Links for Authentic Learning Units

Click here to return to Archive Links Table of Contents.

Click here to see the current month's links.

NOTE: The links provided here are suggestions only and have not been thoroughly reviewed for appropriateness in school. Educators should review a site before directing students to it. Remember that sites change frequently and might contain different content than on previous occasions.

Going for the Silver - October 2008

www.theatlantic.com/issues/74may/Schlesinger.htm
Article arguing that the office of the vice-president is unnecessary

www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200407u/vicepresidents
Article arguing whether or not the role of vice-president is needed

www.theatlantic.com/unbound/flashbks/pres/wilmer.htm
Paper in which the issue of presidential succession is examined

www.theatlantic.com/issues/74jul/fordhumphrey.htm
Article written by then Vice-President Gerald Ford arguing that the Vice-Presidency is necessary

http://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/briefing/Vice_President.htm
United States Senate site describing the role, history, and duties of the vice-presidency

www.archives.gov/exhibits/american_originals/inaugtxt.html
George Washington’s First Inaugural Address

www.firstmonday.org/ISSUES/issue10_6/bloom/index.html
Article for educators of how to use digitized primary source materials with students

www.techlearning.com/shared/printableArticle.php?articleID=10810514
Step by step guide for teachers to teach students how to do online research

www.alaskool.org/resources/teaching/national_archives/introduction.htm
How to teach using primary source documents (from the National Archives)

www.historians.org/Perspectives/issues/2008/0805/0805tec2.cfm
Teaching history with YouTube and other primary source video sites on the internet

www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/Analyzing_Checklist.htm
This is an already created checklist for students to use when analyzing primary sources

www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/doc_activity.htm
This could be used as a learning center for students to learn the importance of primary
documents

www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/ad_activity.htm
In this activity (another possible learning center) students explore how advertising affects public
perceptions

http://chnm.gmu.edu/loudountah/resources.php
Series of primary source activities to use with students

http://www.vlib.us/amdocs/
AMDOCS site where primary documents can be read (ranging from 9th through 21st centuries)

www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/Photos_Worksheet.htm
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/Cartoons_Worksheet.htm
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/artifacts.htm
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org/workshops/womenshistory/artifact_background.htm

The aforementioned four sites link to activities in which students learn how to analyze different
forms of digital sources

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html
Library of Congress web site, where students can look for authentic primary source pictures.

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/constitution-workshop/index.html
On-line workshop materials to teach students about the U.S. Constitution

http://www.sdst.org/shs/library/primary.html
Teacher resources (including several good links) to teach students to research with primary sources

http://www.primarysourcelearning.org/teaching_materials/
Library of Congress link to using primary sources

http://learning.loc.gov/learn/lessons/fw.html
Explains how to use primary sources in research papers and projects as a way to engage students
with primary historical materials. This framework will help incorporate primary sources
throughout teaching.

http://www.upstatehistory.org/services/DHP/DBQ.html:
Links to Document Based Questioning resources for teachers and students

http://www.upstatehistory.org/services/DHP/DBQ.html#Anchor-Resources-11481
Links to Document Based Questioning sites/resources for teachers

http://home.earthlink.net/~gfeldmeth/DBQ.html
Document Based Questioning Do’s and Don’ts

www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/dbqhowto.html
Guide to writing document based questions (DBQ)

Classroom Feng Shui - June 2008

http://www.classroomfurniture.com/
Find furniture to purchase for your redesigned classroom.

http://www.schoolbox.com/
Here you can find school supplies and classroom furniture for your Feng Shui classroom.

http://shop.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10002&langId=-1
Purchase books and resources for instruction.

http://www.beyondtheblackboard.com/
Research educational supplies, games and gifts to order for your classroom.

http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/home/home.jsp
Find creative instructional tools and resources. You can browse by grade level and subject.

