materials for students from kindergarten to 8th grade.

Educator's Reference Desk - The Educator's Reference Desk builds on over a quarter century of experience providing high-quality resources and services to the education community.

Egyptian Hieroglyphs - Ancient Egyptian writing uses more than 2,000 hieroglyphic characters. Each hieroglyph represents a common object in ancient Egypt. Learn more.

Geography - New York Times - Explores current geography issues in depth or search by subject. Also view slideshows.

Global History - New York Times - Explore current global issues in depth or search by subject. Also view slideshows.

Global Schoolhouse - The Global Schoolhouse is a virtual meeting place where kids from all over the world can work and learn together.

Homework Help - National Geographic - Check out this page for information, or search One-Stop Research for pictures, articles, maps, and more on subjects like animals, history and science - perfect for reports, presentations, and more!

Immigration Teacher's Guide - Students will learn the various reasons people come to America through oral histories of recent and historic immigrants. Students also explore one of the most important aspects of American immigration history — Ellis Island as the preeminent immigration port of the early 1900s.

Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators - This site has a categorized list of sites useful for enhancing curriculum and professional growth. It is updated often to include the best sites for teaching and learning.

Kids Around the World - Teachers and Parents Page - (National Peace Corps Association) - Introduce your students to the lives, customs, and cultures of children in countries throughout the developing world.

Kids Post - Get the scoop on current events and entertainment, homework help, and have fun with games, polls, and more from The Washington Post.

Lewis & Clark - Learn about Lewis & Clark's adventures through the interactive journal, play games, see photos and maps, and much more.

Massachusetts - Raid on Deerfield: The Many Stories of 1704 - On February 29, 1704, the sun rose on a chaotic scene in the English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts. This website presents five different perspectives on this one event: Wobanikiak, Wendat, Kanienkahaka, French and English.

My Wonderful World - for Educators - You're on the front line in the fight to bridge our kids' geography gap. Here are some tools to give you much more than a fighting chance.

National Science Digital Library - Science - Browse by topic or search.

NewsHour Extra - Teacher's Resources - Want to build your students' analytical thinking and critical analysis skills? Are you searching for ways to make your subject matter more relevant and engaging? NewsHour Extra is here to help!

NOW Classroom - Pick specific NOW on PBS programs that match your class needs and interests.

O Ambassadors - An exciting new joint project of Oprah’s Angel Network and Free The Children that will inspire young people to become active, compassionate and knowledgeable global citizens. The program connects young people in North America with people around the world to create lasting change. Participants address problems such as hunger, poverty and limited access to education.

P.O.V. Borders - American ID - For Educators - Classroom activities about American identity.

Renaissance Connection - Lesson Plans - Explore our curricular lesson plans for middle school grades. Each one relates to one or more themes from the Renaissance Connection.

Scholastic News - Teachers - Get the latest news items, test your news IQ, check out the entertainment calendar, or try your hand at a number of different games.

Science - New York Times - Explore science in depth or search by subject. Also view slideshows.

Social Studies - New York Times - Explore current issues in depth or search social studies by subject.

Social Studies - PBS Teachers - Teachers can search the PBS resources by grade level and topic.

Speakers Match - Coverdell World Wise Schools - (Peace Corps) - Speakers Match links returned Peace Corps Volunteers with those who want to hear about Peace Corps experiences.

Student Opinion - New York Times - Learn about who’s who and what’s what in current events, explore specific subjects, get help with your homework, and challenge yourself to the word of the day.

The Fin, Fur and Feather Bureau of Investigation (FFFBI) - For Teachers - Your students can conduct entertaining investigations with backdrops from contemporary global culture.

The First Thanksgiving Teacher's Guide - In this online activity, students will explore the Mayflower and its 1620 voyage; the new settlement in Plymouth; the lifestyles of the Pilgrims and Wampanoags; and the people, foods, and activities that were a part of the first Thanksgiving.

The Literacy Project - A resource for teachers, literacy organisations and anyone interested in reading and education, created in collaboration with LitCam, Google, and UNESCO's Institute for Lifelong Learning.

The Underground Railroad - Teacher Activity Guide - Students will travel back to the year 1860 and follow a young slave as he flees a Kentucky plantation for Canada along the Underground Railroad. Along the way, they can read or listen to the runaway slave describe his terrifying journey from slavery to freedom.

Time For Kids - This is the website for Time Magazine for Kids. A great current events resource.

Time For Kids - Teachers - Time For Kids is a weekly classroom news magazine packed with stories about world and national events, scientific discoveries, sports, entertainment, kids in the news and much more.

World Digital Library - (Library of Congress) - The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world.

World War II Remembered Teacher's Guide - Gives students the opportunity to investigate World War II by learning about events through the stories of people who experienced them firsthand.

Page Revised - 2/2/2010