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ART

Arts Alive

http://www.artsalive.ca/

(3-8)

This focuses on arts, orchestra, dance and theater. There is information on musicians, artists, and instruments with videos and multimedia resources. The site is in French and English because of the Canadian origin.

Arts Connected

http://artsconnected.org/

(K-12)

This offers an exciting way to peruse the collections of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts and the Walker Art Center. The site has interactive games and videos for students and a guide for teachers.

Art Safari

http://www.moma.org/momalearning/artsafari/index.html

(3-8)

This website is made by the Museum of Modern Art, New York. The site contains links to four well-known paintings with animals, and questions for discussion about each piece of art. There is also a link where kids can create their own art and look at other paintings and sculpture.

DSO Kids

http://www.dsokids.com/

(K-5)

This well- designed site for young music lovers is an extension of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Resources include an instrument encyclopedia, photographs, audio samples, explanation of musical time periods, profiles of famous musicians, musical games, and resources for teachers.

Museum Management Program

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/

(6-12)

Individual organizations within the National Park Service have put together different exhibitions on this web site. Several exhibits on the Civil War, the Revolutionary War, and the struggles of Black and Native Americans are included. Learning is not limited to social studies as art exhibits and animal exhibits can also be tools for learning.

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

News Hour Extra provides the news in a student-friendly format, with categories of daily news reports in Arts and English, Science, Math and Economics, the World, History, Health and Fitness, and the Media. The reports include discussion questions. Other packages on the site contain information on certain subjects, such as Mark Twain and African Art in the English section. Video clips and sites for Debating the News are also provided. An editorial section allows student essays to be submitted, and an archive of lesson plans is made for teachers.

Play music

http://www.playmusic.org/

(3-8)

Information about the different instruments of the orchestra is provided with an audio sample of each. Games such as Name that Woodwind allow students to test their knowledge, and interviews with young musicians encourage kids to get into music.

READING

Between the Lions: Get Wild about Reading

http://pbskids.org/lions/

(K-3)

This is a companion to a PBS television series that helps young kids with phonics and early literacy skills. There are links to over 70 illustrated stories, along with many games, songs, printouts and activities. Many of the links require Media Player, Shockwave, or Quicktime, but there is a choice of programs that could be used.

Bill Peet - Author, Illustrator, Animator

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111400/index.htm

(2-6)

This includes biographical information, book summaries, illustrations, and online games developed by students who love Peet’s books. Ideas for book projects and a teacher section are included in this simple site.

Book PALS

http://www.bookpals.net/

(K-3)

This is a great website that features the non-profit program allowing disadvantaged schools to have stories read to their kids by professional actors. The goal is to have the students become more enthusiastic about reading. There are 20 national chapters on the site, including one in the Carolinas. Videos of the readings can also be accessed through the site.

Game Goo Learning that Sticks

http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/gooeyhome.html

(K-5)

This site has animated games that connect to the state curriculum standards to teach kids reading and pre-reading skills. There is also additional information for parents and teachers in a separate part of the site.

Get Ready to Read!

http://www.getreadytoread.org/

(Pre-K-1)

The Get Ready to Read site provides tools for early literacy in English and Spanish, printable cards with activities to improve reading skills. There are also games that focus on letter names, blending sounds, and word recognition. There are also links to information about learning disabilities and reading development.

Ghost Stories of North Carolina

http://www.ibiblio.org/ghosts/

(3-8)

This site allows visitors to listen to, watch, and read stories of North Carolina Ghosts like Blackbeard and the Legend of Gimghoul. The site was developed by UNC communication students and is not updated regularly, but s a good addition to instructional units.

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

Poetry Express

http://www.poetryexpress.org/

(10-12)

The site provides tools to help students write poetry. Tips and games to encourage creating poetry, and a section on types of poetry and publishing add suggestions for students and poets.

Starfall.com

http://www.starfall.com/

(K-3)

This reflects the project of a teacher and a physicist who have developed an early reading program with animation, sound, and video. Works well in two sections for early and advanced emergent readers. Uses games and riddles for practice and has resources for teachers.

