History with Postal Stamps

Katelyn emailed me last month in an effort to get the word out to homeschoolers about their educational resources. She sent me a copy of this year’s calendar which was huge and colorful with lots of interesting stamp info on it. She is very open to feedback about how to make their website more homeschool friendly. It is always nice when folks consider us in their efforts. Please feel free to pass this along wherever appropriate.

~Karen

PS There is a cool “stamp template” at the website.

May 11^th, 2011

 

Greetings!  My name is Katelyn Lahr, and I represent an educational initiative founded by the US Postal Service called USPS Community Connection.  We were conceived to help schools across the country, from private to public to in-home, in their quest for curriculum improvement and student achievement.

Our mission is to support your elementary-level social studies curriculum through the dynamic archive of Postage Stamp imagery.  As colorful primary resources, stamps reflect the tone of the times and the attitudes of this nation across its history.  They celebrate the people, places, icons and events that we as Americans value.  We use stamp imagery and its connotations as a springboard in lessons on American history, geography, civics, and culture.

We admire the work that you do as a home educator, and we understand that you rely upon your community to supplement and support the tools necessary for student improvement. With the resources of 39,000 area post offices, the nation’s most extraordinary archive of American history and culture, and specially designed curriculum enhancements, we offer extensive and significant tools to benefit educators, their students and their students’ families.  Within our portfolio you will find:

·   School Days & American Ways: an oversized curriculum-connected calendar designed around monthly themes that have been researched, written and designed to correspond with early elementary social studies curricula; the calendar is accompanied by a 24-page coordinated Teaching Guide;

·   Support for local fieldtrips and class speakers throughout North Carolina;

·   New, complimentary educational material offered 24/7/365 on our website and social networking pages;

·   Subject specific teaching tools, currently in development, in the instruction of space exploration and the Civil War

I invite you to explore what we have to offer by visiting our homepage, www.USPSConnection.com, or emailing me directly at Katelyn@USPSConnection.com.   Thank you, and I hope to see you in your classroom!

Sincerely,

Katelyn Lahr

Coordinator, USPS Community Connection

Ted Talks History

I don't know about you but I absolutely LOVE Ted Talks!


Recently I was sent this wonderful post over on Online College dot org which lists and summarizes 15 Ted Talks for history buffs. What a great idea! Bookmarking for summer for myself to listen and enjoy.

All Things Samuel Adams

Everything you ever wanted to know about 
Samuel Adams and more at
Samuel Adams Heritage Society!

Read all about his early life and his involvement in key events of the American Revolution. There is a page for his famous quotes as well as his documents and speeches.If you like to use primary sources in your history study, this is a page to book mark. The photo section includes both historical portraits as well as current portrayals in movies and mini-series. Excellent, well organized site to include within early American history studies.

Amazing Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel

You just have to see this:


Virtual Tour of the Sistine Chapel

I don't have a pic to go with this. Nothing would really do it justice anyway. It takes a bit of practice to manipulate the mouse around the image. You can change the way the mouse operates in the lower left corner.

You probably get a better look than you would in person as I hear that this structure is always full of tourists!

History Games for Kids

 Hop over to the Kid's Past site for history resources including low tech but fun games. 

KidPast.com is the fun way to explore our history. We are who we are today, because of those who have gone before us.

Brought to you by the KidsKnowIt Network, The Totally Free Learning Network, KidsPast.com is packed with articles from early man, to recent historical events.

I played Hopping Through History. The first level had questions where you could often guess the answer. I am not sure how hard it would see to a child but it is easy to check out - no downloading or anything.

There are world history topics that you can click through with illustrations (secular worldview). You do have to read around the google boxes but the pages are fairly consistent so it is not too difficult. There is also a section with a long list of quotes from historical figures. You click on a name and it gives one or two of their famous quotes.

Science in History - WWII

Way cool website that explores the science of World War II. The Darkroom includes loads of primary resources. There is an interactive timeline of The Road to the Atomic Bomb. An activities section includes a quiz, coded messages and more. Everything about this website is top notch, interactive, colorful, informative and fun. Highly recommended as an adjunct to studying WWII or simply exploring this subject.

Constitution Day!

Constitution Day commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Find a lot of great links at the Incredible Constitution Day page.

 You will find more resources for Constitution Day at C-Span including a live interview at 9:15am ET today. Joe Karb, a middle school teacher from Springville, New York, will be interviewed for a few minutes during C-SPAN's Washington Journal.  He will explain how you can use C-Span's Constitution Clips in your classroom. You will need to register and log in to access the Constitution Clips page. Once you do, you can also view the U.S. Constitution Vignette.