The Frankish Building: A Reflection of the Success of Ontario, California
helps students gauge the impact of the Chaffey brothers and Charles Frankish on Ontario, California, and compare their efforts with those of similarly important figures in their own community's history.
Californio to American: A Study in Cultural Change
looks at an area that was once part of an Indian village, then an outpost shelter for vaqueros (cowhands), and then the site where Californios (Spanish settlers in what is now the state of California) built small adobe dwellings in the midst of their cattle ranges. Successive owners altered one dwelling into the elegant 18-room ranch house there today -- Rancho Los Alamitos.
Teacher's Corner at Badlands National Park
This site offers lesson plans on endangered species and ecology intended to for classrooms visiting the South Dakota park.
Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms
features 100 aircraft, airfields, research labs, military installations, battle sites, launch facilities, and other places that tell about people and events that made the U.S. a world leader in aviation. Highlights of this travel itinerary include stories of Lt. Edward Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, Amelia Earhart, and the Wright Brothers.
Weir Farm: Home of an American Impressionist
This site examines the farm acquired by painter Alden Weir (1852-1919), where he summered for nearly 40 years (northeast of New City). At a time railroads were expanding, populations were increasing, and America's agrarian system was being replaced by industry, Weir was an artist who found inspiration in the quiet everyday settings of New England, and, in many ways, defined our vision of the American landscape.
The Influences of Art on Yellowstone
This site features paintings, photos, and drawings, many of which contributed to the creation of the nation's first national park. The waterfalls, geysers, rock formations, and vistas in these works helped spread an appreciation of the wonders of Yellowstone. When President Grant signed into law the bill establishing Yellowstone as our first national park in 1872, he set in motion the tradition of preserving other tracts of great beauty for future generations.
American Visionaries: Thomas Moran
features paintings and sketches of the noted American landscape painter. Moran's pencil and watercolor field sketches and paintings captured the grandeur and documented the extraordinary terrain and natural features of the Yellowstone region. His artwork was presented to members of Congress by park proponents and helped inspire Congress to establish the National Park System in 1916.
Resources on Alaska History and Politics
This National Park Service website offers links to a variety of articles about the history and politics of Alaska. Users can download PDF articles about World War II in Alaska, the Alaska Goldrush, and national historic places. The site also features links to educational resources such as teachers' guides to teaching about historic places and culture.
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
This resource presents a brief overview the glaciation that created the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve. Links are provided to maps of the region, information about coastal geology, glaciers, volcanoes, mountains, and recommended reading.
Hot Colors- Windows into Hidden Worlds
The extreme environments of the thermal areas of Yellowstone are rich in microorganisms. These tiny life forms, existing in complex ecosystems, offer scientists clues to the origin of life on our planet. This electronic field trip allows students to explore the dangers and wonders of the hidden worlds of Yellowstone's hot colors.
Windows Into Wonderland - Yellowstone Electronic Field Trips
The geysers and hot springs of Yellowstone are surface manifestations of larger geological processes—the study of which has attracted scientists for more than 100 years. This 55 minute interactive program discusses how early studies were conducted in the park and illustrates that scientific research is an ongoing process. Students will learn how research methods change with technological advances and examine current investigations into the geologic forces of the vast living laboratory of Yello
Views of the National Parks: Whiskeytown
Views of the National Parks can be used in the classroom in many different ways. Most simply, it can be made available for students to explore on their own. Lesson plan available: Biodiversity Right Outside – Biodiversity is the abundance and variety of life-forms (animals, plants, fungi, and microorganisms) at all levels of organization (ecosystems, species, and genes). In this activity students will learn about biodiversity, the importance of biodiversity to ecosystems, and will conduct thei
You Decide: Should U. S. airport security use profiles that include ethnic profiling characteristics
This educational guide focuses on ethnic profiling and related issues. Students are invited to examine the arguments on both sides of the debate, developing critical thinking skills as they work through the activities. Students will learn how to support their arguments with evidence and reason. It is expected that at the end of this guide students will determine where they stand on this controversial issue.
You Decide: Should American public schools be allowed to set aside daily classroom time for student
This educational guide focuses on the rights of students to pray in school set against the danger of imposing religion or organizing a program of religious indoctrination in so doing. Students are invited to examine the arguments on both sides of the debate, developing critical thinking skills as they work through the activities. Students will learn how to support their arguments with evidence and reason. It is expected that at the end of this guide students will determine where they stand on th
Bough Down to Trees
Students become familiar with the impact trees have in their lives and learn about some of the conservation issues that we face in the 21st century.
Stimulating Writing Through Family Memoir
In the first of five lessons in this Family, History and Memory module, students are encouraged to research and write about their family stories and to share their memories with the class. The lessons can be delivered as a module or as individual units.
The Presidency
This site features 40 documents from 23 Presidents -- Washington's first inaugural address, Adams' description of his reception by King George III as America's first minister to Great Britain, Adams' letter ordering the relocation of government offices from Philadelphia to D.C., Lincoln's instructions to the commander at Fort Sumter, Roosevelt's letter thanking Oppenheimer and his colleagues for their ongoing secret atomic research, and more.
World War II Military Situation Maps, 1944-1945
The World War II Military Situation Maps contains maps showing troop positions beginning on June 6, 1944 to July 26, 1945. Starting with the D-Day Invasion, the maps give daily details on the military campaigns in Western Europe, showing the progress of the Allied Forces as they push towards Germany. Some of the sheets are accompanied by a declassified "G-3 Report" giving detailed information on troop positions for the period 3 Mar. 1945-26 July 1945. These maps and reports were used by the com
Creating Hypertext Dialogues Drawn from Narrative History Collections
This site invites students to use documents from California As I Saw It: First Person Narratives, 1849-1900, to create hyperscripts depicting the motivations, expectations, fears, and realizations of immigrants who settled California between 1849 and 1900. Students' hyperscripts are online written dialogues that include links to illustrative written materials, images, and sound files from American Memory collections.
Immigration
This site looks at European and Chinese immigration to the U.S., early 20th century immigration documents, 350 years of Jewish life in America, America as a religious refuge (17th century), Irish words, the Tenement Museum in New York City, and the first Yiddish cookbook in America. The website includes images of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, stories of immigrants, and interactive timelines and maps showing immigration patterns.
