Teachers First - Thinking Teachers Teaching Thinkers

This interactive social bookmarking and collaboration tool does so much more than any ordinary bookmarking tool. It is a research tool, knowledge-sharing community, website annotation tool, and social information network all rolled into one "cloud" package. To get started, check out the About link. You will find information and videos on the uses of Diigo. Set up an account, being sure to click the FREE education edition upgrade. This is a device-agnostic tool, available on the web but also available for free as both an Android and iOS app. Use it from any device or move between several devices and still access your work. App and web versions vary slightly.

This tool can be used as a basic bookmarking tool, simply allowing YOU to save, sort, and access your own bookmarks from ANY computer or mobile device (once you are logged in). You have the choice whether your bookmarks are public or private. You can gradually ease into more advanced and interactive features: highlight parts of sites and save or share those annotations, add sticky notes to parts of websites, pictures, screen-shots, documents, audio, and more. Do group collaborative research. Organize your bookmarks by tags. Unlike sorting bookmarks into file folders, adding tags permits you to put multiple tags or "labels" on one site. The same site you tag for book reports could also be tagged for biographies, for example. Additional Diigo features include groups (a way to share and exchange bookmarks with a certain group of Diigo users), messaging, and search features. You can search all the public bookmarks made by others and discover other people with similar interests, already bookmarked and ready for you to mark as your own. There are many groups you can join, such as those with a specific teaching interest or hobby. See "Tools" for many helpful options, including bookmarklets to make bookmarking instant on multiple devices. Bookmarklets drag directly to the toolbars on your computer and are well worth it. It goes beyond simple bookmarking and adds options like highlight, capture, send, read later, comment, search bar and Diigo message options. You decide your own level of use and desired tools to be shown on the bar. If choosing not to install the toolbar, then there is an applet called Diigolet that will be used in its place. It is not as strong a tool as the toolbar, but will work well if the toolbar installation is not possible. Check our sample group. You can also install a widget on your blog (or class web page) that will show your bookmarks there.
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tag(s): bookmarks (69), DAT device agnostic tool (180), forum (7), social networking (107)

Teach Dear America offers a large array of resources to learn and understand about life and times in Colonial America. Begin with a short overview of the time period including a timeline and information about the home and school life of Colonial children. Explore the large collection of downloadables including maps, timelines, sheet music, artist prints, and more. Choose from a large selection of student activities such as quizzes, arts and crafts, and recipes. The Books and Authors links include suggestions for reading material to include with any Colonial America unit.

tag(s): 1600s (14), 1700s (29), colonial america (106)

Discover the life and times of a Colonial family through the eyes of the Daggetts of Coventry, Connecticut. Look for clues in Samuel Daggett's actual account book to answer 7 questions about his family's world. View short videos accompanied with journal entries to provide clues. After providing all of the correct responses, prove your skill as a history detective by discovering "What is Wrong With This Picture?"

tag(s): 1700s (29), colonial america (106), connecticut (4)

Have Fun With History offers a large selection of history videos on American History topics. These videos (and the topic selection) are a MUST see! Browse through videos coinciding with monthly topics or sort by people and events. Search using the timelines (People Timeline and Events Timeline). Use the search bar to locate content by specific topic. Videos include links to similar topics and related activities. Don't miss some of the fun in the Thanksgiving section, including presidential turkeys! If your district blocks YouTube, they may not be viewable.

tag(s): 1900s (40), aircraft (25), american flag (10), american revolution (85), artists (81), bill of rights (28), civil rights (122), civil war (142), colonial america (106), flags (22), industrial revolution (26), kennedy (25), lincoln (83), martin luther king (36), native americans (79), pearl harbor (13), railroads (11), slavery (66), space (230), thanksgiving (33), underground railroad (11), war of 1812 (15), world war 1 (56), world war 2 (141)

Sepia Town uses Google Maps to give us a "you WERE there" perspective of nearly anywhere in the world, compared to regular Google Maps which offers "you ARE there." By combining historic images with an interactive map, it's possible to see what a place looked like in 1850, for example, or 1889. Search for images by place name, neighborhood name, by landmark, or by GPS coordinates. Or click "random" and be transported to another place and another time. Once you have selected an image by clicking on its thumbnail, a "sepia man" figure replaces the thumbnail on the map and indicates the vantage point of the person who took the image. Want to see what that same place looks like today? Click "Then/Now View" and compare the two images. If you have historic images of your own, they can be uploaded to the Sepia Town database so they can be enjoyed by others who access the site. You will be adding to the number of locations that are documented.

