WBUR: Irish Archeologists Search For Their Countrymen In Lowell

Here is another archetypical story for Making Class Relevant.  Here is the introduction:


Blame it on Indiana Jones and King Tut.

When we think archeology, we think relics of the distant past, guys in pith helmets traveling to far-off lands, and unearthing objects from a millennia of dirt and sand. In reality, archeology is often more recent and closer to home. It goes wherever the mystery is.

Exactly!  Students uncovering history!  The students profiled in this story were in our classrooms only a few years ago and now they are active historians.  This story is a great resource for those studying immigration, archeology, and the relevance of history.

Here is the link to the story and original audio:


http://www.wbur.org/2010/08/20/lowell-dig

Digital History: A Incredible Source for Teachers

I have been using content from Digital History for the past four or five years.  The site is full of primary source materials.  Every time I visit the site, I find something new that can be used in my classroom.

This morning I found this transcription of an Eighth Grade test from 1895 (I think I may give this as a joke/reality check early in the year):

http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/quizzes/8thgrade_test.cfm
 

Among my favorite resources contained on the site is this handout called "Toward Revolution".  Students find the information clear and helpful - every year it leads to incredible discussions and a natural path of inquiry to find out more.


http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/historyonline/us6.cfm

While you should browse the site on your own, one last stop I will point out are the every-increasing collection of eXplorations.  These are self-contained, educator developed lessons about American history ranging from Columbus through Vietnam War:


http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/

Enjoy! Let me know what you end up using in the comments below!