Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids-Explore topics about government and lawmaking. Material for grades ranging from K-12, with a section for parents and teachers. Additional Government sites for kids are listed by subject.

Bill of Rights-Karpeles Document Library-This is a copy of the original manuscript draft submitted by Virginia, condensed and ratified as the first ten amendments to the US Constitution.  This is a great resource because it gives you the chance to see the original document, but allows you to scroll over it and read it in plain text (Grades 5-12).

Charters of Freedom-Constitution of the United States-This online resource has images of the Constitution as well as text to accompany each of the images.There is extensive information pertaining to the Constitution (Grades 6-12).

Classbrain–This site offers a variety of social studies topics including: the 50 states; American Monuments & Memorials; US Documents; biographies; and Freedom Files to name a few.  The navigation bar on top allows you to choose a classbrain site appropriate for your grade level (grades Pre-K-5 and teens grades 6-12).

Community Helpers-This site highlights eight professions (community workers) with some text and audio.  At the end of the profession there is a short quiz (Grades Pre-K-3).

Constitution Center-This site has great resources to use when teaching students about the Constitution.  There is an interactive Constitution that’s excellent (Grades 6-12).

Conversations on the Constitution-American Bar Association Conversations on the Constitution is a new program of the ABA Division for Public Education to encourage civil discussion and debate about the meaning of some of the Constitution's concepts and clauses that have been the subject of ongoing constitutional debates.

Core Documents of U.S. Democracy-"Direct online access to the basic Federal Government documents that define our democratic society, a core group of current and historical government publications is being made available for free, permanent, public access via GPO Access" (Grades 4-12).

Declaration of Independence-Interactive Signing Of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness . . .” The National Archives’ Interactive Signing of the Declaration of Independence offers students the opportunity to add their signature to this historic document alongside the original signatures. After they choose a handwriting style, students type their name, which will appear in the document in the handwriting style they have chosen. Students can then print their signed document in full color or black and white.

Department of State–Digital Diplomacy-This Web site offers students and teachers the resources necessary to learn about the Department of State (K-12).

EconoClass-The EconoClass offers great interactive activities for teaching high school economics. Includes games and simulations; case studies; debate topics; and brain teasers (High School).

FBI Kids Page-At the FBI Kids page you can take a virtual field trip to learn about the FBI and learn some valuable safety tips for kids (K-5). 

FBI Youth Page-At the FBI Youth page you can follow a historical time-line of the FBI, investigate crime around the world, follow a case through the FBI lab, and more (6-12). 

Freedom Fighter or Terrorist? A WebQuest on Telling the Difference-Many people have said that the world changed on September 11, 2001. Undoubtedly it did for many people and in many ways. Since then, the US and its Coalition of the willing have entered into a War on Terror. Deciding the merits of this war or those who struck the US on 9/11 is a larger topic than this WebQuest can tackle. However, we can increase our understanding by looking closely at what we think about terrorism. The main question students will be asked to answer is: " What is terrorism? Is there such a thing as a just cause? "  As a team, students will survey a collection of definitions, then apply what they learned to individual examples (or cases) of terrorism. Finally, through a group process, students will evaluate this range of real life cases to decide exactly what terrorism is and if it is ever justified; and if so, under what conditions. At the end of the activity, students may be asked to explain their own personal understanding of the topic (High School).

The Geography Site-The Geography Site is committed to providing the best quality Internet resources for teachers, students and anyone with an interest in geography and how our amazing planet works (4-12).

Global School–This site provides online projects that you can join with other schools across the country or the globe (K-12).

Going Places Online-GOING PLACES Online, the Web companion to the series on PBS, features interactive maps giving more information about places seen in the television series; personalized electronic postcards from the program destinations; interviews with everyday travelers; slide shows for each program; a feature article detailing how to plan a trip using the Web; and more (4-12).

Harcourt–This site is from Harcourt School Publishers.  This is ECSDM’s science and social studies textbook for grades K-6.  This site has activities for every unit and chapter in the textbook (K-6).