tag(s): cities (27), images (281), map skills (80), maps (292), photography (155)

Texas Law Related Games provides many civics-related games, and many are not specific to Texas laws. Topics include American Symbols, branches of government, Constitution, Bill of Rights, and others. There is a pledge of allegiance that is TEXAS ONLY and one that is U.S. so be sure you click the one you want. There is also an interactive Safety game available in both Spanish and English. Click any game to begin play; most include short instructions. If using an iPad, be sure to choose the link to access game versions that work with iPads. There is a link for teachers to access Lesson Plans and Curriculum in the footer of the page.

tag(s): bill of rights (28), branches of government (53), declaration of independence (13), presidents (126), safety (90), symbols (18)

The State Archives of Florida provides online access to resources that had a significant impact in Florida's history. The collection includes over 176,000 photographs, more than 110 videos, an audio collection, historical and genealogical collection, exhibits, and an online classroom. The online classroom contains lesson plans, online activities, and primary documents of Florida's past. Enjoy folk music from Florida's past or look at Florida in the Civil War. There is a lot here to explore about Florida and beyond.

tag(s): black history (59), civil war (142), florida (11), hurricanes (40), states (161)

American Memory provides this digital record of American history and creativity through written and spoken words, sound recordings, still and moving images, prints, maps, and sheet music that document the American experience. Some of the categories are Advertising, Environment and Conservation, Immigration and American Expansion, Performing Arts, Sports and Recreation, and many others. These materials, from the collections of the Library of Congress and other institutions, chronicle historical events, people, places, and ideas that make up America.

tag(s): advertising (33), african american (106), architecture (84), branches of government (53), cities (27), conservation (121), cultures (111), environment (322), immigration (62), industrialization (14), literature (265), maps (292), native americans (79), north america (18), presidents (126), religions (68), sports (97), women (99)

Old Florida Maps tells the story of Florida history from 1550- present using digital reproductions of maps from monographs and private collections. The time periods included are Florida Large and Small, The First Spanish period, The First English Period, The Second Spanish Period, The Territorial Period, Statehood, and Later. With each collection of maps, are the description of each map and where its current location. For each period, is a summary of events taking place in Florida. Zoom into the maps and take a look around.

tag(s): florida (11), map skills (80)

Explore award-winning resources related to British History presented by the British National Archives. Choose from time periods from Medieval Times through the present. You can also choose by Key Stage (similar to grade level bands). If you aren't familiar with Key Stages: Stage 1 is K-2, Stage 2 is grades 3-5, Stage 3 is grades 6-8, Stage 4 is grades 9-10, and Stage 5 is grades 11-12. While this site does have materials for all stages, there isn't a huge selection for Stage 1.

Download lessons, Resource Packs, and Podcasts. Be sure to check out the extensive section for students including games, study skill tips and advice, and information on using primary sources. Learn about important people, government officials, and heroes of the past and present such as Charles Dickens and Florence Nightingale. Explore and research famous events/times such as American Civil Rights Movement or Life During War Times. The site was created in the UK, so some of the pronunciations and spellings may differ from American English.

tag(s): dickens (10), great britain (20), heroes (24), industrial revolution (26), medieval (26), victorian (20), world war 1 (56), world war 2 (141)

Travel the United States and the world on your computer, tablet, or smartphone using Next Exit History, powered by Google Maps. Apps are available for iOS and Android. High quality historical information educates you as you visit and click the historical landscape of over 55,000 sites around the world. Join and save your information to "backpacks." Use the embedded links for easy reference. Discover culture, history, and tourism information all at your fingertips.

tag(s): cultures (111), DAT device agnostic tool (180), maps (292), primary sources (93), virtual field trips (54)

Find high interest primary sources for anything from teddy bears to Abraham Lincoln to King Kamehameha and much more. There are also primary sources for world connections for Serbia, Iran, and Cambodia. Common Core emphasizes "reading" of visual sources of information, and this is the perfect source. This is a growing resource, so be sure to sign up for their newsletter. The Primary Source Nexus is the online support resource for the TPS-Barat Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program. This is a great place to look for ideas to use for History Day! Preview before sharing with students.

