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Government Sites

Abraham Lincoln: An Extraordinary Life - (National Museum of American History) - Visit the online version of this exhibition to explore artifacts from Lincoln's life, including the wedge he used to split wood in the 1830s, an office suit used during his presidency, and the top hat he wore to Ford’s Theater on April 14, 1865.

African American History and Culture - Encyclopedia Smithsonian - Find great information here about African American artists, inventors, musicians and important people in U.S. history.

African American History Month - (Library of Congress) - This site pays tribute to the generations of African Americans who struggled with adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society.

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 by Air - National Air and Space Museum - (Smithsonian Institution) - This site has different activities, including a virtual flight across America during different parts of the twentieth century. Visitors can click on the "Fly Across America" to view period documents that depict what the in- flight experience was like from the 1920s to the present. Tthe "Explore Exhibition" takes visitors through the different periods of American aviation history, complete with historic photographs, first-hand recollections, and more.

America on the Move - America on the move explores the role of transportation in American history. Learn how railroads and other transportation helped bring communities together.

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.

Apollo 11: Walking On the Moon - What did it take to put a man on the Moon? What were the dangers? Who were the Apollo 11 astronauts? How did they live in space? Visit Walking on the Moon to experience the incredible Apollo 11 mission!

Beauty Surrounds Us - National Museum of the American Indian - (Smithsonian) - This web exhibit also provides an activity for each section the exhibit is divided into, such as "Tools of Existence", "Recreation and Pastimes", "Design as Identity", and "Expressions of Identity." The activity tests a visitor's comprehension and memory of the objects' written descriptions given when you click on the object's picture.

Bill of Rights - Charters of Freedom - (National Archives) - On September 25, 1789, the First Congress of the United States proposed to the state legislatures 12 amendments to the Constitution. Articles 3 to 12 were ratified by three-fourths of the state legislatures, constitute the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.

Biography of Abraham Lincoln - (White House) - Learn about our 16th president.

Biography of George Washington - (White House) - Read a summary about our first president.

Built in America - (Library of Congress) - These collections record achievements in architecture, engineering, and design in the United States and its territories through a range of building types and engineering technologies.

Civil War - America’s Story - (Library of Congress) - After Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, 11 Southern states seceded (or withdrew) from the Union and set up an independent government--the Confederate States of America. These events led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Clara Barton National Historic Site - The website consists of two sections: a virtual tour of Clara Barton National Historic Site and an activities section with fun and educational learning exercises.

Creating the Declaration of Independence: A Timeline - (National Archives) - Find out how the Declaration of Independence came to be and what happened between June 7 – August 2, 1776.

Digging for Answers - (Smithsonian Education) - Tests your research skills as well as your expertise. With each question, you have the choice of answering on your own or trying to beat the clock as you search for the answer on a Smithsonian website. (Flash required)

Dinosaur National Monument - Dinosaur National Monument protects a large deposit of fossil bones of creatures that lived nearly 150 million years ago. The fossils help us learn more about these fascinating animals.

Edison National Historic Site - Edison's improvements to the telegraph and the telephone placed him on the cutting edge of communication technology at the turn of the Twentieth Century. If Edison were living today, he would be interested in both the Internet and the World Wide Web, a technology that can now make the legacy of the world's most famous inventor available to you.

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.

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.

George Washington: A National Treasure - (Smithsonian Institution) - Follow the clues and help solve a make-believe mystery! Using your noggin and a special spyglass tool, you’ll uncover hidden layers of the painting and learn fascinating facts about the portrait along the way.

George Washington: Surveyor and Mapmaker - (Library of Congress) - Beginning with his early career as a surveyor and throughout his life as a soldier, planter, businessman, land speculator, farmer, military officer, and president, George Washington relied on and benefitted from his knowledge of maps. Between 1747 and 1799 Washington surveyed over two hundred tracts of land and held title to more than sixty-five thousand acres in thirty-seven different locations.

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.

Hall of Presidents - National Portrait Gallery - (Smithsonian Institution) - This virtual tour will allow you to navigate through the National Portrait Gallery's, Hall of Presidents.

Harlem Renaissance - Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum - (National Archives) - View the exhibit from the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and learn more about this African American Movement.

Harlem Renaissance - Library of Congress - The Harlem Renaissance was a movement characterized by the flourishing of literature mostly, but also art and music by African Americans who sought self-expression. Find out more here.

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

How Maps are Made - A lot goes into making a map. Learn how the maps are made.

Image Ace - Satellite Map Game - By looking at satellite photos, help Orbit find Terry Firma.

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

Kids and Families Page - (Library of Congress) - This website shares its collections, stories, online collections and more for students and teachers.

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.

Learning about Asia-Pacific - Test your knowledge of the Asia-Pacific region.

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.

Local Legacies - Local Events across the United States

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

Mine Safety and Health Administration - Look here for information about the dangers of playing near or in mines.

Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library - (Library of Congress) - Mr. Lincoln's Virtual Library highlights two collections at the Library of Congress that feature the life of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), the sixteenth president of the United States.

Mr. President - IdeaLab - (Smithsonian Institution) - A portrait gallery of all of the U.S. presidents.

My Wonderful World - Explore the rich online resources created by Smithsonian experts for learning more about our world!

National Museum of American History - Discover history through objects, photographs, and terrific books! Explore the playful side of invention with activities designed to use your imagination.

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.

Nez Perce National Historic Trail - Just for Kids - Learn about the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail with word games and puzzles, a math game, coloring book, and other fun activities just for you.

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.

Our Story - Our Story is designed to help you enjoy exploring history through museum programs featuring objects from collections, quality children's literature, and hands-on activities.

