Classics for Kids
"Mars" from The Planets
Gustav Holst's The Planets provide young musicians an opportunity to examine how composers can create a suite: a collection of smaller pieces grouped to explore a single topic. After listening to "Jupiter," they examine "Mars" in detail,...
Star Wars in the Classroom
Star Wars Geography Unit
What kind of animals live on an ice planet like Hoth? How would the habitat on Tatooine allow different organisms to thrive? Connect social studies, science, and Star Wars in one engaging activity that focuses on the ecosystems of the...
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Star Wars: The Magic of Myth
Online exhibition relates the original Star Wars film trilogy to the "hero's journey" presented in Joseph Campbell's "Hero With a Thousand Faces" and "The Power of Myth." Originally accompanied an exhibit at the Museum, but now stands...
DOGO Media
Dogo News: Obamas Celebrate Star Wars Day
Read about how the Obama family celebrated Star Wars Day! Includes video.
Scholastic
Scholastic Kids: Book Central
Scholastic Kids Book Central contains links to other interactive Scholastic sites on various children's book series. The site also provides information on kids' authors and illustrators, fun activities, and more.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Strategic Defense Initiative
Detailed entry for the Strategic Defense Initiative, better known by its byname, Star Wars. Covers history of the program, weapons research and development, and criticism of the program.
Other
Turmoil and Triumph: The George Shultz Years: Cold War Timeline
End-of-the-Cold-War timeline, which enumerates events that led up to the collapse of the Soviet empire during the Reagan administration, is both an account of the period and a retrospective of Reagan's policies vis-a-vis the Soviets,...
Federation of American Scientists
Fas: Strategic Defense Initiative Transcript [Pdf]
A transcript of National Security Decision Directive 172, issued by Reagan administration staffers in 1985. A formal statement of the administration's Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) two years into SDI's research and development. With...
PBS
Pbs: American Masters: George Lucas
Informative page on the life of "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," director, George Lucas.
Other
Symbaloo: Star Wars Reads Day (October 5)
This collection contains apps, books, videos and other resources for Star Wars Reads Day on October 5th.
Other
Arms Control Association: Book Review: Reagan's Secret War
A review of Reagan's Secret War: The Untold Story of His Fight to Save the World From Nuclear Disaster (Crown Publishers, 2009) rehearses most of the arguments critical of Reagan's foreign policy objectives and achievements, including...
Other
American Film Institute: Top Ten Science Fiction Films
Explore this top ten list of the greatest science fiction movies as picked by the results of a poll taken of leaders from the creative community. Number one is "2001: A Space Odyssey" which was released in 1968.
Other
Lib.ru: "Star Wars" in Russian
An online version of the wildly popular book "Star Wars" in Russian. ELL teachers might ask middle and high school level Russian-speaking students to translate passages into English. Students studying Russian will love learning Russian...
Other
Federation of American Scientists: Eliminating Threat From Ballistic Missiles
A transcript of National Security Decision Directive 85, issued by the Reagan administration in 1983, which formally declares the administration's intention to pursue the research and development of defensive systems-the Strategic...
Other
Ellsworth american.com: Antiballistic Missiles
The article on antiballistic missiles primarily only discusses how Congress has approved their development under Reagan's "Star Wars" plan.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: George Lucas: Star Wars Classroom Activity
Provides a brief classroom activity for students based on the Hero's Journey in Star Wars in commemoration of the birthday of George Lucas. Includes web links, a bibliography, and lesson plans. From ReadWriteThink's calendar on May 14,...
My Hero Project
My Hero: George Lucas
Creator of the Star Wars trilogy, George Lucas decided to become a filmmaker after a car wreck changed his mind about being a race car driver. Read about his education, his films, and the influence he has had on the film industry.
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Songwriters Hall of Fame: John Williams
John Williams has written many famous themes for many popular movies. Learn more about him and his music by reading a brief biography and viewing a short discography of his work.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra
Dallas Symphony Orchestra Kids: John Williams
If you have seen "Jaws," "ET-the Extraterrestrial," "Star Wars" trilogy and prequel, or "Indiana Jones," you have heard this composer's work. Read more about his life and work. Listen to his music using RealAudio or Windows Media Player.
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Cold War Events (1968 1991)
Contains interesting facts and key dates of the major Cold War events from 1968 - 1991.