URL Address: http://www.ushmm.org/museum/exhibit/online/
Summary: Rich and informative online exhibitions from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum use the internet to extend the reach of the museums programs while also presenting new subjects. The site uses primary sources, artifacts, historic film footage and eyewitness testimonies to present a narrative history of the Holocaust. Content is directed towards secondary students, and is organized by linked tabs, including Rescue and Resistance, Children, U.S., Anti-Semitism, Persecution, Aftermath, Camps, Ghettos, Propaganda, Documentation and Evidence, Remembrance/Commemoration/Legacy and General Reference. Online activities, materials and resources are provided to help teachers and students learn the history of the Holocaust and reflect upon the moral and ethical questions raised by that history.
Commentary: The Holocaust Memorial Museum is a federally supported public-private partnership with information contributed by professionals from the fields of law enforcement, the judiciary and the military, as well as diplomacy, medicine, education and religion study. Online exhibitions are translated into over 20 languages to reach nearly 30 million visitors, including more than 8 million school children and 85 heads of state. Hundreds of artifacts are included to make the website authentic and informative, including a virtual reference desk allowing visitors to find information through online archives, web links, bibliographies, or direct conversation with a librarian.
5 of 5 stars
Sunday, July 19, 2009
White House 101
URL Address: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/white_house_101/
Summary: Sponsored by the United States Government, White House 101 is a website filled with government facts and fun appropriate for students in 3rd grade and up. Along with learning about our current administration, visitors will find facts and information about the white house, previous presidents and even first pets.
Commentary: White House 101 is easy to use and provides students with tons of accurate information published by and about the United States government. The more formal and educational presentation of material leads the website to be used with an older group of students. Housed on a US government home page, no advertisements are present although numerous links to other federal agencies and divisions make it easy for students to lose their way.
4 of 5 stars
Summary: Sponsored by the United States Government, White House 101 is a website filled with government facts and fun appropriate for students in 3rd grade and up. Along with learning about our current administration, visitors will find facts and information about the white house, previous presidents and even first pets.
Commentary: White House 101 is easy to use and provides students with tons of accurate information published by and about the United States government. The more formal and educational presentation of material leads the website to be used with an older group of students. Housed on a US government home page, no advertisements are present although numerous links to other federal agencies and divisions make it easy for students to lose their way.
4 of 5 stars
Stories of America’s Past
URL Address: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi
Summary: This engaging website on American history is brought to you from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. As opposed to being filled with just books, the physical Library of Congress and it’s interactive website provides visitors with an abundance of primary sources, such as letters, diaries, records and tapes, films, sheet music, maps, prints, photographs and digital materials. Easy to navigate tabs titled “Amazing Americans,” “Join America at Play,” “Jump Back in Time,” “Explore the States,” and “See, Hear and Sing,” were designed with young students in mind, putting the story back in a historical context that even young students will understand.
Commentary: This extensive website was launched in 2000 as a public service, and is updated frequently by different specialists inside the Library of Congress. The interactive site is vibrant and engaging, with accurate information presented to be motivating and comprehensible for even young students. The site accurately references the credit for photographer, artist, author or creator of the materials, as well as the collection from which it is taken within the Library.
5 of 5 stars
Summary: This engaging website on American history is brought to you from the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. As opposed to being filled with just books, the physical Library of Congress and it’s interactive website provides visitors with an abundance of primary sources, such as letters, diaries, records and tapes, films, sheet music, maps, prints, photographs and digital materials. Easy to navigate tabs titled “Amazing Americans,” “Join America at Play,” “Jump Back in Time,” “Explore the States,” and “See, Hear and Sing,” were designed with young students in mind, putting the story back in a historical context that even young students will understand.
Commentary: This extensive website was launched in 2000 as a public service, and is updated frequently by different specialists inside the Library of Congress. The interactive site is vibrant and engaging, with accurate information presented to be motivating and comprehensible for even young students. The site accurately references the credit for photographer, artist, author or creator of the materials, as well as the collection from which it is taken within the Library.
5 of 5 stars
United Nations
URL Address: http://cyberschoolbus.un.org/
Summary: The United Nations Cyber School Bus website aims to promote education about international issues. The site uses the internet as an educational tool to give all students (grades k-12) a voice in global issues and provide high-quality of resources to teachers. Within the site many technology tools are available, including podcasts, movie clips, blogs, photographs and video chats. Content is presented in various forms and there are a number of activities that teach students about global issues in an interactive and engaging way.
