VMC Social Studies: Exploring Our World....Investigating Our Past 

Welcome to our Social Studies Web Resources page. Listed below you will find some of the best online resources that we currently use on a regular basis. Department members, please feel free to update if you have something of value to add. Thanks.

• The Center for Teaching History with Technology : Ths site aims to help K-12 history and social studies teachers incorporate technology effectively into their courses. The Center provides a multitude of free online resources as well as workshops and consultation services.

• Best of History Web Sites: As outlined on their web site, "Best of History Web Sites contains links to over 1200 history-related web sites that have been reviewed for quality, accuracy, and usefulness. Included are links to K-12 history lesson plans, teacher guides, activities, games, quizzes, and more. Sites with engaging educational content and stimulating and useful multimedia technologies are most likely to be included in these pages. However, useful general resources and research-oriented sites have been included as well."

• CBC Archives : This is such a valuable teaching tool for all teachers. As a history teacher there are unlimited possibilities with the media available through this site. Media can be shown to the class as a whole or students can view the clips individually depending on the project to be completed. The site has recently been revamped as of Thursday, March 13, 2008. Many of the topics included in this site has pre-designed lesson plans and other educational activities. 

•  National Geographic Online : This site offers a wide variety of multimedia resources for the social studies teacher. It also offers a variety of interactive atlases to be used in the classroom.

• Discovery Educator Network : Need a full-length classroom video or video segment? Check out this site. It is a virtual goldmine that I recently rediscovered. You will be required to complete a free registration in order to access the multimedia. Once you login, click on the DE Streaming link at the top of the page to search for your multimedia. Your can either search by grade level or curriculum topic. Check it out. You won't be disappointed!!

•  Teacher Tube : Another valuable resource that is worth checking out.

•  World War I Multimedia : This is a collection of First World War multimedia resources which includes links to interactive maps & battles, games, simulations, interactive timelines, and crossword puzzles. 

•  BBC History : As a history teacher, the BBC is a very valuable tool that offers a ton of video, audio, and interactivities for an extensive list of topics covering all historical eras. 

•  PBS Frontline : As a World Issue teacher, PBS Frontline is a great tool. They have their programs online and prove to be very valuable when dealing with a variety of current events. Each program is divided into segments so you pick what you want without downloading the entire program. Also includes a variety educational ideas as well.

• History Channel : Another awesome resource for the history teacher. Great selection of video and audio clips as well as famous historical speeches.

• Gap Minder.org : Gapminder is a non-profit venture promoting sustainable global development and achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals by increased use and understanding of statistics and other information about social, economic and environmental development at local, national and global levels.

• A Guide to the Twentieth Century : Created by the BBC with an extensive list of topics. It also includes links to other eras such as the Middle Ages, Napoleon's Empire, and Victorian Britain.

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