HISTORY

An Adventure of the Mind

http://aam.wcu.edu/

This is an ongoing project to help teachers use the content of the digital collection from the Library of Congress in their classrooms. The American Memory site is used to relate to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and provides historical information about the state, including the Cherokee Indians. Lesson plans are given; images, video clips, and web links are included also.

Afghanistan for Children

http://www.public.asu.edu/~apnilsen/afghanistan4kids/

(1-6)

Don and Alleen Nilsen, professors of English at Arizona State University, have lived in Afghanistan for three years with children, and have set up a basic site on Afghan culture. Photos, activities, and puzzles will help student learn about this country from a source other than the news.

America’s Story from America’s Library

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/

(3-10)

A resource from the Library of Congress provides a focuses set of materials in an engaging format. The sections are called, Meet Amazing Americans, Jump Back in Time, Explore the States, Join America at Play, and See, Hear, and Sing. Multimedia presentations require Window’s Media Player or Apple’s Quicktime.

Ansel Adams

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/ansel/

(6-12)

This is a companion site to a television series on PBS called American Experience. Information about the real parks and landscapes in Ansel Adam’s photographs is given through text, pictures, and video. Biographical information on Adams, a timeline, and information on the television series is also available with a teachers guide for civics, history, economics, and geography.

Campfire Stories with George Catlin

http://catlinclassroom.si.edu/index.html

(9-12)

Four sections of this site that contains landscapes and portraits depicting Native American life before westward expansion include Native American Homelands, Catlin’s life, Indian leaders and personalities, and the ecology and geography of the Great Plains. Several audio interviews are also available, with maps and a search engine. There are lesson plans that are cross-curricular tied to national standards.

Carolina Clips

http://www.itpi.dpi.state.nc.us/caroclips/

(4-8)

Three major sections of this site are lighthouses, waterfalls, and Raleigh. The sections include geographic locations in North Carolina with photographs and information on specific sights like the Tryon Palace in New Bern and the National Lighthouse. This is a good site for students learning the history of North Carolina in the fourth and eighth grades.

Cleopatra: A Multimedia Guide to the Ancient World

http://www.artic.edu/cleo/

(4-12)

The Art Institute of Chicago has developed a site that takes students through a multimedia presentation of Ancient Egypt, Italy, and Greece with the unifying element of Cleopatra. Information on art works and artifacts can be accessed through a map, a timeline, and a matrix of the countries. There is a glossary and pronunciation guide. Lesson plans are given along with links to related sites.

Explore the Constitution

http://www.constitutioncenter.org/explore/TheU.S.Constitution/

(3-12)

The resource allows students to search through words of the Constitution and other documents of American history. Annotations are provided from Linda Monk’s book, Words We Live By. Also, there are games for younger children about the Bill of Rights and a timeline about the Constitution. There is information to help teachers with developing lessons about the Constitution.

Exploring Amistad at Mystic Seaport

http://amistad.mysticseaport.org/

(9-12)

Great for historical exploration, this website gives links to essays, discussions, and timelines about the 1839 revolt on the slave ship, Amistad. There are pictures in an archive that may be useful, and ideas for the classroom in the curriculum section of the site.

Fact Monster

http://www.factmonster.com

(3-8)

This is formatted for elementary and middle school students, and is a combination between an encyclopedia, almanac, dictionary, and atlas. There are a few daily updates and topics like women’s history and black history. There is a section to help with homework, and another on games and quizzes.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum (Educational Programs)

http://www.fdrlibrary.marist.edu/educat33.html

(6-12)

The educational programs section of the FDR library site offers assistance to students conducting research with primary source documents. There is a research guide and a document analysis worksheet, along with historical information from FDR’s time period.

Free at Last: The Civil Rights Movement in the United States

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112391/

(3-6)

This is an award-winning site developed by sixth graders. A timeline and biographical section provides a background on important issues, and games, a glossary and bibliography are also included.

The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization

http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/

(9-12)

The site from PBS presents several topics about Ancient Greece. Some famous people are introduced from this era, a timeline, and the developments of their civilization are included. The site also provides lessons for teachers and further resources for learning about the Ancient Greeks.