Commentary: The UN website was created and copyrighted by the United Nations as the online education component of the Global Teaching and Learning Project. The website has received numerous awards for its exceptional content and format. It is easy to navigate, attractive in design, authentically interactive and covers an impressive extent of up to date content. All information is accurate, free of typographical errors, and appropriately referenced/dated.
5 of 5 stars
Summary: The United Nations Cyber School Bus website aims to promote education about international issues. The site uses the internet as an educational tool to give all students (grades k-12) a voice in global issues and provide high-quality of resources to teachers. Within the site many technology tools are available, including podcasts, movie clips, blogs, photographs and video chats. Content is presented in various forms and there are a number of activities that teach students about global issues in an interactive and engaging way.
Commentary: The UN website was created and copyrighted by the United Nations as the online education component of the Global Teaching and Learning Project. The website has received numerous awards for its exceptional content and format. It is easy to navigate, attractive in design, authentically interactive and covers an impressive extent of up to date content. All information is accurate, free of typographical errors, and appropriately referenced/dated.
5 of 5 stars
Kids & Community
URL Address: http://myapa.planning.org/kidsandcommunity/
Summary: Kids and Community is a web site for elementary students, created by the professional and educational association for America’s city planners. The website explores how to create communities, how you live in them and how you change them. Additional activities include a book corner (with reviews), scavenger hunt and picture gallery.
Commentary: Resources and information from the website is cited, with a detailed, narrative statement about the authors qualifications and context. There are no specific dates or copyrights documented to verify that the site is up to date. It is free of advertisements and contains a logical organization and form. The website is not entirely interactive, although multiple ideas for critical thinking activities centered around communities are provided.
3 of 5 stars
Summary: Kids and Community is a web site for elementary students, created by the professional and educational association for America’s city planners. The website explores how to create communities, how you live in them and how you change them. Additional activities include a book corner (with reviews), scavenger hunt and picture gallery.
Commentary: Resources and information from the website is cited, with a detailed, narrative statement about the authors qualifications and context. There are no specific dates or copyrights documented to verify that the site is up to date. It is free of advertisements and contains a logical organization and form. The website is not entirely interactive, although multiple ideas for critical thinking activities centered around communities are provided.
3 of 5 stars
World Almanac for Kids
URL Address: http://www.worldalmanacforkids.com/
Summary: Created by the editors of The World Almanac, The World Almanac for Kids is a colorful, fun and informative reference on thousands of topics. Suggested for children 10 and up, the website is organized similar to the printed version with chapters on content such as animals, holidays, books, environment, geography, language, mythology, nations, population, religion and technology. Puzzles, games, activities, and jokes are provided to supplement the text, along with helpful hints and activities for parents and teachers.
Commentary: The World Almanac for Kids is a published, bestselling reference book with information that has been researched and confirmed. It is an enjoyable and easy to navigate site filled with kid-friendly facts on various topics. The almanac is completely updated every year to include current information, although the website does not currently have the most recent version available in full. The only advertisements are those for the print copy of the 2009 edition.
4 of 5 stars
Summary: Created by the editors of The World Almanac, The World Almanac for Kids is a colorful, fun and informative reference on thousands of topics. Suggested for children 10 and up, the website is organized similar to the printed version with chapters on content such as animals, holidays, books, environment, geography, language, mythology, nations, population, religion and technology. Puzzles, games, activities, and jokes are provided to supplement the text, along with helpful hints and activities for parents and teachers.
Commentary: The World Almanac for Kids is a published, bestselling reference book with information that has been researched and confirmed. It is an enjoyable and easy to navigate site filled with kid-friendly facts on various topics. The almanac is completely updated every year to include current information, although the website does not currently have the most recent version available in full. The only advertisements are those for the print copy of the 2009 edition.
4 of 5 stars
Prehistoric Life
URL Address: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/
Summary: This website about prehistoric life is put out by the BBC, a public service broadcasting corporation in the UK. Geared towards grade 4 and up, the site uses clips from television and radio documentaries, articles, picture galleries, games and quizzes to inform, educate and entertain visitors about human and animal beginnings.
Commentary: The public service website is a valid source of factual information. Content is updated daily with correlating dates, and the site provided up to date information on the latest news findings and theories. Authors are listed, although there is an additional disclaimer that the BBC is not responsible for any invalid information found on linked external internet sites. Content information is logically organized and presented, but not all additional web links lead to active, complete and working websites.