Peace Corps Challenge - This game gives you the opportunity to work in the fictional village of Wanzuzu as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Portals to the World - Portals to the World contains selective links providing authoritative, in-depth information about the nations and other areas of the world.

Portrait for Kids - Follow the clues and help solve a make-believe mystery! Using your noggin and a special spyglass tool, you’ll uncover hidden layers of the painting and learn fascinating facts about the portrait along the way, from the National Gallery of Art. Let the sleuthing begin!

Presidential Libraries - (National Archives) - Presidential Libraries present vast archives of documents, museums full of important Presidential artifacts, and informative web sites.

Presidential Timeline of the 20th Century - (National Archives) - The Presidential Timeline provides a single point of access to an ever-growing selection of digitized assets from the collections of the twelve Presidential Libraries.

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

Research Presidential Materials - (National Archives) - Every day the President and his staff generate thousands of documents providing insight into the issues confronting our nation. Presidential Libraries preserve not only these official records, but also the personal papers of Presidential family members, associates, and friends.

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 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. 

The New United States of America Adopted the Bill of Rights - America’s Library - (Library of Congress) - Do you know your Bill of Rights? It is the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, confirming the fundamental rights of American citizens.

Timeline - National Museum of American History - (Smithsonian Institution) - Explore this interactive timeline of objects from the National Museum of American History’s collections.

Timeline of Flight: The Dream of Flight - (Library of Congress) - Check out this timeline and learn how the invention of the kite lead to human flight.

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.

U.S. Electoral College - (Office of the Federal Register) - The Electoral College is not a place; it is a process that began as part of the original design of the U.S. Constitution. The people of the U.S. vote for the electors who then vote for the President. Read more about how the terms "Elector" and "Electoral College" came into use.

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.

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.

Volunteer Voices Podcasts - (Peace Corps) - Tune in to stories from around the world, written and read by Peace Corps Volunteers.

Where's Smithy? - (Smithsonian Institution) - Meet a border collie named Smithy. He has run away and is somewhere at the Smithsonian. Figure out where Smithy is and then follow him by visiting Smithsonian museums on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Exhibition - (Library of Congress) - In honor of Lincoln's 200th birthday, check out the online exhibit and physical exhibits in Washington, D.C., along with several other locales throughout the year. You can also see Lincoln Vignettes, which has drawings, photos, or sculptures of Lincoln represent different time periods of his life.

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.

Other Resources

Africa - We sent kids from four schools in Africa cameras so they could show us their world. Each school took photos to make a MY WORLD album and tell us about where they live. Check out their albums.

African American World - Match African American heroes with the events that made them famous.

African American World - PBS - Play games, send e-cards and find out what kids like you have said about their favorite African American heroes.

BrainPOP - Social Studies - BrainPOP's has animated movies created to explain the world around us in an engaging way. There are some FREE movies, but most you have to subscribe to. Kids, make sure to talk this over with your parents.

Citizenship Quiz - History.com - Test your knowledge on Amercian Government, American History and Civics.

Colonial Williamsburg Kids Zone - The Kids Zone offers games, activities, and resources about life in colonial America.

Cotton Campus - Learn about the amazing world of cotton. Where does cotton come from? How is it grown? Find out here.

Education Place for Students - Free games, activities, and resources for students studying math, reading, social studies, and science.

Harlem Renaissance - BrainPop - Watch this animated short and learn all about the African American artistic community of the 1920s.

Immigration - Scholastic.com - Find out what it means to come to the United States as an immigrant from the early 20th century through the early 21st century.

Inside History for Kids - All kinds of interesting tidbits.

Kids Around the World - (National Peace Corps Association) - Introduces you to the lives of children in developing countries through interviews, photos and information about where and how the children live.

Languages Around the World - Kids around the world speak thousands of different languages! In this section you can learn some new words in a different language.

Maps Tools for Adventure - Maps are a part of every great adventure. They help you find your way, share information, look at patterns, and solve problems

Mount Vernon - When George Washington lived here, Mount Vernon was an 8,000-acre plantation divided into five farms. Each farm was a complete unit, with its own overseers, work force of slaves, livestock, equipment, and buildings. Take this virtual tour and Discover the Mansion House Farm.

My Wonderful World - for Kids and Teens - You might not know it, but you're already a global citizen -- geography is a part of your everyday life.

National Geographic Kids Stories - Wanna hear about current events? National Geographic gives you the top news stories on animals and nature, people and places, and even wacky news.

Nick News with Linda Ellerbee - Read daily stories and find out about current events that will shape YOUR world.

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.

People and Places - Sesame Street Playlists - Watch videos and learn about different people and places.

Say Hello to the World - Are you interested in learning to speak another language? Here you can learn over 30 and you can learn about the people who speak that language, too!

Sea Monsters Adventure Game - Can you survive the seven deadliest seas of all time in this game? Take the plunge! You will need the Flash 6 or above plug-in to play this game.

Skeleton Jigsaws from the BBC - Imagine how hard it is to reconstruct animals from fossil bones where many of the pieces are broken up or lost. Try your luck with the jigsaws.

The First Thanksgiving - Scholastic.com - Learn how the Pilgrims reached America and lived to celebrate the first Thanksgiving.

The Underground Railroad - Scholastic.com - The year is 1860. Enslaved African Americans live in the South. Follow one of these slaves along the Underground Railroad, a secret network of hiding places and brave people who helped runaway slaves reach freedom.

Truman 4 Kids - There are many fun things here to help you learn about our 33rd President, Harry S. Truman.

World War II Remembered - Scholastic.com - Relive the World War II experience through the memories of those who survived.

Page Revised - 2/2/2010