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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Bay of Pigs Reports

What did the U.S. government think of its own attempt to overthrow Castro? [...] »

Pearl Harbor Attack Map
Avenge Pearl Harbor, Our Bullets Will Do It, c.1942-3, NARA, Flickr Commons

What did U.S. sailors mean when they refer to seeing "the meatball"? What [...] »

Civil War Maps
Map, Scott's great snake, 1861, J.B. Elliott, Library of Congress.

Explore the Library of Congress' collection of Civil War maps, including [...] »

History Quiz

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Textbook Twisters: Salem Witch Trials

Burn the witch! Discover how historical coverage of the Salem Witch Trials [...] »

A Hoax Provokes Folks: Why Lie?

Peruse the news, but beware hot air? Examine famous U.S. hoaxes.

[...] »
Pre-Modern Pop Music

Before "pop" music reigned supreme, jazz and ragtime amassed great public [...] »

Beyond the Textbook

Question textbook narratives
Rise of the Automobile
Photo, Model A Ford in front of antique gas pumps, August 4, 2007, Flickr

Americans today take cars for granted. How did they change American life? [...] »

The Atomic Bomb: Hiroshima and Nagasaki
photographic print, Second atomic bombing of Nagasaki, 1945 August, LOC

Controversial issues are often simplified in textbooks. Discover the facts [...] »

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 [...] »

National Resources

Federal teaching resources
National Archives and Records Administration
Letter, . . . Flag Design Suggestion, 10/1958, Sheryl Byland, NARA

With more than 10 billion items addressing U.S. history, you're bound to [...] »

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

Commemorate the lives of the millions of people murdered during the [...] »

Smithsonian
Negative, Dinsmore, Frances. Of Smithsonian. . . , 1915, Harris & Ewing, LoC

What can 19 museums, nine research centers, and the National Zoo offer your [...] »

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What If...?: Reexamining the American Revolution
Photography, Redcoats & Rebels Revolutionary War Reenactment, 6 Aug 2010, Lee Wr

How different would "the United States of America" be if the British had won [...] »