It’s Thursday, April 25, 2019, and time for Social Sciences. I would like to invite you to check out these Recommended Website: If you’ve used these Homeschool resources leave me a comment letting me know what you liked or disliked about the resources and why.
U.S. Mint – History
Age Range: 7-18 (Grades 2-12, with parental supervision) The U.S. Mint is over 225 years old! Learn about the history of coins and coin-making from this site.
When you get to the site, you can read a brief history of the Mint. Then for more details, choose from the following:
- History Overview
- Mint Timeline
- Coin Production
- Historical Documents
- History of U.S. Circulating Coins
- Former Mint Directors
There are also 4 videos: “Then and Now” showing what coin making was like in 1940. And there are 3 more videos to learn about the U.S. Mint in San Francisco.
| Recommended Website: TV SchoolHouse Age Range: All (All grades; children with parental supervision) This website offers free, old-time, educational movies for a variety of subjects including social studies and geography! The creator of this website, Chris Grahl, tried to cover as many of the subject areas he could find videos for. He used old educational films – some are highly informative, while others are just funny. Many fall somewhere in the middle. Most of these movies were made between 1940-1960. You can access them for free on a variety of subjects including: The Arts, Science, Home Economics, Language Arts, Social Studies, Geography, Health, Safety & Careers, Virtual Field Trip, Teacher’s Lounge Click on any one and a new page opens with a menu of choices. Click on a film title and a new screen opens where you can watch the film. Note: You must click on the screenshot to start the movie. You’ll be treated to an entertaining educational extravaganza. Watch these with your kids because they will result in lots of laughs, great discussions, and engaging learning opportunities. |
| Where’s George Age Range: 6-18 (Grades 1-12, with parental supervision) This website offers a way to track a U.S. dollar bill to see where it’s been – what a great way to tie in social studies with math! We were required to register (free) in order to access the site. Once you’re there, just enter the denomination, series, and serial number of any U.S. dollar bill, along with your current U.S. zip code in the form on the homepage. A “Bill Tracker Report” will be generated explaining where your bill has been, how far it has traveled, how long it’s been in circulation, and you can even read comments from people explaining where they got the bill before using it or passing it along to someone else. But that’s not all! Using the “Tools/Fun” item on the menu at the top of the page, click on “Cool Links About Money.” A new page opens with links to the BEST MONEY WEBSITES where you can learn all about the history of U.S. currency, design features, and even security measures to deter counterfeiting. You’ll also find links where you can track bills from various countries in Europe, as well as currency from India, Africa, China, Japan, and New Zealand. If you are from Canada, be sure to check out “Where’s Willy” to track Canadian currency! (By the way, for those who don’t know, “Willy” refers to Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the first French Canadian Prime Minister.) |
iCivics
Age Range: 9-18 (Grades 4-12 approximately, with parental supervision) Bookmark this site now! It’s a fun, interactive gateway into the realm of Civics! The brainchild of former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, this free education project teaches students about civics through engaging computer games in which the student “wins” by mastering knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and essential foundational principles of the nation.
From the home page, select the large green “teach” image, then select “all games” on the next page. Some of the featured games include:
- Do I Have a Right? – Run your own firm of lawyers who specialize in constitutional law or the Bill of Rights.
- Argument Wars – Put your lawyering skills to the test by arguing real Supreme Court cases.
- LawCraft – Become a virtual legislator and try to meet the needs of your constituents. Find out what members of Congress must do to prepare, write, pass, and enact laws.
- Executive Command – Find out what it’s like to be a U.S. President over a 4-year term of office.
Also, play games that teach about immigration, citizenship, voting and more.
In addition to the multi-media games and web quests, you’ll find lesson plans and handouts for teachers and parents that go with the games to enhance learning.