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/routingpage.html
Use the Apple Education Store to research computers and networks you want to use in your room.

http://www.dell.com/content/default.aspx?c=us&cs=RC1084719&l=en&s=k12
Use the Dell Education Store to research computers and networks you want to use in your room.

eb/games/fractionflags/ffthirds.html
On this site, students practice fractions by painting flags.

http://www.askanexpert.com/

Designer Pizza Shop - June 2008

http://aboutpizza.com/page.asp?PageID=44
This site contains the history of pizza, pizza blogs, recipes, styles of pizza, and even tips on how to serve pizza.

http://pizzatherapy.com/historyo.htm
This site includes the history of pizza, recipes, and a forum to discuss opinions about pizza.

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Pizza/PizzaHistory.htm
This site gives a history of pizza plus includes a section where readers can comment.

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/recipesforkids/a/pizza_recipes.htm
This site has various pizza recipes for kids.

http://www.askanexpert.com/
E-mail your questions to an expert chef!

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/frames_asid_103_g_1_t_1.html
Illustrate a fraction by dividing a shape and highlighting the appropriate parts.

http://www.beaconlearningcenter.com/weblessons/FabulousFractions/page4.htm
An interactive site in which students can identify fractions and check their own answers.

http://www.mrnussbaum.com/tonyfraction.htm
On this site, students can play, Tony’s Pizza Shop, a game in which students can learn about fractions by building pizzas.

http://www.oswego.org/ocsd-web/games/fractionflags/ffthirds.html
On this site, students practice fractions by painting flags.

Recreation Committee - May 2008

Explore transformational geometry with interactive constructions
http://www.mathsnet.net/transform/index.html

Visual representations of reflections, translations and rotations in movie format
http://www.misterteacher.com/abc.html

Geometry practice problems and challenging games
http://www.aaamath.com/

Mathematics and the real world
http://www.figurethis.org

Peer tutorial resource for math related questions
http://www.mathforum.org/dr.math/
http://www.mathnerds.com/mathnerds/

Identifies and defines vocabulary related to transformational geometry
http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/math/geometry/GT0/transvocab.htm

Opportunity of a Life Time - April 2008

The Global Ecovillage Network is a global confederation of people and communities that are dedicated to restoring the land and living "sustainable plus" lives by putting more back into the environment than we take out.

Alliance to Save Energy

Energy Efficiency at Home, Office and School

Green Materials

Slamming for Seuss - February 2008

Ben Franklin - the First American - January 2008

Benjamin Franklin - A Documentary History -- J.A. Leo Lemay
http://www.english.udel.edu/lemay/franklin/

Benjamin Franklin - An Enlightened American
http://library.thinkquest.org/22254/home.htm

Benjamin Franklin | PBS
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/

Ben's Guide - Benjamin Franklin
http://bensguide.gpo.gov/benfranklin/

Colonial Hall - Biography of Benjamin Franklin, Page 1
http://www.colonialhall.com/franklin/franklin.php

Inventors - Benjamin Franklin - EnchantedLearning.com
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/inventors/page/f/franklin.shtml

Liberty's Kids . Archive . Benjamin Franklin
http://www.libertyskids.com/arch_who_bfranklin.html

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
http://www.earlyamerica.com/lives/franklin/

The World of Benjamin Franklin
http://www.fi.edu/franklin/

TIME Magazine - Benjamin Franklin, The Amazing Adventures
http://www.time.com/time/2003/franklin/

A Date Which Will Live in Infamy - December 2007

Author! Author! - November 2007

Note: The following is a list of links to some favorite authors of students. In no way does your ALU need to include or be limited to these authors.

Dr. Seuss
This child friendly includes online games based on Dr. Seuss' books and a biography of the author.

Meet Dr. Suess
http://www.seussville.com/morefun/ted.html
Learn about Dr. Seuss! Find out facts about his life and what he did before he became an author.

Seussville University
Seussville University includes Dr. Seuss characters that will guide children through a fun learning environment. Students can practice skills such as letter recognition, rhyming words, patterns, addition, ecology and more!

Eric Carle
The official Eric Carle website that includes biographical information, photo and video gallery, and more!