History Channel Classroom-The History Channel Multimedia Classroom is the first integrated social studies teaching tool designed to take advantage of the resources and technology available to teachers and students in the 21st century. It is a comprehensive series of lessons drawing on award-winning video content by The History Channel in a form readily accessible to the teacher.  Each unit of "The History Channel Multimedia Classroom" combines video segments with primary source documents; maps and other visual materials; discussion and review questions; and additional teaching materials including classroom activities and Internet-based activity links. Primary source documents, maps, and questions are in an easily printable form so they can be distributed to students (5-12).

History Globe-This Web site provides information and animation on Jamestown, the Oregon Trail, and the Anglo-Apache Conflict (4-12).

Holidayzone–This site has brief information about various holidays, lesson plan ideas, and activities (K-8).

Homeless Bird-Studying Cultural Diversity-Use this Web site to study the theme of cultural diversity when reading Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan.  The link takes you to a worksheet that is organized like a Web hunt. 

I Love NY–The official NYS Tourism Guide includes geography; government; history; brief facts; and state symbols (4-12).

Interactive Bill of Rights Game-Save the Bill of Rights! Using this interactive game students help to locate lost amendments (4-12).

Interactive U.S. History Map-Become a geography whiz as you learn how the United States was settled.  Discover how the continent was irrevocably changed by European colonization, the events that caused the wholesale displacement and decimation of the land's original inhabitants, and how the 50 states came to be formed.

Kids in the House–Office of the Clerk-This site introduces students to the role of the Clerk of the House of Representatives, and then takes them on an entertaining journey that culminates in an understanding of America's legislative system. The structure of Congress and the process by which a bill becomes a law are presented, along with a collection of fun facts, activities and puzzles. Click on "Time Traveler" to discover important people, events, and works of art that have played a role in the history of the House. Students can even take virtual tours of Capitol Hill, the House Chamber, and Statuary Hall (3-9).

Learning about the United States Senate-The institutional history of the Senate, its powers and procedures, and the evolution of important leadership and staff positions (6-12).

Lewis and Clark–Online Adventure -Join Lewis and Clark on the expedition of the Century! (Grades 2-12).

Mad Mad Money Game-Students learn to understand the value of money and how to manage it.  This interactive simulation differentiates need vs. want.  Grade 3-7.

Map Zone–This Web site contains colorful maps from all over the world (3-12).

Meet the Daggetts–Be a history detective! Go back in time and investigate the daily lives of the Daggetts, a colonial family from northeastern Connecticut. Collect clues to uncover answers to seven questions about colonial life in the 1700s, then prove your skills as a history detective by discovering, “What’s wrong with this picture?” (4-8).

Multicolored Dreams (Interactive Flag Creator)-Create a flag that conveys your uniqueness. Using the digital art on this site, you can make your own flag. 

Mummy Bundles-Meet the Cotton King. This Inca noble died 500 years ago. How'd he get his nickname? Find out by digging into history (Grades 6-12).

NARA–Digital Classroom-NARA Digital Classroom has resources and lessons associated with teaching with documents, conducting research, analyzing documents, and more (5-12).

NARA Exhibit Hall-NARA Exhibit Hall has online exhibits covering 20^th century photographers, history of the legislative branch, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and more (5-12).

National Atlas-This Federal source is a new portrayal of America in maps and geographic information. Using new technologies, they honor traditions of accuracy, reliability, and innovation.  This site includes a Map Maker that allows students to tailor a map to a variety of characteristics (3-12).

National Geographic’s Maps-Tools for Adventure-Students can explore an ancient Egyptian pyramid using a robot; find out what’s buried on the ocean floor by using a water jet to blast sunken treasure out of hiding; find out if there’s life on Mars by using a map to guide the Mar’s rover and collect rock samples to send back to Earth; go on an adventure using a map to find places and solve clues like an explorer; learn why some animals are in danger of extinction; see a geographic information system (GIS) in action; and use their map skills to show visitors around an
adventure island.

