Teaching
History Online
Number
23: 23rd December, 2001
Introduction
1.
History
of Christmas
2.
The
History Guide
3.
Burning
of the Reichstag
4.
Alabama
State Black Archives
5.
Canadian
Military Heritage Project
6.
Battle of Britain
7.
America
1900
8.
Afro-American
Almanac
Introduction
Spartacus Educational
publishes Teaching
History Online
every week. The newsletter includes news, reviews of websites and
articles on using ICT in the history classroom. Members of the mailing
list are invited to submit information for inclusion in future editions
of Teaching
History Online. In this way we hope to create
a community of people involved in using the Internet to teach history.
Currently there are 17,043 subscribers to the newsletter.
John Simkin
spartacus@pavilion.co.uk
History
of Christmas: Marshall Brain's brilliant website How Stuff works
has a new section on Christmas. Questions answered includes What is
Christmas? Why is Christmas such a big deal? Why do people give each
other presents on Christmas day? Is December 25 really the day Jesus
was born? Why is there a small evergreen tree in your living room?
Why have you decorated this evergreen with ornaments, lights, fake
snow and Mylar plastic tinsel? Why do you have holly draped over the
mantel and staircase? Why is mistletoe hanging over the front door?
And what about this nativity scene in the corner? Why is there a big
log in the fireplace? Why are there oversized socks hanging on your
mantel? Why are Christmas cards scattered all over the coffee table?
Why do I keep hearing the same songs over and over again? What, exactly,
are the 12 days of Christmas? Why do Christmas carolers walk around
the neighborhood singing? Why is the day before Christmas, Christmas
Eve, celebrated? Who is this Santa Claus person?
What's with this reindeer named Rudolf?
The
History Guide:
Steven Kries has created this website for the high school and undergraduate
student who is either taking classes in history, or who intends to
major in history in college. The purpose of he History Guide is to
prepare students for their history classes and to make their time
in class more enjoyable and proficient. The History Guide contains
more than seventy lectures in European history from ancient Sumer
to the fall of Soviet-style communism in 1989.
Burning
of the Reichstag:
4Learning History Quest has produced a series of interactive history
games. On the website the games are organized in four different categories.
Timeline - Work out the order of events. What Happened Next? - Implications
and consequences. Odd One Out - Who or what doesn't ring true? Behind
the Headlines - Can you believe everything you read in the papers?
In the implications and consequences category there are several games
including the Burning of the Reichstag - Hitler blames fire on Communists,
Nazis Attempt to Overthrow Government - Hitler's plan to kidnap German
politicians, German Defeat at Stalingrad - Field Marshall Paulus'
surrender at Stalingrad and Going Over the Top - Infantry's experience
of trench warfare.
Alabama
State Black Archives: The primary purpose of the State Black Archives,
Research Center & Museum is to create a repository of source materials
on African American history and culture. Its mission is three-fold:
(a) As an archive, to obtain, preserve and hold materials on African
American history and culture related to their achievement and general
experience; (b) As a research center, to make such materials on African
American history and culture available to scholars and others who
seek materials for educational and cultural purposes; (c) As a museum,
to display materials on African Americans in such a manner as to enhance
the general public awareness about African American history and culture.
The general goals are to encourage greater awareness of the achievements
and contributions of African Americans and the role they have played
in American society and the world, and to provide a better basis for
understanding racial and cultural differences.
Canadian
Military Heritage Project: This website is dedicated to presenting
Canadian military history - the wars, uprisings and conflicts in which
Canadians participated. The goal of the project is to preserve the
records and memories of Canadians who served their country, and to
ensure that their sacrifices are not forgotten. The website provides
historical background for each conflict, chronological timelines,
statistics, battles, weaponry, uniforms & equipment, famous Canadians,
biographies of soldiers, heroes and their stories, contributions of
women, other countries who participated, muster rolls for conflicts
before 1900, letters from soldiers at the front, music and poetry,
guest authors' submissions and links to other online resources.
Battle
of Britain: This
is probably the most comprehensive website available on the Internet
on the Battle of Britain. It includes a detailed account of every
days events from July 10th 1940 through to October 31st 1940, the
official period set down for the Battle of Britain. Included in this
account, are all the days events, weather conditions, the times of
enemy detection by radar and combat actions, quotations given by many
that took part, and historical accounts provided by many historians
and a full listing of all the R.A.F casualties for each day. The website
also has a Bulletin Board where you may post messages and ask questions.
America
1900: Another wonderful website from the PBS organization. America
1900 presents a comprehensive picture of what life was like in the
United States at the turn of the century. The website site provides
images, information, and documents about 1900. Events covered include
African American Higher Education, African American Military Service,
The Boxer Rebellion, The Fight for Women's Suffrage, The Galveston
Hurricane, The General Allotment Act, Mining Disaster in Scofield,
Rise of Anarchism, The Sapho Affair and War in the Philippines.
Afro-American
Almanac: This website is an on-line presentation of the African
in America. A historical perspective of a nation, its people, and
its cultural evolution. From the beginning of the slave trade through
the Civil Rights movement, to the present. Sections include Biographies,
Historical Documents, