American Themes:
Issues, movements, and philosophies which span the course of American history.
Updated: March 29, 2002
American Lifestyles • The African American Experience • Immigration
The Movement Westward • Native Peoples • The Presidents
The States (from our U.S. Government resources) • Women in America
Americans and the Environment - Teachers - Created by the National Humanities Center, this collection of scholarly essays on Americans' relationship with the environment may be over the heads of most students. BUT teachers will find the subject matter fits nicely with most American History curricula, and the "guiding discussion" sections provide some new strategies and insights for teaching material that may have become too routine for students and teachers alike. If history (at any level) is your field, this one is worth a visit.
A Biography of America - Grades 6-12 - This American History survey site from the Annenberg Project was created as a companion to the video series of the same name. The chief resource avialable is a collection of transcripts of the programs. There are also timelines, discussion questions, and far fewer images than one would imagine in such a project. This could be a resource for discussion ideas on American history topics or an introductory survey for a student searching for an independent study project.
Democracy in America - Grades 9-12 - This site is devoted to the work of Alexis DeToqueville, whose extensive accounts of American life and character in the 1840's remains a staple for the study of American history. This site offers text, images, background, and additional references. An accompanying set of lesson modules, developed by C-Span, can be found in the TeachersFirst American History lessons.
At Home in the Heartland - A project from the University of Illinois describing how life has changed throughout American development. Materials and lesson plans for all age levels.
Living History Farms - Grades 4-12 - Living History Farms is an Iowa-based recreation of agricultural communities from three different time periods in American history. Located on adjoining properties, these three sites afford an opportunity to compare and contrast farming and life styles at three different points in our nation's development. The web site offers pictures, text, and descriptions for each of the three periods, permitting students to take a virtual tour of life at three points in American history.
Divining America - Grades 9-12 - This project, funded by the Lilly Endowment, presents an overview of the role of religion in defining the American character from 17th to the 20th century. Created especially for use in schools, the site examines the relationships between religious, political, and social movements in American history.
History Wired - Grades 4-12 - Be patient and wait for this site's Java applet to load completely. Once it's done, you'll have a fascinating hopscotch through the Smithsonian's collection of American artifacts that shows you how each item connects to some aspect of our history. You can also examine selected items in detail. Students and teachers will both like poking around in this attic.
Great American Speeches - Grades 6-12 - This site from a related PBS series contains a collection of speeches by famous Americans from many walks of life. All are available as text files; there are audio clips of a few, and even more have video clips. While more sound and fewer pictures might be easier to use, there is still lots of good material here for research on famous Americans, communication styles, and the like.
The Moonlit Road - Grades 6-12 - This is a monthly collection of stories and folk tales from the Old South, most of which are just a bit "scary." Each of the three or four monthly stories is taken from a particular southern regional tradition. The stories can be read and downloaded, or students may listen to them using the Real Audio player plug-in, which is available from the TeachersFirst Toolbox. Since it changes frequently, teachers should preview this material before turning their students loose. This site could supplement a study of folk tales or the history of the south in the U.S.
A History of New York City - Grades 4-12 - The New York City Historical Society offers this retrospective on the growth and development of New York City. First home to thousands of immigrants, the growth of New York was a mirror of American development in the 19th and 20th centuries. Great supplement to any study of American history during these time periods.
Picturing the Century - Grades 4-12 - The National Archives does it again... This on-line exhibit offers more than 100 images of Americans during the past century. While each is part of a major theme in its own right, these images are a perfect way to get students thinking about what people were doing and thinking at the time. History and social studies teachers should see this one.
Religion and the Founding of the American Republic - Grades 6-12 - This site from the Library of Congress traces the role of religion in the founding of both individual colonies and the American federal government using primary sources and documents. It would be useful for introducing students to primary research, or for any exploration of the different purposes for which Europeans came to America.
American Immigration - Grades 9-12 - A survey of immigration waves throughout American history. Constructed by high school students.
