NAACP Resources

The Library of Congress just posted information about their NAACP: A Century in the Fight for Freedom online exhibit (http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/naacp/Pages/default.aspx).  According to their Facebook post, this collection is the largest and most used; now it is available online.  Primary-source materials are among the resources available for classroom use from this link: http://loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/primarysourcesets/naacp/.

Be sure to bookmark these links for planning programming during February!

Hail to the Chief!

With Presidents' Day fast approaching, you may be looking for a fresh way to present pertinent but fun lessons about the Chief Executive.  If you're short on time, or are only looking for quick inspiration, I have the perfect one-stop-shop to recommend.  The National Archives includes a page dedicated to Presidential Libraries online at http://www.archives.gov/presidential-libraries/.  From this portal, you can access something as basic as an interactive presidential timeline (http://www.presidentialtimeline.org/; please note: this timeline is not created by the National Archives but was funded by the National Endowment for the Arts) to a virtual tour of the White House (http://www.jfklibrary.org/).  Students can hear the voices of some presidents.  Teachers are rewarded with lesson plans that incorporate primary documents, artifacts and other resources.  Virtual tours of each library are available as well.

Additional online resources include state historical societies (for information about presidential landmarks by state) and the National Park Service.  One of February's featured lesson plans is "Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial: Forging Greatness during Lincoln's Youth."  This teacher resource provides an opportunity to teach with historic places (http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/126libo/).

For something a little different, or for another perspective on life in the White House, visit to the National First Ladies' Library (http://www.firstladies.org/).  Lesson plans are available based on a variety of standards and for a wide range of grade levels.  The "resources" page is loaded with links on a variety of topics.  A button for "facts & trivia" would make a great resource for a scavenger hunt or for creative questions for a quiz.

Celebrating Black History Month

In reviewing children's materials for a course last summer, I ran across an overwhelming number of materials related to the great Americans that created and elaborated on Jazz.  Since music is a universal language, wouldn't jazz make a great theme for lessons in February?  For a list of resources I've reviewed, be sure to read through my children's materials blog, here, and click the categories "Multicultural Picture Books" or "Coretta Scott King Award" for lists of suggested resources.  Please remember that most local public libraries offer teacher services.  Often, you can request materials from my list of suggested resources and the library staff can pull what they have in their collection for you to check out.  Most libraries offer teachers extended loan periods, typically 4-6 weeks.

The Smithsonian Institute's Museum of American History has a remarkable online jazz exhibit. Smithsonian Jazz (http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/) offers online jazz classes (like a Duke Ellington class), images of artifacts from the museum, and other rich resources.  In fact, you can search the Media Mix and listen to jazz from this portal.  The online exhibit is a collaboration with America's Jazz Heritage (a partnership of the Lila Wallace-Reader's Digest Fund and the Smithsonian Institution) and the U.S. Department of Education.

Another often overlooked resource is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.  Their Teacher Lesson Plans page (http://www.freedomcenter.org/expand-your-knowledge/educator-resources/lesson-plans/) is overflowing with detailed lesson plans which can be used independent of a visit to the museum.  From the eLearning link, you can be connected to their On Demand Digital Video Collection and a link to podcasts to download from iTunes.

And last, but never least, the National Park Service has an online teacher resource they call Teaching with Historic Places.  During the month of February, their featured lesson plan is for using places to teach African American History.  Historic sites, from infamous to obscure, are included from this portal page: http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/feb00.htm.

FLASH: Earthquake resources

Recent events in Haiti have focused attention on earthquakes and seismic activity.  With so much media attention on the tragedy, children are interested in learning how and why the earthquake happened.  They're also concerned about their safety.  Virtual exhibits abound online and I've selected a few that are kid-friendly and from reliable sources.

OLogy: The American Museum of Natural History
http://www.amnh.org/ology/index.php
This is one of my favorite science sites for kids because of the high-energy graphics and presentation of information.  Enter "earthquake" in the search box and a results page will list four online exhibits on the topic.

TheTech (science museum) in San Jose, CA
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/quakes/
Great graphics and simple text explain the basics of plate techtonics and the science of seismology.

The Virtual Museum of the City of San Francisco
http://www.thetech.org/exhibits_events/online/quakes/
How will the refugees cook following the quake?  Maybe learning about what survivors of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake did to survive will provide insight.

Earthquake Topics by the U.S. Geological Society
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/?topicID=72
This pathfinder includes links to resources like coloring pages, information for kids by kids, and the science of seismic activity.

Civics Made Fun

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor had a vision: That middle school students would have access to information and learning activities about civics that are fun and educational.  Almost a year ago (the site was launched at the end of February 2009), her vision became reality at http://www.ourcourts.org/, Our Courts: 21st Century Civics.  The free interactive civics resources are intended to help children understand the branches of our government and encourage a love of civics for their lifetimes.  O'Connor even answers questions via a blog on the website.