Social Studies Resources |
Who was....? Netflix series
Netflix has created series of TV episodes in their "live action sketch comedy show based on the best selling "Who Was...?" book series." (Netflix website) As of 8/19/2018 the episodes available are the following: Gandhi & Benjamin Franklin Albert Einstein & Joan of Arc William Shakespeare & King Tut Isaac Newton & Amelia Earhart Marie Antoinette & Louis Armstrong Sacagawea & Blackbeard Susan B. Anthony & Frida Kahlo Marie Curie & Harry Houdini George Washington & Marco Polo Genghis Khan & George Washington Carver Pablo Picasso & The Wright Brothers Galileo & Queen Elizabeth Julius Caesar & Bruce Lee Mission US: immersed learning
Mission US is a multimedia project that immerses players in U.S. history content through free interactive games.
MISSIONS “For Crown or Colony?” puts players in the shoes of Nat Wheeler, a printer’s apprentice in 1770 Boston. They encounter both Patriots and Loyalists, and when rising tensions result in the Boston Massacre, they must choose where their loyalties lie. In “Flight to Freedom,” players take on the role of Lucy, a 14-year-old enslaved in Kentucky. As they navigate her escape and journey to Ohio, they discover that life in the “free” North is dangerous and difficult. In 1850, the Fugitive Slave Act threatens all African Americans in the North and brings new urgency to the anti-slavery movement. In “A Cheyenne Odyssey,” players become Little Fox, a Northern Cheyenne boy whose life is changed by the encroachment of white settlers, railroads, and U.S. military expeditions. As buffalo diminish and the U.S. expands westward, players experience the Cheyenne's persistence through conflict and national transformation. In “City of Immigrants,” players navigate New York’s Lower East Side as Lena, a young Jewish immigrant from Russia. Trying to save money to bring her parents to America, she works long hours in a factory for little money and gets caught up in the growing labor movement. In “Up from the Dust,” players take on the roles of twins Frank and Ginny Dunn, whose family wheat farm is devastated by the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. As they experience the hardships of the 1930s, players learn about Americans’ strategies for survival – as individuals, communities, and a nation. “Up from the Dust” is available online and on iPad. (from website) Social Studies Videos
Free Tech 4 Teachers has put together a nice list of video resources for Social Studies. They have links to ten different sites for each topic. These are great for supplementing a course or building a course and are arranged much like the science links above. Check it out!
Story of the World Video Links
An ambitious homeschooling mom has put together a vast series of video links that correspond the the chapters of the different books in the Story of the World. Whichever world history curriculum a family chooses, this is a helpful resource. 
The History Channel: Study Guides
The History Channel provides a variety of video resources that can supplement learning in many areas of history. Although not as rigorous and in-depth as many PBS materials, their resources can be a nice jumping off place for further study. At this link, you can find study guides for many of their current resources. They also have archived study guides for less recent resources. Don't forget to click "see all" . Finally, if you want to have your student analyze an historical document, consider this resource: A Document Analysis Worksheet, which can be used as a worksheet, or a set of discussion questions. 
Finally, if you want to have your student analyze an historical document, consider another History Channel resource:
A Document Analysis Worksheet, which can be used as a worksheet, or a set of discussion questions. Schoolhouse Rock
Schoolhouse Rock videos are all available online for free covering a variety of government topics.
Tour of the states (and capitals) music video
This video has speedy drawing and a catchy tune to help kids learn the states and capitals while keeping their attention. Click the picture to see the video.
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Learn the Amendments with tricks!
Keith Hughes is an experienced history teacher who has created HipHughes History to help students master information in World History, US History, US Government and lots more! He is silly and his tricks work. He has over 300 videos for you to explore. 
50 Free History Unit Studies
Tina, the blogger at Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus, has rounded up a collection of 50 free history unit studies for all of us. She focuses on unit studies that include (of course) hands-on projects. Enjoy perusing these offerings! 
History Videos for Kids
Over at Brookdale House, they created a gallery of history videos for kids! "These videos cover the four year history cycle–ancient history, medieval history, early modern history, and modern history. Our galleries of videos were created by researching the BEST YouTube history videos for kids that we could find." (from the website) 
Historical Fiction Listed Chronologically
The author over at 123homeschool4me have curated a list of historical fiction books aimed at students in 4-6th grade. However, they also link to adult books and read-alouds for the K-3 group. They say, "Historical Fiction makes learning about history exciting for kids because they will relive the time period through a fun and exciting story. Although the characters are fictional, they are based on people who could have existed based on historical data. The stories will be filled with interesting, factual information that help paint a picture of what life was like for those who lived at that moment in history." 
Liberty Kids: Boston Tea Party to Constitution
The entire Liberty Kids series is available on YouTube for free streaming, and the DVD series is available on Netflix, or can be purchased at Amazon for only $5.00. A set of worksheets to parallel this series is available on the Teachers Pay Teacher's Site. 
Historical Movies for Younger Kids
Over at Le Chaim on the Right, teen blogger, Samantha, has gathered and reviewed a list of historical films for younger children. She says, "Historical films for older children are pretty easy to find, but more often than not they contain things that are not appropriate for young children. Here is a list of historical movies for kids, ages 6-12. All films are rated G unless otherwise noted. Not all of these movies are “historically accurate” as the majority are designed for children. However, if these movies were to be historically accurate, most would be very violent. My family watches a lot of historical movies (both true and fiction) and then we look up what really happened." 
US History Links
Us History.org allows instructors to search by historical period or geographic era for online resources includeing texts material, interactive sites and video resources. Hosted by Independence Hall, it is both searchable and brouwsable. USA Geography App
"Geography Drive USA is an iPad app that elementary and middle school students will enjoy using. The app challenges students to drive their virtual cars to each state in the United States. The students move from state to state by correctly answering questions about each state that they visit. Students earn money for each correct answer. That money is then used to buy fuel for their cars and customize their cars. Students can also win trophies for accomplishments throughout the game. The game has more than 750 questions about state and national geography. Students will find questions about physical and political geography. There are some history questions mixed in too. I started playing Geography Drive USA this morning and had to force myself to put it down to write this post." (from http://ipadapps4school.com)
Nat. Geographic Listen & Read
National Geographic Explorer has lovely "listen and read" magazines free on their website. Students can access information above their reading level in science and humanities and develop reading skills at the same time.
States and Capitals Song
This silly song makes states and capitals a hoot to learn and moms won't even mind listening to it over and over. Click the picture to see the video.
US History through movies
A homeschooling mom at Heart of Wisdom has arranged a vast listing of movies, by time period, for teaching American History. What a treasure trove! She has a free printable timeline included as well. Another wonderful site, Have Fun With History, provides links to history movies too.
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