Ellis Island - Through America's Gateway - Grades 9-12 - Good content, but sometimes difficult to navigate.
The Ellis Island Museum - Grades 5-12 - This site is maintained by the Ellis Island Museum, and it spends most of its space describing museum programs and publications. Still, there are bits of history scattered throughout, but web surfers will need several additional sources to create an adequate picture of the importance of this little island in the history of American immigration.
Immigrant Wall of Honor - Information on immigration, Ellis Island, ethnic migrations.
Immigration Simulation - Ellis Island - Grades 6-12 - On its surface, this site appears to be simply a "virtual tour" of Ellis Island. However, the Teacher's section contains a good deal of information on how to create an on-site, interdisciplinary immigration experience for students. There are tips on content, involving parents, and other aspects of the project. Well worth a look if you're studying this time period.
Ellis Island - Original Images - Grades 4-12 - This site from the California Museum of Photography uses original stereo photos of Ellis Island to give students a first-hand look at the largest entry point to America. Though the quality of the images is uneven, some of the faces make wonderful starting points for a discussion of, "What's going on here..." or "How would you feel if..." If you're creative, this is nice raw material.
The Myth of the Melting Pot - Grades 9-12 - from the Washington Post. A site which takes a new twist on immigration, suggesting that cultures meld into the American tapestry differently than they once did. Pictures, readings, and suggestions for further discussion.
The American Presidency - A Glorious Burden - Grades 6-12 - The Smithsonian has created a nice, technically up-to-date introduction to the presidents which can be useful for middle and high school students. Middle schoolers can work directly with the time line and individual biographies, while older students may want to examine the presidents in the context of the historical eras which are also available on the site. Our link starts at the collection of Adobe Acrobat lesson plans that accompany this site; full navigation is available from the menu at the left. Well worth a visit.
Presidential Inauguration History - Grades 6-12 - Here's a concise history of presidential inauguration history, customs, and events. Inaugurations are as different as the presidents, and this site does a nice job of noting the unique elements. There are also links to inauguration speeches and lesson plans for both elementary and secondary students. From PBS.
Presidential Inauguration Quiz - The National Archives has created this quiz to test your knowledge of presidents and their inaugurations. High school and sharp middle school students should be able to handle many of these questions.
White House History of the Presidents - Grades 4 and up - From the White House. Biographical sketches, inaugural addresses, and other basic information. These pages have expanded considerably from their earlier incarnation. Good starting point for upper elementary explorations.
Mr. President - Grades 4-12 - The Smithsonian's new (2001) presidential biographies resource offers basic biographical information and images on all American Presidents, along with highlights of their administrations. Useful for both its content and its comprehensiveness.
The Presidents - Grades 5 and up - Another collection of information on the presidents, this one with related sites and links. From the University of North Carolina.
Presidents' Day Page - Grades 2-4 - Here's a very simple pictorial introduction to the lives of Washington and Lincoln, created for California's SCORE program. Primary students will have no trouble navigating these pages and reading the simple descriptions. Includes links to literature and related information.
The Presidents - Grades 5-8 is an index of information on the presidents of the United States. Included are speeches, writings, and biographical information. Excellent resource for creating research reports.
The Presidents and their Elections - Grade 7 and up - Bios, documents, and information on presidential elections and politics. From the University of Michigan.
First Day on the Job - Grades 4-6 - Here's a cute simulation that lets students sit at the president's desk and decide what to do on their first day as president. There are lots of links to "what's it really like" information, with historical facts mixed in. It's an entertaining introduction to the White House from National Georgraphic. Note: This site has been known to be "buggy" and unresponsive. We've retained it in our listings because it's fun when it does work.
The States - See our U.S. Government page for information, images, and state-specific activities suitable for "state reports" or related activities.
US History: Historical Chronology
US History: Original Documents
US History Lessons
TeachersFirst Home Page
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