Nationmaster.com–This site has statistics on just about every topic about nations from all over the world, also contain flags, and maps (3-12).

National Geographic Explorer:Online Adventures-Take a trip and explore penguins, King Tut’s tomb, and much more (2-12).

National Geographic GeoBee-Come on out and play in the new GeoBee Quiz! Show your geography smarts right here online. Each day five new questions from the National Geographic Bee are posted here. Some of the questions are real stumpers, but it's okay if you miss a few—you can play as often as you like. Come back every day for brand-new questions and another chance to beat the Bee! (4-9).

National Geographic’s Inside the White House-Make your mark on the Oval Office. Then see how the press reacts (4-12).

National Geographic's Maps and Geography-National Geographic offers this very detailed site on maps and geography that contains free printable maps, a geography question of the day, space maps, and MapMachine (4-12).

New York State Library–This site provides commonly sought information about NYS.  For example, the site includes information about the state emblems; NYS of Arms and Seal; places in NY (counties, cities, towns, & villages); and NYS author and poet (3-12).

New York Times Learning Network-Students can read the day's top stories using Knowledge Tools, take a news quiz about today's world, and play special crossword puzzles. Students can also submit a letter to the editor, ask a reporter a question, or submit a science question and search through the Science Q&A archive. They can also expand their vocabularies and practice their verbal test-taking skills, and even take a Web Exploration on a variety of topics. Teachers can access a daily lesson plan for grades 6-12, written in partnership with The Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Each lesson plan, and the article it references, can be printed out for classroom use. Previous lessons are available in the archive and in thematic lesson plan units. Teachers can also use News Snapshot, aimed for grades 3-5, to explore current events through New York Times photos and related questions. The site additionally provides teachers with the latest education news from the newspaper. Parents can enhance their child's understanding of current events using Conversation Starters, join an online discussion, explore the family movie guide or participate with their children in the activities in the student section. In addition, visitors can browse Navigator, our list of recommended Web sites, access Issues in Depth on both current and historic events, or take a look back at a historic New York Times front page, current and historic birthdays and historic editorial cartoons in the On This Day section.

Places Online-PlacesOnLine provides access to the World's very best place-based Web sites. Students are able to click on any location in the world and obtain reliable websites on that particular area (4-12).

Saving for Vacation Game-This simulation has students saving for their summer vacation.  Students will go through a series of choices to earn or spend their money (5-12).

Scholastic Explorers-Scholastic Explorers is a Web site where you have a chance to explore new worlds from Native American cultures to the rainforests of Costa Rica (4-12)

Social Studies for Kids–This site contain facts on numerous social studies topics (3-12).

State Web Games–Use this site to Learn the locations, capitals, abbreviations and over 500 important facts about our 50 states (3-12).

Time Capsule–Type any date and find out the history of that date (3-12).

The Grout Museum District Excursion-The Grout Museum District Excursion  site is sponsored by Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area. Upon entering this interactive educational website, students in grades 4-8 are transformed into historians as they explore primary source photographs, letters and artifacts related to the themes of immigration and agriculture-based industrialization in the heartland (4-12).

The Learning Page-Designed to help teachers, students, and others use the American Memory digital collections from the Library of Congress. Provides guidance for finding and using items within these primary source collections. Includes lesson plans for teachers (5-12).

The White House for Kids-Explore the White House, the place where the President lives and works (K-6).

Trading Around the World-An interactive simulation and role-playing activity based on a fast-paced game that challenges the player to buy low and sell high. The simulation is a trading model that matches the player with computerized traders from around the world. Prices respond to the overall health of the global economy, and players can see how
commodity prices change over time. For grades 5-12.

World Atlas–This site contains physical maps, outline maps, and map tests (3-12).

This page is maintained by Melissa Cortellini according to Web publishing guidelines used by the Enlarged City School District of Middletown. All rights reserved. This Web site was produced by the Capital Region BOCES Communications Service. © 2003