tag(s): advertising (33), black history (59), cross cultural understanding (128), history day (24), immigration (62), journalism (58), lincoln (83), martin luther king (36), poetry (223), presidents (126), primary sources (93), professional development (161), roosevelt (14), slavery (66), writing prompts (90)

History buffs will delight in the information about Abraham Lincoln found at Under His Hat. Bring Lincoln to life by viewing personal artifacts such as his wedding certificate, his writing utensils, and his famous top hat. There are eight categories showcasing digital versions of primary sources related to Abraham Lincoln. Click on a category of interest and click on an artifact to enlarge to a 3D version and read about it.

tag(s): civil war (142), lincoln (83), presidents (126)

The Seminole Tribe of Florida's Ah-TAh-THI-Ki is a place to learn about Seminoles and a place to remember. The museum showcases over 30,000 unique artifacts. Even though the website includes information about visiting the actual museum, there is much to explore without ever going there. Find podcasts of oral history about alligator wrestling, patchwork, beadwork, dolls, Civil Rights, Brighton Day School, and tribal leaders. The Online Connections Collection features 2,500 books and periodicals.
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tag(s): native americans (79)

Find news features on current events, politics, space, weather, sports, and more. This would be useful in any classroom where a "knowledge of the now" is a focus. At the time of this review some of the specific topics included granting a wish to a terminally ill young child, remembering JFK 50 years after his assassination, a football game honoring a special needs student, the discovery of new planets, and much more. Subscribe to their newsletter to receive updates on new articles. For an interesting discussion about who writes these news stories, take a look at "About." The site creator used to be a producer for the Today Show!

tag(s): news (259)

Engage young children in this colorful site, packed with songs, interactive books, art and music interactives, and emergent reading activities. Reaching a wide range of grades, this site offers over 50 different engaging activities. Visit the stories made by children. The free part of this site includes a great variety of topics: Boston Tea Party, alphabet, making mistakes, metamorphosis, Mars, a variety of popular children's songs, nouns, upper case and lower case, Beatrix Potter, jokes, Bach & Van Gogh, Mona and Beethoven, and much more! Some of the activities are also available in Spanish. There are extensive advertisements, so adults will need to help guide children away from them!
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tag(s): alphabet (84), independent reading (123), preK (281), sight words (36), songs (51)

Discover American History through images, exhibits, primary sources, and more with The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. As a teacher or student, you can have free access to the website. Find history by era beginning in the 1620's. Look at Native Americans, Colonization, The American Revolution, National Expansionism, Civil War and Reconstruction, Industrial America, The Great Depression and World War II, all the way to current times. There are special programs and exhibits for teachers and students. A large collection of primary sources complements many studies in social studies-- and literacy. As a member, save all of your favorites and make lists for each area of study. The multimedia tab reveals documentaries, videos and virtual field trips. History Now publishes monthly newsletters.

tag(s): 1600s (14), american revolution (85), civil war (142), colonization (15), great depression (27), industrial revolution (26), literacy (105), native americans (79), westward expansion (31), world war 2 (141)

Sink into the Titanic using this boatload of FREE resources. A collection of archival news videos, Scientific American articles, photos, and other teaching and learning resources commemorate this historic event. View a video of a live report from a ship doing a 3-D scan of the wreckage or an interview with oceanographer, Dr. Robert Ballard, discoverer of the Titanic wreckage. Each video has a transcript, and support is available if you are having trouble viewing the videos. You can also read a photocopy of the hand-written account by the captain of the RMS Carpathia describing his response to the distress signal received "by wireless" from the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, after the Titanic collided with an iceberg. NBC Learn charges for access to many of their resources but offers this collection for free.

tag(s): 20th century (50), decades (10)

Explore the life of Nelson Mandela with this informative site from Biography.com. Contents include facts of Mandela's life, photos, and videos profiling his life and leadership. One especially useful portion of the site includes a printable study guide including vocabulary, extension activities, and more. There is a lot here to explore.
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tag(s): 20th century (50), black history (59), civil rights (122), heroes (24), south africa (12)