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

Find quality websites & primary sources
Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) Photographs
Photo, Meal possibly for homeless men, Seattle, Dec. 23, 1932, Univ. of Wash.

Close to 200 photographs document the work of Federal Emergency Relief [...] »

Jews in America: Our Story
Poster, East Side Sadie, 1929, American Jewish Historical Society.

Explores the history of Jews in America from the 17th century to the present [...] »

Marcus Garvey and Universal Negro Improvement Association Papers Project
Photograph, Garvey in custody of U.S. marshals en route..., 1925, UCLA.

Presents the life and work of black activist Marcus Garvey, leader of the [...] »

History Quiz

Test your history knowledge
The Great Black Hope

These African American athletes drew crowds with their skill and [...] »

American Myths: Popular Music

Each song has a story. What inspired it? When was it made? By whom?

[...] »
The Ice Cream Wars

Was there conflict in the past over one of our favorite summer treats?

[...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
Labor and Trade in Colonial America
Photo, Weavers at Colonial Williamsburg, May 29, 2010, animalvegetable, Flickr

Was colonial trade really triangular? What kinds of work did colonists do, [...] »

20th-century Jewish Immigration
Dry plate negative, approx. 1920-1930, Jewish colonies and settlements, LOC

Divided into two waves of immigration by textbooks, the continuity of [...] »

Causing the Civil War
Postcard, Train Load of Cotton for Export, South, 1902-1903, NYPL

Did King Cotton cause the Civil War? Or should you look further?

[...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
Screenshot, "U.S. History Topics," Federal Resources for Educational Excellence

More than 1,600 learning resources from the federal government sorted by [...] »

Federal Reserve Board

The economy's on everyone's mind. Take advantage of that fact to teach a bit [...] »

Bureau of Justice Statistics
Graph, "Sentences for those convicted in federal court," BJS

Everyday you read about local crime in the newspaper, but are the rates [...] »

Ask a Historian

Fine Line Between Thief and Entrepreneur

Explore the fine line between Captains of Industry and Robber Barons and how [...] »