Eric Carle
This site contains an Eric Carle author study complete with an interview, bibliography, and curriculum extensions.

Jan Brett
This extensive website includes activities, videos, how-to tips and information about all of her books.

Jan Brett
View an exhibit of Jan Brett from a children's museum. If you click on "Read More about the Author Jan Brett", you can find out why she wanted to write children’s books.

Robert Munsch
This is the official Robert Munsch website. It provides information including a biography, photos, and his books. Click `Storytime' to hear Robert Munsch tell the stories.

Go Metric - October 2007

ETeachnology- An Online Teacher Resource
Includes ideas and activities to use during a measurement unit.

Instructor Web
Another resource for teachers to use when teaching measurement.

US Metric Association Mission and Activities
United States Metric Association website

Ideas for teaching the metric system

The Best School Year Ever - September 2007

Curriculum Content:

Education World
Education World outlines the national and state standards for all grades and content areas.

McGraw Hill

Harcourt

Houghton-Mifflin

Learning Styles:

Hemispheric Dominance:
Are you left-brained or right-brained?

Multiple Intelligences:
What “intelligences” do you prefer?

Learning Styles:
Have you considered your style beyond visual, auditory, or kinesthetic?

Schools in Other Countries:

The Lives of Japanese Elementary School Students

Epals
The world’s largest K-12 connected learning community

Website of Denbeath Primary School in the U.K.

Test Preparation:

Interactive applet for basic test-taking tips.

Elementary test prep online center, created by the Oswego City School District in NY

Online guide for preparing students for testing, from the Chicago Public Schools

New Solutions to Old Problems - June 2007

Play Resources:

Character Analysis of Shakespeare's Hamlet and Othello
A critical essay that compares Hamlet and Othello and intersperses text.

PBS site from "In Search of Shakespeare"
This site offers lesson plan ideas, online resources, webquest ideas.

Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet
Here you will find many sections with links to analyses and criticism of individual plays.

No Fear Shakespeare at Spark Notes
This site offers side by side of the plays. Great for students who can’t get past the language.

Introducing Shakespeare: Exploring Persona and Character Motivations
Contains plan for teaching character traits and persona.

Shakespeare Online
Site provides access to many other Shakespeare sites.

Cambridge Public Schools Drama Collaborative
Site for Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. MA state standards addressed in lessons and offers suggestions for other forms of assessment.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Online
The complete works of Shakespeare available online.

Shakespeare at eNotes
The site has many resources from quotes to criticism.

Decision-making Resources:

Decision Making/Problem Solving With Teens
Created for parents, this site has steps to help walk a teen through a decision.

For Teens
This site created by Institute for Youth Development has teen-to-teen advice on decisions.

Brain Connection
This resource cites connection between brain development and rational decision making.

University of Michigan Research
Suggests a timeline of teen girls’ lives helps avoid poor decisions.

Teens as Leaders
This paper reports what teens need in order to make good decisions.

Ripple Effects
This site has interactive sections including one on the ripple effects of making decisions.

Depression in Teenagers
This site is about depression in teens and help available.

HelpingTeens.Org
This is a site that offers help from mentors who "do not have spot free histories."

Teen Central
A site for teens that maintains anonymity which encourages teens to tell their stories; affiliated with Kidspeace.

The Relationships Website
A site that encourages teens to take a look at their relationships to see if they are in a toxic situation.

Idealist.Org
A site that offers among its many options, a place for teens to get help for themselves or a friend by providing resources; there are country specific sites and the site itself can be read in several languages.

Journeys - May 2007

Yale - Connecting Latino Students to Literature
This site helps connect Latino students to literature through the book Esperanza Rising.

e-Mints National Center
Find summaries and reviews of the book Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Read the biography and an interview with the author.

Spark Notes
Spark notes for The Hobbit.

Hobbit BookRags Summary
The Hobbit book notes, including 76 pages of chapter summaries, symbolism, quotes, and more.

Spark Notes
Spark notes for Homecoming.