4 out of 5 stars
Summary: This website about prehistoric life is put out by the BBC, a public service broadcasting corporation in the UK. Geared towards grade 4 and up, the site uses clips from television and radio documentaries, articles, picture galleries, games and quizzes to inform, educate and entertain visitors about human and animal beginnings.
Commentary: The public service website is a valid source of factual information. Content is updated daily with correlating dates, and the site provided up to date information on the latest news findings and theories. Authors are listed, although there is an additional disclaimer that the BBC is not responsible for any invalid information found on linked external internet sites. Content information is logically organized and presented, but not all additional web links lead to active, complete and working websites.
4 out of 5 stars
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Bam! Body & Health for Kids
URL Address: http://www.bam.gov/
Summary: Published by the U.S. Department of Health: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the website gives kids ages 9-13 relevant information about their body and mind. Comics, blogs, quizzes, text, fact sheets, interviews, graphics and games are used to convey content about diseases, food & nutrition, physical activity, safety, mental health and body changes/development. There is also a teacher’s corner, with in-school activities linked to national education standards.
Commentary: The website is published by an unbiased, credible source with the purpose of ensuring a long, productive, healthy life for all people. The interactive site is extremely engaging, loaded with vivid colors, various fonts, lots of images and multiple activities. An assortment of content is communicated in kid-friendly language, making the site approachable and comprehensible. Although content information on recent diseases appears to be current, no specific dates for revisions are listed.
5 out of 5 stars
Summary: Published by the U.S. Department of Health: Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the website gives kids ages 9-13 relevant information about their body and mind. Comics, blogs, quizzes, text, fact sheets, interviews, graphics and games are used to convey content about diseases, food & nutrition, physical activity, safety, mental health and body changes/development. There is also a teacher’s corner, with in-school activities linked to national education standards.
Commentary: The website is published by an unbiased, credible source with the purpose of ensuring a long, productive, healthy life for all people. The interactive site is extremely engaging, loaded with vivid colors, various fonts, lots of images and multiple activities. An assortment of content is communicated in kid-friendly language, making the site approachable and comprehensible. Although content information on recent diseases appears to be current, no specific dates for revisions are listed.
5 out of 5 stars
PBS Nature Online
URL Address: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/
Summary: Nature is an award winning television series on PBS that highlights the wonders of the natural world. Nature Online, the series’ web companion, allows visitors to stream full episodes, watch behind the scenes action, explore content areas, and play interactive educational games.
Commentary: PBS is public service, with a legitimate source of accurate and current information. Although all information provided in the television program is not available on the site, extensions and supplements are provided. Tons of content information is available for all learners, including videos, photographs and text. Content is well organized and the search feature lets visitors quickly pinpoint specific information, making the site user friendly.
5 out of 5 stars
Summary: Nature is an award winning television series on PBS that highlights the wonders of the natural world. Nature Online, the series’ web companion, allows visitors to stream full episodes, watch behind the scenes action, explore content areas, and play interactive educational games.
Commentary: PBS is public service, with a legitimate source of accurate and current information. Although all information provided in the television program is not available on the site, extensions and supplements are provided. Tons of content information is available for all learners, including videos, photographs and text. Content is well organized and the search feature lets visitors quickly pinpoint specific information, making the site user friendly.
5 out of 5 stars
National Geographic Explorer Magazines
URL Address: http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngexplorer/
Summary: National Geographic Explorer is a classroom magazine for grades two through six. Monthly web-based magazine publications are exact replicas to the printed version, and allow students to explore various worldly content and themes such as early civilizations, culture, living creatures and technological advances and inventions. The site also offers extensions to the magazines, allowing students to dig deeper and explore learning in a fun, safe, online environment.
Commentary: National Geographic is a reputable source, so teachers know the information is factual and accurate. The site is updated monthly, with dates and publishing information readily available. The site is organized, easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing and engaging. There are very limited advertisements (at most one per page) and ads are clearly differentiated from instructional content.
5 out of 5 stars
Summary: National Geographic Explorer is a classroom magazine for grades two through six. Monthly web-based magazine publications are exact replicas to the printed version, and allow students to explore various worldly content and themes such as early civilizations, culture, living creatures and technological advances and inventions. The site also offers extensions to the magazines, allowing students to dig deeper and explore learning in a fun, safe, online environment.
Commentary: National Geographic is a reputable source, so teachers know the information is factual and accurate. The site is updated monthly, with dates and publishing information readily available. The site is organized, easy to navigate and aesthetically pleasing and engaging. There are very limited advertisements (at most one per page) and ads are clearly differentiated from instructional content.
5 out of 5 stars
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