Guess the Nation

http://www.flw.com/flaggame/

(5-10)

Guess the Nation is a simple game of naming the country to the flag displayed. Maps, currency, national anthems, and capital cities are given for clues to the answer.

Harp Week: Explore History

http://www.harpweek.com/

(11-12)

This site contains historical articles and prints from Harpers Weekly, and the presidential election news and cartoons from 1860 to 1884. A report on black America in that time with advertising, immigration, and sensitive racial information is also provided.

H.I.P. Pocket Change

http://usmint.gov/kids/

(1-5)

The focus of this site is the historical and cultural context of money through the world. A trip to France allows students to have an allowance and spend money for souvenirs during the trip. A time line and articles highlight several times and events and a news area inform students of recent events such as commemorative coins. There are several teaching guides also for different subject areas.

History Detectives

http://pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/

(6-12)

The companion to the PBS television series teaches the methodology of historical research. There are a number of mysteries presented about wars, historical figures, legends, and other entertaining mysteries. Ballistics, DNA analysis, document examination, forensic anthropology, and property searches are topics of research. There are two main lessons on going to historical sites, and also searching for attic artifacts.

HMS Challenger

http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/challenger/

(6-12)

The beginnings of oceanography are well explained and displayed here by the historical voyage of the HMS Challenger. The ship’s journey, the crew members, the science behind the exploration, the vessel, and more historical information are provided with pictures and diagrams about the mission that started in Victorian England.

Learning Adventures in Citizenship: From New York to Your Town

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/newyork/laic/

(4-9)

In six episodes, the early history of New York City is described in detail, with subjects such as New Amsterdam, Rivers and Roads, Slavery, and the Knickerbockers Legend. The historical information looks at how the early development of New York relates to the development and change within America as a whole. There are photographs, videos, and also lesson plans that encourage young people to be a part of their communities.

The Lewis and Clark Journey of Discovery

http://www.nps.gov/jeff/LewisClark2/HomePage/HomePage.htm

(4-12)

This site gives a diverse amount of information on the journey of Lewis and Clark and also the historical period of the time, including politics and culture. The source contains multimedia features such as a photo album, and an education section with cross-curriculum lessons and resources.

Museum Management Program

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/

(6-12)

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

Remembering Pearl Harbor

http://plasma.nationalgeographic.com/pearlharbor/

(8-12)

This allows the social studies teacher to take students beyond the Hollywood veneer of the popular culture of this war’s movies. A timeline and map and multimedia console gives detailed information on the event and also includes biographical information on participants. Information on the Battle of Britain and the Doolittle raid over Tokyo add interest.

World Almanac for Kids Online

http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/

(3-6)

The site provides information and entertainment for kids that will encourage further exploration. The topics include inventions, countries, states, presidents, and religions, and these contain high-interest facts. While there are more extensive sections on animals and space, a lack of a search feature makes the site hard to navigate for in-depth research.

Wright Brothers Airplane Company

http://www.first-to-fly.com/

(4-12)

This site gives information about the Wright Brothers’ development efforts in the face of adversity. The historical record of aviation is given with photos and music from the time period. Information about the engineering for the early methods of flight are available with artifacts that are ready to be ordered by visitors to the site.

SCIENCE

Access Excellence

http://www.accessexcellence.org/

Biology and health teachers will find that this offers a comprehensive set of useful curriculum resources. Science and health news add relevant current events and interviews with scientists. Students will also find information on this site, and should be aware that the information may be biased due to the input in certain areas by Genetech, a bioengineering firm.

Bugscope

http://bugscope.beckman.uiuc.edu/

(K-12)

This provides students a remote control of a scanning electron microscope with the application to the site. Without application to the free site, the users may still see a large gallery of magnifications that will excite students and teachers.

Creative Chemistry

http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/

(10-12)

This site contains puzzles and games to go along with a science curriculum. There are well-designed handouts and activity sheets, as well as power point presentations, an interactive periodic table and on-screen calculator. The site goes along with British measurement and school systems, but could be adapted to American classes as well.