| Recommended Website: Google’s My Maps Age Range: All (All grades; children with parental supervision) If you’ve ever visited Google Maps (or MapQuest or Yahoo Maps), you know that you can pan and zoom a world map from your computer. But did you know you can customize that map for your homeschooling? My Maps requires a free Google account. The beauty of My Maps is: It’s free. It’s easy. Google stores it for you and provides a web address (a URL) so that you can share your map with friends or family. When you get to the site, click the “Create New Map” button. (If you don’t have a Google account, it will prompt you to sign up.) Here’s how it works: Once the map comes up, use the features on the map’s menu to customize it by adding colored pins and labels to it, draw lines on it, or even insert pictures. (Here’s a link to My Maps Help with more details on how to use the features.) My Maps was very helpful last summer with information about specific California wildfires. The fire map also included info about air quality, evacuation orders, shelters, fire containment statistics, road closures, and more. Once we started thinking about My Maps for homeschooling, the possibilities seemed endless: Label a map with events from your history studies. Use the map as a quiz by putting questions onto it. Share the map with other families in a reading group. When children complete a book, let them add a pin to the map indicating where the author was from or where the story took place. Help young children trace routes to the grocery store or to Grandma’s house. Use it as a diary for a family vacation. And more! |
| The Cobalt Adventure Age Range: 9-14 (Grades 5-8 approximately, with parental supervision. People of all ages may enjoy aspects of this site.) At this website you can virtually experience an early 20th century Silver Rush through interactive games and lessons that teach social studies, history and geography. When you get to the site, you’ll see a menu that includes: The Game – Select one of three real-life characters (an old prospector, a nurse, or a young shopkeeper) and head to Cobalt in Ontario, Canada to join the Silver Rush of 1903. This multimedia adventure (available in Flash or HTML) is different for each character, and there are 28 possible endings. After you’ve seen the results of any one decision you make for your character, you can choose “previous” to go back and choose again. At the end of each playthrough, you can click on “Actual Factual” to see what actually happened to the person you chose to be, plus plenty of other information about life in Cobalt at that time. (From the “Library” on the menu, all of the Actual Factuals are available; during gameplay, only the information pertinent to your most recent decision is available.) Curriculum – Get four downloadable (pdf) lessons with ideas and activities designed to enhance what you learn from playing the game. Create a facsimile of a hand-colored postcard, write your own adventure story, use visual prompts to tell a story. Library – Explore a photo gallery and view a collection of artifacts from the Cobalt Mining Museum that were used to create the multimedia game. This game is available in English or French. If you want to view it in French, click “Francais” at the top of the home page. |
Recommended Website: Have Fun with History
Age Range: 9 and up (Grades 4 and up; children with parental supervision; younger children may enjoy aspects of the site) This ad-supported website provides free videos, interactive games and activities, history timelines, and links to many other resources to bring history alive “for students, educators and all lovers of American History.”
When you get to the website you’ll see some features and highlights. First check out:
- History Movies – Watch video recordings by news reporters and eye-witnesses, as well as animations, documentaries, and films of people and events that shaped American history. Selections range from the 1895 Edison experimental talking movie to educational films from the 1950s. You’ll also find history-themed television dramas, modern well-made documentaries, and even Hollywood movies.
- Activities – Enjoy fun interactive games that teach about history while they entertain. Some games are hosted on the site, and some games are hosted on other websites. Topics include:
- The Boston Tea Party
- Presidential Turkeys
- Jamestown Online Adventure
- Animated Atlas
- Lewis & Clark Expedition Game
Then below the featured video, choose from:
- History Topics – Explore videos by topic including:
- Colonial America
- Revolutionary War
- Civil War
- Pioneers & The Frontier
- World War I
- Great Depression
- World War II
- Space Race
- Native Americans
- African American
- And many more!
- People Timeline
- Events Timeline
- History in a Minute
This is a great resource for supplementing any study of history, or exploring your interest in various historical eras.
| Recommended Website: Fort McHenry – Hold the Fort game Age Range: 9-14 (Grades 4-8, with parental supervision) This website, sponsored by The National Park Service and Fort McHenry National Historic Monument in Baltimore, Maryland, provides a free interactive, multi-media game and free curriculum to teach students about the War of 1812. When you get to the website, you’ll see a menu that includes: information about the game, a preview video of the game, game screenshots, and the history of the War of 1812. If you click on “About the History” you’ll find a link to “Teacher Resources” provided by the Friends of Fort McHenry with free downloadable lessons for grades 4-8. We highly suggest reading “About the Game” to understand the nuances of play. This game takes about 45-75 minutes to play, depending on how quickly you maneuver your player, and how well you prepare and command your troops at Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore. You’ll engage in a variety of activities that will determine the outcome of the battle including: Lead and inspire 1,000 men under your command! Manage fort resources to survive the long day and night! Explore a 3D virtual world of the fort! Play the Fife & Drum and command a Gun Battery! And of course, fly the flag! The goal of the game is to protect Fort McHenry from invasion by British troops, inspiring a young lawyer named Francis Scott Key to write “The Star-Spangled Banner.” |
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
