The Declaration of Independence
July 4, 1776 marks the day that forever changed the direction of American history. On that day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, delegates of the Second Continental Congress declared that the thirteen British colonies were a free nation by signing the Declaration of Independence. In this video, we present a detailed account of the courage and determination of such founding fathers as Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and John Adams. From the Stamp Act to the Boston Tea Party, from Paine's Common Sen
The Declaration of Independence: Jefferson's Role
The 2nd Continental Congress appointed Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence. Good details about how Jefferson came up with some ideas for the Declaration using theme of an unjust King. Students need to have a copy of this document is go along with the video as well as a timeline of events that resulted in this work.
Holidays You Should Fly the Flag
A flag vendor explains that the American flag should be flown on many holidays, including New Year's Day, Inauguration Day, Martin Luther King Day, Lincoln's Birthday and Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Columbus Day. Fly the flag on about 20 commemorative days if you don't fly all year long.
"The Boston Tea Party"- Song
In this animated video, students will be introduced to a friendly sea creature character that sings a song about what happened in 1773 when the "tea was poured to sea". Words to the song appear on screen and each word is highlighted as it is sung. It explains why this was done and how the British reacted. This is a wonderful teaching companion for a lesson/unit on the Revolution and its causes. Content is appropriate for upper elementary and early middle school students.
The Boston Tea Party
Video for high school about the Boston Tea Party. "In 1773, the British East India Tea Company faced bankruptcy. More than 17 million pounds of tea sat idle in warehouses, in part because American boycotts and smuggling damaged the English tea industry. The British government, set to lose a large amount of tax revenue if the company failed, ratified a Tea Act that allowed the company to bypass English and American wholesalers and sell directly to American merchants at reduced prices..."
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
This video is accompanied by text. "With the two-party system of government in its founding stages in the United States, a continent away events were taking place that would further the evolution of the Federalist and the Democratic-Republican parties. The people of France were taking their cues from the American Revolution and rebelling against the authoritarian leadership of King Louis XVI. As war ensued between France and Great Britain in 1793, conflict arose in America as the Federalists and
Jackson and Van Buren
Video accompanied by text. "Historians are divided on President Andrew Jackson’s feelings toward Indians. Some claim he was a virulent Indian hater and cite as evidence the fact that he commanded the American troops that killed nearly 900 Creeks in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814. On the other hand, Jackson led an invasion of Florida in 1818 to capture runaway slaves and punish those who aided them. There he ordered Indians, Spanish, and British alike hanged or otherwise killed. Rather th
The Mexican American War, Causes and Events
This video is accompanied by text. "The process of admitting Texas as a slave state was well under way by the time Polk became president on March 4, 1845. One plank of the Democratic platform was thus resolved. In his first annual message to Congress, Polk asserted that the American claim to the entire Oregon country was “clear and unquestionable.” The British, who had refused on several occasions to relinquish any territory north of the Columbia River, now had a change of heart. Their chief
Economic Diversification in the New South
This text is accompanied by text. "King Cotton was once the heralded “ruler” of the South, but following the Civil War this King shouldered the blame for the South’s losses. Many southern leaders believed that their reliance on one crop had made them vulnerable to the Union’s advances, and they pledged to diversify what they called the “New South.” Henry W. Grady, the editor of the Atlanta Constitution, promoted the vision for the New South at a meeting of the New England Society of
Top Ten Poetic Devices
This is an outstanding video of the'Top Ten Poetic devices'. This video made for the Learning English through Poems and Songs workshop from British Council Hong Kong(C) EDB 2009. The video is suitable for third-grade students and older.
