PBS
Unions Today
Three scenarios that examine the role of unions in the fast-food industry and pro sports are used to launch a discussion of present-day union influence.
Penguin Books
Up Close: Ella Fitzgerald
A reading of Tanya Lee Stones' biography of Ella Fitzgerald lets middle schoolers get up close and personal with the First Lady of Jazz. Stone recounts details of Fitzgerald's life from her early days through her experiences as a teenage...
Jersey Heritage
A Victorian Christmas
In many ways, Victorian Christmas is alive and well today! Class members read an informative passage to learn more about traditional Christmas gifts, decorations, crackers, and visits from Santa Claus in nineteenth-century England—as...
ProCon
Voting Machines
Does technology always mean advancement? Scholars take a close look at the use of voting machines. Does using a machine make voting more effective? Readers consider the advantages and disadvantages of the current voting process. They...
Penn Museum
Africa
Mask wearing is not just for Halloween! This attractive and informative set of worksheets discusses this important African cultural tradition, as well as a variety of other significant cultural attributes to ancient civilizations, such...
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: May 4: Early Manhattan & Bird Day
Read about the early history of New York City and a special day in May called Bird Day. Page contains images and hyperlinks to other resources, such as historical maps and documents.
Library of Congress
Loc: Today in History: May 30: Memorial Day
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, was first officially observed on May 30, 1868 to honor soldiers who died in the Civil War. It is now celebrated on the last Monday in May and recognizes the efforts of all soldiers who died...
Chicago History Museum
Encyclopedia of Chicago: Haymarket and May Day
Read this historical account of the events that led to the infamous labor dispute known as the Haymarket Square Riots on May 4th of 1886.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of Natural History: American Mammals: Least Weasel
The smallest carnivores usually burn energy the fastest and have the most active lifestyles, so it is no surprise that the Least Weasel, the miniature among mustelids, consumes roughly half its body weight each day, equal to about two...
Other
Cinco De Mayo
A brief history of the Mexican defeat of the French army on May 5th, 1862, and the celebrations today to commemorate that day.