PBS Teachers™
Thematic Teaching
citizenship: related resources
About the Author | Activity Ideas | Related Resources
Find Below: PBS Web Sites, Other Recommended Links, Recommended Books
pbs online
Ben Franklin
http://www.pbs.org/benfranklin/index.html
Thomas Jefferson
http://www.pbs.org/jefferson/
Liberty! The American Revolution
http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/
American Experience: "Jimmy Carter"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/
Rediscovering George Washington
http://www.pbs.org/georgewashington/
Big Apple History
http://pbskids.org/bigapplehistory/index-flash.html
PBS Kids: The Democracy Project
http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/
By the People
http://www.pbs.org/elections/
American Experience: "Teddy Roosevelt": "The Duties of American Citizenship"
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/presidents/26_t_roosevelt/psources/ps_citizen.html
Not For Ourselves Alone: The Story of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony
http://www.pbs.org/stantonanthony/index.html
recommended web sites
What is an American?
http://memory.loc.gov/learn/lessons/99/american/intro.html
An essay titled "Letters from an American Farmer" written by Jean de Crevecoeur in 1782 stated what he thought makes an American. He defined an American as a "descendent of Europeans" who, if he were "honest, sober and industrious," prospered in a welcoming land of opportunity which gave him choice of occupation and residence. This site from the American Memory project presents interviews from Americans over the past generations and how the meaning of being an American had changed since 1782.
Subject: Reading & Language Arts
More Recommended Reading & Language Arts Links
Immigration: The Changing Face of America
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/features/immig/immigration_set1.html
The Library of Congress brings you a potluck dinner, courtesy of immigrants to the United States. Try the Fry Bread or Layered Mexican Dip and submit your own favorite recipe from your family's "old country". Eleven major immigrant groups are highlighted, from Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and Africa. Be sure to become familiar with the navigation, there are many interesting resources you won't want to overlook including vocabulary games, a timeline, maps, and photos. Shockwave and Flash are required for games.
Subjects: Health & Fitness; Social Studies
More Recommended Health & Fitness Links
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Facts for Features
http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/index.html
Did you know that in 2001, there were 270 million turkeys raised for Thanksgiving dinners? Each data entry from the Census Bureau consists of a collection of statistics pertinent to a particular holiday or special observance. Students can use the data which comes from demographic and economic subject areas to create their own word problems. The possibilities of graphing, charting, calculating, and creating math word problems are endless. The majority of the statistics are from 1997-2002 with most years having the same topics, so statistics can be tracked over the years. There are 76.6 million citizens enrolled in school, preschool to college, as of Census Day 2000. Now, how many turkeys would each of those students have if only students ate turkey?
Subject: Math
More Recommended Math Links
INS Citizenship Test Questions
http://usgovinfo.about.com/blinstst.htm
Do you think you could answer these questions? Immigrants who want to become naturalized citizens of the United States need to pass this test of 100 questions related to the history and government of the country.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
A More Perfect Union: Japanese Americans and the U. S. Constitution
http://americanhistory.si.edu/perfectunion/experience/index.html
This exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution explores the period during World War II when racial prejudice and fear caused the conflict between the rights of the citizen and the power of the state. Japanese American citizens were forced to live in geographically isolated internment camps during the war. Topics include Japanese immigration, Japanese American servicemen, court cases, and loyalty questionnaires. Especially ironic were cases when interned men were drafted to fight in the U.S. military. The site is available in Flash and non-Flash format. Some classroom activities are found in the resource collection.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/aaohtml/exhibit/aointro.html
This exhibit from the Library of Congress explores the African American quest for equality from the early days of slavery through the twentieth century. Nine chronological periods addressed include abolition, reconstruction, Booker T. Washington's era, the World Wars, the Depression, and the Civil Rights era. The exhibit presents the search for African American equality in employment, education, voting rights, and the recognition of outstanding black leaders as they fought against segregation and discrimination.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
Civic Practices Network
http://www.cpn.org/
A non-partisan group of educators and community leaders have collaborated to present ideas and resources on active citizenship issues: community, environment, families, gender, and children, health, among others. Community networking and civic renewal are at the heart of this network. A civic dictionary, manuals, and teacher resources are provided to help civic minded individuals and groups on how to organize and work in productive ways.
Subject: Social Studies
More Recommended Social Studies Links
recommended books
New York's Bravest
By Mary Pope Osborne and Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Published August 2002
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Mose was a New York City fireman. He was eight feet tall. His hands were as big as Virginia hams. His arms were so strong he could swim the Hudson in two strokes. For years, when others ran from danger, Mose ran in. After he disappeared in a hotel fire, rumors about him persisted until one old fireman suggested Mose lived on in all of them. This tall tale tribute to New York City firemen really celebrates all firemen. Johnson's and Fancher's dynamic illustrations will recall Thomas Hart Benton.
More Recommended Reading & Language Arts Books
Will Rogers: An American Legend
By Frank Keating and Mike Wimmer
Published September 2002
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Reading & Language Arts
Part Cherokee, Will Rogers was born in Oklahoma in 1879. He had ten years of school but said a man only learns by reading and by associating with smarter people. Rogers was the voice of common sense during some of the darkest economic times in the U.S. His many travels made Rogers a citizen of the country and the world. Wimmer's realistic paintings show Rogers at work and at play in small town America.
More Recommended Reading & Language Arts Books
America Is...
By Louise Borden and Stacey Schuett
Published May 2002
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Social Studies
This picture book celebrates the diversity of the United States with images of different regions, different occupations, and persons of different national origin. The book opens with a map.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
The Atlas of Space Exploration
By Tim Furniss
Published March 2002
Grades: 3-5; 6-8
Subjects: Science & Technology
This large format, generously illustrated introduction to space exploration provides brief articles on personalities, technology, and mission goals. The book includes photographs, drawings, a timeline of milestones in astronomy, and a glossary. Inside the covers you'll find sky charts.
More Recommended Science & Technology Books
America: A Patriotic Primer
By Lynne V. Cheney and Robin Preiss Glasser
Published May 2002
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Social Studies
This ABC is packed with drawings and facts about the United States and famous Americans. U is for the United States and a map identifies attractions in all fifty. A notes section provides further information about topics raised in the main text. This primwill make a better resource or discussion starter than read aloud book.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
Paul Revere's Midnight Ride
By Stephen Krensky, Greg Harlin
Published August 2002
Grades: PreK-2; 3-5
Subjects: Social Studies
Paul Revere's ride is a familiar tale, but Krensky's retelling is particularly suspenseful and contains more history than many. Harlin's energetic watercolors are a bonus, especially the two-page spread of Revere chased by two British horsemen. An end note tells what Revere did during and after the War for Independence.
More Recommended Social Studies Books
The American Revolution for Kids: A History with 21 Activities
By Janis Herbert
Published September 2002
Grades: 2-5; 6-8
Subjects: Social Studies
This illustrated history of the war that helped to create the united States features side bars with ideas for celebrating being American, information on Constitutional Amendments, Important historical figures, social facts, and 21 activities including brewing root beer, making a powder horn, Colonial children's games, and dancing the minuet.
More Recommended Social Studies Books