Spotlight on Elementary Education

History has been shaped and influenced by the out come of ancient trials—such as the Trial of Socrates in 399B.C.—to Rosenberg Trial in the 1950s. This site offers a comprehensive look at 50 prominent court trials throughout history and its resources can be used to give young learners an introduction to the history of the modern judicial system.

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Website Reviews

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Historic Topographic Maps of California
Photo, Mare Island Cranes, July 5, 2007, cosmic tito, Flickr

Explore a wide range of Californian geological survey maps, dating from 1895 [...] »

Austin Treasures: Online Exhibits from the Austin History Center
Photo. Austin Magnesium plant used during WWII

Discover the depth of Austin, Texas's urban history through 10 online [...] »

NASA History Division
Photo, Life Cycle of Stars, March 5, 1999, NASA, Great Images in NASA

Ever wonder what lunar surface crew members and mission control said to each [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
Teaching the 20th

When does the past go from 'recent' to 'history?' Consider these questions [...] »

Which Witch?

Words constantly evolve and change over time. What did "witch" mean to these [...] »

Riding the Rails

How many cows could a cowcatcher catch, if a cowcatcher could catch cows? [...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
The Early Conservation Movement
photographic print, Quentin Roosevelt Planting a Tree, c1904, Edward S. Curtis,

The "go-green" movement is rampant in modern America. However, support for [...] »

Denmark Vesey
An official report of the trials of sundry Negroes, 1822

Tried and executed in 1822, along with many other slaves, for a plotted [...] »

Coal and the Industrial Revolution
Photo, At the close of the day, January 1911, Lewis Hine, Library of Congress

How can the story of coal help students understand the nature of today's [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
National Institute for Literacy
Photo, "Artis struisvogel leest krant van oppasser,"1951, Flickr Commons

Do you have struggling readers in your class? Try incorporating literacy [...] »

National Endowment for the Arts

Watch videos on jazz and opera history, courtesy of the National Endowment [...] »

National Agricultural Statistics Service

Why did George Washington start gathering national data on agriculture?

[...] »

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Great Expectations for the Civil War
Gelatin silver print, Hine, Lewis Wickes,Hitching Up the Team, NY Public Library

Many believed the Civil War would be a short, bloodless battle. The reality [...] »