"Dad Don't Dance," poem by Roger Stevens
Students will smile as they watch and listen. Ron Bookless' drawings animate the poem, "Dad Don't Dance," read with a British accent by Roger Stevens from his book The Monster that Ate the Universe. This poem has rhyme, rhythm, and a little alliteration and is appropriate for elementary students. Very British. (1:23)
"A List of Words," poem by Roger Stevens
"A List of Words" is a poem featured in The Monster That Ate the Universe (Macmillan Children's Books) by Roger Stevens. Cartoons by Sarah Naylor. Read by a male adult with a British accent, the poem contains many adjectives. (1:15)
The World of Peter Rabbit And Friends: Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Pigling Bland, Part 1 of 3
Another story in this televised film series begins with a portrayal of Beatrix Potter painting on a hillside, forest creatures around her, and then running home before a rain storm. Potter goes into her cottage, talks to her rabbit, Peter, and reads aloud a story she wrote for a sick child, later published as The Tale of Pigling Bland. The animated video of this story uses Potter's illustrations and is narrated with British accents. Mus
The World of Peter Rabbit And Friends: Beatrix Potter - The Tale of Pigling Bland, Part 3 of 3
Concludes this animated story of The Tale of Pigling Bland with a nursery rhyme song, "Tom, Tom, the Piper's Son." We then see a portrayal of the British children's author, Beatrix Potter, again talking to Peter. As she walks on the cobblestone path past the blooming rose bushes to post her letter, we are treated to Miriam Stockley singing "Perfect Day." (8:40)
Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan
This video is accompanied by text. "As the perceived threat from the Soviet Union continued to grow, the West became desperate to stop the spread of communism. After WWII, the communist community grew quickly in many parts of war-ravaged Europe. England was desperately trying to stop the spread of European communism in key countries, one of which was Greece. A fear shared by the U.S. and Britain was that if Greece became communist, so would Turkey, and the Soviets would control the eastern Medit
Tom Thumb, Part 1 of 2
This live action film, made in 1958, is based on the classic Tom Thumb story from the pen of the Brothers Grimm. Entertaining for all ages, and especially for film history students, the film stars Alan Young and June Thorburn. Peter Sellers plays the part of one of the "villains." Songs by Peggy Lee. Opening credits are shown on the pages of an old-fashioned scrapbook. Male narrator with soothing British accent. Part 1 of 2 (9:15)
Little Red Riding Hood, Part 2 of 3
A Little Red Riding Hood in Eastern Indian clothing with a British accent, a tricky wolf with a French accent, Disney-like animation, music, sound effects. The wolf uses the phrase, "Shut up" at around 2 minutes into this section. Part 2 of 3 (10:00)
The Twelve Dancing Princesses narrated by Grant R. Barrett
The Twelve Dancing Princesses or The Worn-Out Dancing Shoes or The Shoes that were Danced to Pieces is a German fairy tale originally published by the Brothers Grimm in Children's and Household Tales as tale number 133. This story is about the twelve princesses who left their room every night and danced. The king wanted to discover where they went. The story continues in the true fairy tale form. This is a two part video. Still image with narration. (9:20)
Egypt's Golden Empire : The Warrior Pharaohs 1/8
A quote from the movie: "For over 3,000 years a story has lain hidden beneath the sands of Egypt. A story we are only now beginning to reclaim. It is a story of a time we call The New Kingdom. It left us the greatest treasures of the ancient world: an extraordinary legacy in papyrus, stone and gold. But behind these treasures lies an epic tale of real people: people like Ramesses, Tutankhamen the Boy King, and one of the most beautiful and powerful women of the ancient world, Queen Nefertiti." S
Egypt's Golden Empire : The Warrior Pharaohs 2/8
A quote from the movie: "For over 3,000 years a story has lain hidden beneath the sands of Egypt. A story we are only now beginning to reclaim. It is a story of a time we call The New Kingdom. It left us the greatest treasures of the ancient world: an extraordinary legacy in papyrus, stone and gold. But behind these treasures lies an epic tale of real people: people like Ramesses, Tutankhamen the Boy King, and one of the most beautiful and powerful women of the ancient world, Queen Nefertiti." S
