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Social Studies

Helpful Links

Experiencing War (Voices of War):


Stories from the Veterans History Project is the companion website for a book from the Veterans History Project. Video interviews, photos, & letters relate war through the eyes of 60 veterans & civilians. Stories are organized by book sections -- answering the call, a day in the life, combat, coming home -- & by themes: courage, life - altering moments, hurry up & wait, D-Day, POWs. (LOC)


Exploration & Explorers


looks at Europe's view of North America before & after Columbus, Martin Waldseemuller's 1507 map of the world, Diego Gutierrez's 1562 map of America, Spanish & Portuguese encounters in America, the Dutch in America, exploration & settlement of America from British & American points of view, Lewis & Clark, Henry Hudson, Jacques Cartier, & early images of the U.S. (LOC)


From Slavery to Freedom, 1824-1909


presents nearly 400 pamphlets written by African-Americans & others about slavery, emancipation, African colonization, Reconstruction, & related topics. Materials range from personal accounts & public orations to reports & legislative speeches. Authors include Frederick Douglass, Charles Sumner,Mary Church Terrell, Booker T. Washington, & others. (LOC)


The Floating World of Ukiyo-e:


Shadows, Dreams, & Substance showcases Japanese Ukiyo-e -- pictures of the floating, or sorrowful, world. More than 100 prints, drawings, & books are presented, mostly from 1600-1900. Ukiyo-e was born in Edo (now Tokyo) when merchants, relegated to low social status by shogun rulers, turned to art & culture as arenas where they could participate with elites (warriors, farmers, & artisans). This is the first public viewing of this collection. (LOC)


Pearl Harbor Raid


is a detailed account of the December 7, 1941, attack. More than 100 photos & descriptions look at the 7 U.S. battleships moored along Battleship Row that morning, attacks off Ford Island, attacks in the Navy yard area, attacks on airfields, Japanese aircraft & midget submarines used in the attacks, aerial combat, & more. (NAVY)


Presidents: The Secret History


exposes quirky facts about our first 42 presidents. What would kids do if they were president? What qualities do kids think make a good president? (IMLS)


Selections from the Naxi Manuscript Collection


features 185 manuscripts & a 40-foot funerary scroll of the Naxi people of Yunnan Province, China. This is the largest collection of Naxi writings outside of China & is considered among the finest in the world. The Naxi use a unique pictographic writing system. It is the only living pictographic language in the world today. (LOC)


What in the World Is That?


examines 16 inventions: the submarine, battery radio, cotton gin, reaper, electron microscope, telephone, gramophone, telecommunication cable, snow gauge, ornithopter, airphibian, & others. (LOC)

Eternal Egypt

Developed by an Egyptian governmental office with IBM assistance, this web tour covers Egypt's history and culture. Sound and text-to-voice portions of the web site add to the impressive content.  There is also a navigation tool that tracks one's progress through the content.

Women in American History

Sponsored by the Encyclopedia Britannica, this site provides detailed articles, quotations, recommended readings, a media gallery and study guides for these history makers

Smithsonian Institute for Education

"Smithsonian Education" crafts lessons from the nation's rich stories of cultural treasures.

The Smithsonian Institution has launched a new educational web site where students and teachers can go to explore the finding and artifacts of all 16 Smithsonian museums.

Map Gallery

United States Census Bureau Geography Division

National Council for Social Studies

NCSS is the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education, engaging and supporting educators in strengthening and advocating social studies.

The President of the United States

From the White House's web site

1492: A Ongoing Voyage

Exhibit of the Library of Congress

History Channel

Good information for geography and social studies reports

Immigration and Ellis Island

U.S. Immigration museum that allows you to reconnect with your own immigrant heritage

Thomas Edison National Historic Site

A unit of the National Park Service and links to information on Edison

Franklin D. Roosevelt Library and Museum

Personal artifacts from President Franklin Roosevelt

The Government Printing Office

A searchable database of all Congressional documents online

Everything Black

Compendium of 1,600 links on black history, business, education and more. Each link is accompanied by a capsule description