Social Studies Fact Cards

• Social Studies Fact Cards access from outside a library branch or in-library use.
  A wide selection of important information on California, U.S., and World History helpful for completing homework assignments.

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Age of Exploration

• Discovering the Americas
  http://library.thinkquest.org/C001692/english/index.php3?subject=home
  Biographies and information on Christopher Columbus, Lewis and Clark, and other explorers of America.
• Explorers of the World
  http://www.bham.wednet.edu/BIO/explore.htm
  This site provides information on explorers of land, sky, art, and ideas.

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American History

• 13 Originals
  http://www.timepage.org/spl/13colony.html
  Short summaries of the founding and expansion of the original thirteen colonies. An animation of the boundaries of the contiguous United States from 1650 to the present is included.
• America's Story
  http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi
  " Jump Back in Time" to learn about all periods of American History, including the Colonial and Revolutionary Periods, Westward Expansion, and the Civil War.
• Biographies
  http://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/B/
  Historical people related to American History.
• Museum of Westward Expansion
  http://www.nps.gov/jeff/tour_content.html
  The history of the American West, from the Louisiana Purchase to the closing of the frontier in 1890. Narratives, audio clips, and more.
• Separate is Not Equal: Brown v. Board of Education
  http://americanhistory.si.edu/brown/
  This site traces the history of segregation, the battle for education, and the events leading up to the historic decision.
• The Underground Railroad
  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/99/railroad/index.html
  Learn how escaped African slaves in the U.S. reached freedom safely. Includes maps of escape routes, a timeline of slavery, and information on abolitionists and civil rights leaders.
• With an Even Hand: Brown v. Board at Fifty
  http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/brown/
  Library of Congress exhibition on the struggle for racial desegregation in the US over the past 50 years.

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Ancient Civilizations

• Ancient Africa
  http://www.mrdowling.com/609ancafr.html
  Lots of information about Ancient Africa, including special sections on the Nok, the Phoenicians and Carthage, trade in Ancient Africa, Ghana, Sundiata, Mansa Musa, Timbuktu, and Zimbabwe.
• Ancient China
  http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/menu.html
  From the British Museum: info on crafts and artisans, tombs and ancestors, writing, the geography of Ancient China.
• Ancient Egypt
  http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/menu.html
  The British Museum has created a website dealing with many areas of study of Ancient Egypt, such as Egyptian life, geography, pyramids, and more.
• Ancient India
  http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/
  From the British Museum: information about the geography, religion, writing, and civilization of Ancient India.
• Ancient Mesopotamia: The Fertile Crescent
  http://www.mrdowling.com/603mesopotamia.html
  Facts about Mesopotamia. Discusses the development of writing, creation of civilization, Hammurabi's Code, and the Assyrians and Sumerians. Lots of links to further information.
• At the Tomb of Tutankhamen
  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/egypt/index.html
  National Geographic's interactive link takes you to the unearthing of the boy pharaoh's tomb in 1923.
• Daily Life in Ancient Civilizations
  http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/indexlife.html
  Provides basic information and links for the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, and China, with an additional section on Early Man. Also has wonderful links to more information on each area.
• Egypt’s Golden Empire
  http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt
  Interactive site exploring the Egyptian experience including life as an ancient Egyptian. Timeline, hieroglyphic translator, and interactive maps are included.
• Mummies of Ancient Egypt
  http://www.si.umich.edu/CHICO/mummy/
  Describes what mummies are, how they were made, who they were and more.
• Mysteries of the Nile
  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/egypt/
  Photo-journey through the pyramids, temples, and other architecture of Ancient Egypt.
• Tutankhamen and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs
  http://www.kingtut.org/education.htm
  Information on Egyptian religion, the Valley of the Kings, King Tut, the curse of the tombs, and more.
• Voyage Back in Time: Ancient Greece and Rome
  http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/greecerome/
  This site introduces students to the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome and includes information on government, agriculture, architecture, music, sports, and more.

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Cultures and Communities

• Bowers Kidseum
  http://www.bowers.org/kidseum/kidseum.asp
  Kidseum is more than an exhibit; it allows kids to have hands on experience with world cultures.
• The Food Timeline
  http://www.foodtimeline.org/index.html
  The history of food through the ages, from prehistory up to the present.
• Holidays Around the World
  http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/holidays.htm
  Traditions, activities, history, and holiday crafts are offered for over 15 major holidays.
• IPL Culture Quest
  http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/cquest/
  Join Olivia Owl & Parsifal Penguin on their worldwide tour! Full of arts, crafts and history, hear the folktales and learn about the holidays & festivals of many of the world's cultures.

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First Peoples

• First Americans
  http://www.ic.arizona.edu/ic/kmartin/School/
  Information about the Dine, Muscogee, Tlingit, Lakota, and Iroquois tribes, including their history, culture, and activities.
• Journey to a New Land
  http://www.sfu.museum/journey/en/03middle/index.php
  Learn about the people who first arrived in America 12,000 years ago. Includes videos, photos, games, and timelines.
• Pre-Columbian Culture
  http://mexico.udg.mx/historia/precolombinas/ingles/
  This site covers the civilizations of the Aztecs, Mayans, and Olmecs.

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Geography

• Maps and Geography
  http://www.nationalgeographic.com/maps/index.html
  A comprehensive location for maps from National Geographic.
• Test Your Geography Knowledge
  http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/
  Learn the states, continents, and oceans with interactive quizzes.

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States and Countries

• Culture Grams access from outside a library branch or in-library use.
  Up-to-date information on countries and states, including statistics, flags, maps, currency, common greetings and phrases, and much more. Each entry has a photo gallery, biographies of famous people, and recipes.
• 50 States of the United States
  http://www.50states.com/
  For each of the 50 states there is a map, and all the basic information you need to know.
• Background Notes
  http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/
  Information on countries from the U.S. Department of State.
• Fact Monster: The Fifty States
  http://factmonster.com/states.html
  Quick facts about the states. State symbols, government representatives, history, cities, and famous people from the state.
• Flags of the World
  http://fotw.fivestarflags.com/
  View more than 48,000 images of flags from around the world. Includes coloring pages.
• The Internet Public Library Stately Knowledge
  http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/stateknow/
  Find out the basic facts of any state in the Union.
• The World Factbook
  http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
  Country facts from the CIA.

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United States Government

• American President
  http://www.americanpresident.org
  Profiles of all U.S. presidents. Includes personal facts and brief biographies.
• Ben's Guide to U.S. Government
  http://bensguide.gpo.gov/
  This site contains all kinds of information on our federal government.
• POTUS-Presidents of the United States
  http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/
  This site includes background information, election results, cabinet members, notable events, and some points of interest on each of the presidents. Links to biographies, historical documents, audio and video files, and other presidential sites are also included.
• The White House First Ladies’ Gallery
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies
  Brief biographies of the current and past First Ladies.
• The White House Site for Kids
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/
  Fun facts about the President, Vice President, First Lady, a White House tour, White House ABCs, and more.
• The White House for Kids—The Presidents
  http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/presidents/
  Biographies of all 43 American presidents.