Dino Directory

http://flood.nhm.ac.uk/cgi-bin/dino/

(3-10)

The Natural History Museum in London has put together a resource of dinosaur information, with body shape and size, habits, and a geologic timeline among other things. This is a good basic resource and encourages further study of dinosaurs.

Dive and Discover

http://www.divediscover.whoi.edu/

(4-10)

This allows students to go on expeditions of the ocean floor with real scientists as work is being completed. Every aspect of the exploration and past explorations are available to students, along with timelines and other information about oceanography.

EPA Student Center

http://www.epa.gov/students/

(6-12)

The site is better with teacher guidance since there are a variety of subjects for different age groups on the site. The EPA has given a wide range of topics such as environmental laws, ecosystems, conservation, and air and water quality. This is a good site for students to start research on topics like endangered animals, recycling, global warming, and acid rain.

Field Trip Earth

http://www.fieldtripearth.org/

(4-12)

This site is maintained by the Zoological Society, and revolves around research activities done by the organization. With each project, visitors may see profiles of animals such as elephants, red wolves, and polar bears along with profiles of the region, the project, and the research being collected. There is a large collection of classroom activities and also discussion groups and polls students may find useful.

For Kids Only: Earth Science Enterprise

http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/

(3-10)

Popular topics on this site include El Nino, hurricanes, plate tectonics, air pressure, and atmospheric ozone. A few activities are provided and could serve to supplement a unit on several science subjects.

FOSSWEB

http://fossweb.com/

(k-6)

This is meant to complement a curriculum developed at the University of California at Berkeley. However, it may enrich other science classes as well. Several topics are covered, including insects, plants, weather, inventions, magnetism, solar energy, measurement, and nutrition. The site is divided into units for different grade levels, and several multimedia features are used.

HMS Challenger

http://aquarium.ucsd.edu/challenger/

(6-12)

Museum Management Program

http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/

(6-12)

Nature Net

http://www.nature.nps.gov/

(6-12)

Sections from the National Park Service on air, biology, and geology in the national parks are provided for students on this site. There are links to other environmental web sites along with an overview of the National Park Service’s goals, accomplishments, and activities.

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

Ology

http://www.ology.amnh.org/

(3-6)

The site focuses on the variety of subjects studied in the sciences with activities for all the subjects covered such as astronomy, biodiversity, physical science, genetics, and paleontology. There are many creative games and explorations to complete, along with activities for teachers to introduce a broad range of concepts.

Strange Matter

http://www.strangematterexhibit.com/

(5-8)

This is a neat site with exhibits of biology, chemistry, and physics. There are four areas where students can explore the properties of materials and learn about theoretical science and practical engineering. There are links for teachers and families that contain activities dealing with material science.

Water Science for Schools

http://wwwga.usgs.gov/edu/

(7-12)

Broad categories of this site include: location of water, properties, how we study water, water in our bodies, and water quality. There are articles, quizzes, activities, and a glossary. There is also a collection of maps and pictures in the extensive photo and data gallery.

Weather Scope: An investigative study of weather and climate

http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/weatherproj2/en/

(5-12)

The Center of Innovation in Engineering and Science Education has created another great project for kids. This allows students to develop their own equipment for measuring the weather. The project is organized into a well-planned curriculum with units to learn about elevation, temperature, and climate.

Math Websites

H.I.P. Pocket Change

http://usmint.gov/kids/

(1-5)

The focus of this site is the historical and cultural context of money through the world. A trip to France allows students to have an allowance and spend money for souvenirs during the trip. A time line and articles highlight several times and events and a news area informs students of recent events such as commemorative coins. There are several teaching guides also for different subject areas.

Math Site: An interactive source for seeing, hearing, doing mathematics

http://mathsite.math.berkeley.edu/

(5-12)

Although the site requires Flash and Java for most of its operations, there are many games to play on this site that manipulate geometric figures to solve puzzles or prove rules about geometry. There are also tutorials, games with weights and measurement, math history, and a section on algorithms.