Cynthia Voigt Teacher Resource File
This site is a teacher resource page for Cynthia Voigt, author of Homecoming.

Greece Central Schools
This site explains how to use inferential reading strategies with your students.

Web English Teacher
This is a site with several links on descriptive writing.

Handbook - Paragraph Transitions
Receive helpful hints on paragraph transition on this site.

Earth Day Experience - April 2007

Earth Day Network
This organization was founded by the organizers of the first Earth Day in 1970 and “promotes environmental citizenship and year round progressive action worldwide.”

United Nations Environment Programme
This Web site details the plans for World Environment Day and also has an “Around the World” link that provides inspiring ideas from around the world.

Official Site of International Earth Day

Bill Moyers Reports “Earth on Edge”
PBS documentary hosted by Bill Moyers that examines human beings’ impact on the life-support system known as Earth.

Government Earth Day Site
The official government Web site that focuses on Earth Day celebrations and the environment.

Lonely Planet
Travel information Web site that will give you information about the history and culture of the countries to which you will travel. You can also find out the best way to travel within and between the countries, along with other useful information you will need to create the itinerary and travel instructions.

National Geographic

Enchanted Learning
A collection of geography pages, maps, printouts, and activities.

Blank & Outline Maps
A collection of blank maps

Your Good Health and Nutrition - March 2007

KidsHealth for Kids
This site gives a good explanation of the parts of a food label.

Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine
This site gives the national nutrient recommendations for children ages 2 – 18

KidsHealth for Kids
This site explains what calories are and how the body uses them.

Compendium of Physical Activities Tracking Guide
This site gives the MET values for various activities. These values are required for determining the number of calories burned.

Keep the Dream Alive - February 2007

National Civil Rights Museum
This website honors the great leaders of the civil rights movement. The museum, housed at the location where Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot, is currently working on an expansion project. Students may take part in the Commemorative Brick Program and purchase a brick at this historic site or just make a contribution to Keep the Dream Alive.

Kulture Kidz
This website has an a-z list of African Americans written in child friendly language and on an elementary reading level.

Social Studies for Kids
This website contains biographies of famous African Americans written in child friendly language.

Scholastic African American History Site
This website has information on civil rights, Martin Luther King Jr., and other African American heroes.

Civil Rights
This is a bi-weekly report by kids, for kids. Includes links to other civil rights web-sites.

Black History Month Special
Children can listen to songs such as “Music and the Underground Railroad” and “All for Freedom”.

Black History - Biographies
Biographies about both historic and current African Americans that can be read to children.

The Dream Lives On - January 2007

"Kids on the Web"
The site features 20 links to sites where kids can connect online.
Great links include:
      Kids' Space Connection
      ePALS Classroom Exchange
      Student Letter Exchange

MLK Online
This is a great resource for school. It includes a biography, a history of the Martin Luther King day, transcripts of fifteen speeches, and a page of quotations. In addition, there are photos, and audio/video clips.

Google's Directory of the Civil Rights Movement
Google has compiled links in history and this page is devoted to the Civil Rights Movement. There are several links to famous people; such as, Frederick Douglass, Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, Thurgood Marshall, Rosa Parks, and many more.

IEARN Civil Rights Projects
This site contains a civil rights project that links classrooms together to share coordinated activities, resources and community stories on the issues of human rights, social justice, and people's movements.

Enchanted Learning Black History Month
Here are links to many biographies, printouts, and quizzes that celebrate African American heritage.

Time For Kids Black History Month
Explore this website to find an interactive timeline, biographies of African-American artists, famous speeches regarding civil rights, and more.

Shadow Games - December 2006

Euclidean geometry site
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Euclid.html

Greek geometer Eratosthenes
http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/biography/Eratosthenes.html

Solstice
http://www.pearsoncustom.com/link/science/geoscience/geol/solstice.html
The time when the vertical rays of the sun are striking either the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn. Solstice represents the longest or shortest day (length of daylight) of the year.

National American Indian Heritage Month - November 2006