| It’s Thursday, April 23, 2020, time for Social Sciences. I would like to ask you to check out the Recommended Websites: Video Game History  Age Range: 10 and up (Grades 4 and up, approximately; children with parental supervision) The International Center for the History of Electronic Games is part of The Strong – a museum in Rochester, New York. ICHEG “collects, studies, and interprets video games, other electronic games, and related materials and the ways in which electronic games are changing how people play, learn, and connect with each other, including across boundaries of culture and geography.” When you get to the site, you can explore:,Video Game History Timeline Key Moments in Video Game History PDF Interpreting the History of Electronic Games. The timeline has the history of electronic games and delivery systems from the 1940’s to the 2010’s including: Pong, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Sonic the Hedgehog, Play Station, The Sims Nintendo, Wii, Minecraft and more! Just click on each decade in the timeline to learn about legendary games and game systems, along with their inventors including Will Wright, Ralph Baer, Don Daglow, and others. You’ll enjoy a brief textual history along with photographs. When you’re through with the timeline, check out other parts of The Strong: the National Toy Hall of Fame, the World Video Game Hall of Fame, and more! The gamers in your home are sure to want to take a field trip or family vacation to experience this museum in real time. |
Recommended Website: Learner.org: Middle Ages
Age Range: 14-18 (Grades 9-12, with parental supervision)
This multi-media, interactive presentation on the Middle Ages was developed for High School students. It’s designed in such a way, that you can briefly touch on the topics or explore them in-depth.
When you get to the site you’ll see a welcome message. Click “Enter” and a new page opens with a menu that includes:
Feudal Life – Learn about the feudal system, nobility, serfs, and The Magna Carta.
Religion – Explore Catholic cathedrals including Amiens and Notre Dame, learn about monastic life and pilgrimages.
Homes – Take a virtual tour of a medieval village and compare the living quarters of noblemen and peasants.
Clothing – Find out what kind of clothing was worn by peasants and nobles. Get information on the textiles of the medieval period.
Health – Get information on hygiene, disease (including the Black Death), and medieval medicine and remedies.
Arts & Entertainment – Find out how art and music developed from religious liturgy. View some hunting-themed tapestries.
Town Life – Read about trade and the marketplace in medieval Europe, as well as town governments.
In each section you’ll find links to further learning resources as well.
Recommended Website: Rochester Falconcam Age Range: All (All grades; children with parental supervision) Watch Beauty and Dot.ca, two Peregrine Falcons that are nesting atop a tall building in downtown Rochester, NY. When you get to the site, you can read a little introduction about Rfalconcam and the recent activity there. Then go to “Cameras” in the top menu bar to view Latest Pictures and Streaming Video. This website hosts regularly updated, live feed of the nesting box photos taken by the Falconcam (from a variety of angles). It provides live pictures of the endangered Falcons as they prepare their nest, lay eggs, tend the eggs, hatch the eggs, and nurture and feed their offspring. The website also features educational materials for students and teachers. Under “Learn More” you’ll find: Education History Falcon Information and more. You’ll find curriculum, a word search, information on Peregrines as well as the history of the Falcons, and more. This is a spectacular opportunity for your family to learn more about endangered Species and how Peregrine Falcons fit into the Ecosystem. Follow all the action in the nest box on the Rochester Falconcam! |
| Recommended Website: A Guide to Teaching World History & Geography Age Range: 11 and up (Grades 6 and up, approximately; children with parental supervision) This website was developed by a history teacher named Mike Maxwell whose mission is to make history and geography more meaningful to students by identifying important developments in world history and tying them to geography in a way that is memorable. It offers a free, downloadable, comprehensive guide called the Student’s Friend that may be used in place of a history textbook, along with lesson plans, study guides, and other resources to enhance learning. The site has been recognized as one of the top ten history sites for teachers by the Stanford University School of Education. When you get to the site you’ll see a menu that includes: Purpose – Learn more about the author and educational philosophy. Teaching and Learning – Get the fundamentals of teaching and learning world history and geography. Teacher Tools – Get free lessons plans and activities. Students can explore important themes and issues and enjoy in-depth learning activities such as projects, investigations and simulations. While designed for high school classroom use, the materials have been used by middle school teachers, college professors, and homeschool teachers worldwide. Student’s Friend – A Concise World History – Access a free, concise narrative of world history and geography to use in place of a textbook. The Student’s Friend can be used online or download it for use offline. It’s divided into two parts: Part I – Prehistory through 1500 including: Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, Ancient India and China, Ancient Greece and Rome, The Early Middle Ages, 500 to 1000 AD The Late Middle Ages, 1000 to 1500 Part II – 1500 to the Present including: 1500’s and 1600’s, Early Modern World 1700’s, Enlightenment & Revolution 1800’s, Industrial Revolution & Imperialism 1900 to 1950, World at War 1950 to the Present, Cold War & Space Age Current Issues, A Changing World Order. This is a remarkable resource, so bookmark the site to return again. |
Recommended Website:
Age Range: 6-18 (Grades 1-12, with parental supervision) If you are looking for unique and interesting supplements to your history studies, FedFlix from the Internet Archive might just be the ticket. This portion of the website features the “best movies of the United States Government, from training films to history, from our national parks to the U.S. Fire Academy and the Postal Inspectors” and much more.
When arriving at the link above, use the search functions to find films for a specific topic, or you can browse the collection several different ways including by Title, Topics and Subjects, Creator, or by date archived.
A sampling of topics we searched for included:
- The Cold War
- Civil Rights
- Education
- FDR
- National Parks
- Space
- Vietnam War
- World War
The thousands of available film footage selections come from hundreds of contributors such as:
- National Archives and Records Administration
- Department of Defense
- Committee on Energy and Commerce
- Federal Judicial Center
- Food and Drug Administration
- FDR Presidential Library
- And so many more!
After finding a film you wish to watch, click the link and you will be taken to the page with the movie along with information about the film and available options for downloading the files if desired.
These historical reels provide an excellent insight into the past and are a great addition to your studies.
Thank you,
Glenda,Charlie and David Cates