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

Project Interactive

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

(3-12)

The Shodor Foundation promotes computers and technologies to be used in the classroom. There are math activities that have the use of Java, lesson plans, and hand outs. Students may not use the website as easily as teachers, but it will assist many lessons and units on math.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Access Excellence

http://www.accessexcellence.org/

An Adventure of the Mind

http://aam.wcu.edu/

Bill Peet- Author, Illustrator, Animator

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111400/index.htm

(2-6)

Campfire Stories with George Catlin

http://catlinclassroom.si.edu/index.html

(9-12)

Game Goo Learning that Sticks

http://www.cogcon.com/gamegoo/gooeyhome.html

(K-5)

The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization

http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/

(9-12)

H.I.P. Pocket Change

http://usmint.gov/kids/

(1-5)

Hot Potatoes

http://web.uvic.ca/hrd/hotpot/

This is a Canadian web site that offers a suite of teacher utilities for creating web-based activities. There are places to generate quizzes and puzzles and online tutorials to help with the process.

The Journey Inside

http://www.intel.com/education/journey/

(5-8)

This leads students on a multimedia expedition through the basics of computer technology. Sections include Digital Information, an Introduction to Computers, Technology and Society, Circuits and Switches, Microprocessors, and the Internet. Teachers are able to use this site for classroom resources, and personalize the site using passwords for individual classrooms.

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

Ology

http://www.ology.amnh.org/

(3-6)

Project Interactive

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

(3-12)

The Shodor foundation promotes computers and technologies to be used in the classroom. There are math activities that have the use of Java, lesson plans, and hand outs. Students may not use the website as easily as teachers, but it will assist many lessons and units on math.

Teachers at Random

http://randomhouse.com/teachers/

This site is not meant for students, but it is a good resource for teachers who are looking for books to include in their classroom. The books can be searched by grade level, theme, or subject area. Teacher guides are available, along with profiles of authors and illustrators, and an archive of book talks.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The Journey Inside

http://www.intel.com/education/journey/

(5-8)

Project Interactive

http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/

(3-12)

SECOND LANGUAGES

Colorin Colorado!

http://www.colorincolorado.org/

This site has a Spanish title, which roughly translated means “lived happily every after!” The tools provided are meant for teachers and parents to help Spanish speaking children learn English as a second language. There are tools for reading and activities for home and school use, and also other links to websites in the same subject area.

STUDENT PROJECTS

Bill Peet- Author, Illustrator, Animator

http://library.thinkquest.org/J0111400/index.htm

(2-6)

Midlink Magazine

http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/

(3-12)

This site maintains a clearinghouse for collaborative projects in grades 3 through 12. There is a web honor roll of selected projects and a teacher resource room. Students and teachers from around the world have added to content on this sight that grew from a student magazine in Raleigh.

NickNacks Telecollaborate!

http://telecollaborate.net/education/

This is as clearinghouse for information about collaborative online projects for grades k-12. Guidelines, templates, and tips on the site can assist the beginning user in getting involved or making their own online project.

MEDIA

Don’t Buy It: Get Media Smart!

http://pbskids.org/dontbuyit/

(3-9)

This is a good site to enlighten viewers of television and other media of the ploys advertisers use to trick viewers and listeners. There are examples of real commercials along with a history of advertising and a look at models and junk food.

Midlink Magazine

http://www.ncsu.edu/midlink/

(3-12)

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

CAREERS

Occupational Outlook Handbook

http://stats.bls.gov/oco/home.htm

(4-12)

This site has long been a reference for students on type of jobs and differences in industries in the US. There are different searches and types of jobs organized by name. Also, further websites and links are available for different articles and information.

BUSINESS/ECONOMICS

H.I.P. Pocket Change

http://usmint.gov/kids/

(1-5)

Lemonade Stand

http://www.lemonadegame.com/

(6-7)

This is a business simulation which allows kids to set up a lemonade stand and see how much they sell each day. Details like inventory, pricing, quality control, and purchasing are choices for the players of the game. This is a good introduction to marketing and business.

News Hour Extra

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/

(10-12)

Questions? Email Kathryn Batten

Last Update: March 7, 2006