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Social Studies Interactives
Ever wish your Social Studies classroom could be more interactive? Good news! Thinkfinity offers some of the best interactive games and websites that are specifically designed for the Social Studies curriculum. The interactives are brought to you by some of the best names in education such as the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, National Endowment for the Humanities and Council for Economic Education.
Recommendations from Thinkfinity
- Explore the Interactive Star-Spangled Banner with students in grades K-12 and discover how the flag inspired the National Anthem.
- Help build Xerxes’ The Bridge Over the Hellespont with students in grades 9-12.
- Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in November.
- Finally, use the Compound Interest Calculator with grade 6-12 students to see how money can grow over time.
Are you part of the Thinkfinity Community? Join the Community to find out what educators are discussing! You can join the History Explorers group and explore the discussion Fun Facts and Questions about the National Museum of American History .
Interactives
The Bridge Over the Hellespont
EDSITEment | Interactive | 9-12
Help build Xerxes’ bridge over the Hellespont.
Compound Interest Calculator
EconEdLink | Interactive | 6-12
Students can use the Compound Interest Calculator to visually show the dramatic impact that compounding can have on investments. Adjust the monthly savings, interest rate and starting age to see how money can grow over time.
Drive Through Time
History Explorer | Interactive | 5-8
Students use a virtual time machine to explore modes of transportation during four different eras and create a photo album of their trip using period photographs. This interactive is included in the online exhibition entitled America on the Move, which focuses on transportation in US history.
EDSITEment Launch Pad: The Economics of Leisure
EDSITEment | Interactive Collection | 6-12
A variety of interactives to explore the economic side of leisure.
Fall River Line Interactive
EDSITEment | Interactive | 6-8
Navigate the boat down the river based on the history of the Fall River Line.
From Courage to Freedom
EDSITEment | Interactive | 9-12
Students read Chapter nine from Frederick Douglass’s autobiography about how religion was used to defend slavery.
Gen I Revolution - Mission 1: Building Wealth Over the Long Term
EconEdLink | Interactive | 6-12
Learn more about personal finance with 15 missions in Gen I Revolution.
Interactive Star-Spangled Banner
History Explorer | Interactive | K-12
Explore features of the Star-Spangled Banner using this interactive flag included in the online exhibition entitled The Star-Spangled Banner: The Flag that Inspired the National Anthem.
Making Sen$e with Paul Solman
EconEdLink | Interactive | 9-12
Students review online discussion questions after viewing the video that shows parallels between Greece’s crushing economic problems and its departure from its simple, humble culinary roots.
The Object of History
History Explorer | Interactive | 9-12
This resource includes an introductory essay entitled Looking at Artifacts, Thinking about History, six sections that each focus on an object from the collections of the National Museum of American History, an archive of curator commentary, and an online tool with which students can create virtual exhibits based on the following objects: Thomas Jefferson's desk, the gold nugget that launched the Gold Rush, Mary Todd Lincoln's dress, a voting machine, a short-handled hoe from the Braceros migrant worker program, and a segment of the lunch counter from the sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Power Up!
Science NetLinks | Interactive Tool | 3-8
This interactive puts students in charge of powering a city, which necessitates balancing cost, output, and environmental impact.
Slavery’s Dehumanizing Effects
EDSITEment | Interactive | 9-12
Students read Chapter six from Frederick Douglass’s autobiography about the effects of slavery on the master and slave and then use the interactive assessment tool.
Slush Rush
Science NetLinks | Interactive | 3-8
In this interactive, students explore the economics of a small business as they try to make a profit by selling slushies designed to satisfy a spaceship’s worth of alien customers.
Van Valen’s Gold Rush Journey
History Explorer | Interactive | Grade: 6-12
Investigate the authentic journal of Alex Van Valen, a man who set sail in 1849 to stake his claim in the California gold fields, to discover what life was like during the gold rush. This interactive includes student questions to help guide research, rich primary sources, images of artifacts and background information.
Who Am I? A History Mystery
History Explorer | Interactive | 5-12
Students select a mystery character from the Civil War and examine objects that hold the key to their identity, video footage, first person reenactments, oral history interviews, and lesson plans. This resource was developed in conjunction with the exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War.
You’re Going to College
EconEdLink | Interactive | 6-12
This game-based interactive gives students the chance to learn about costs and benefits, the cost of college and potential lifetime earnings.
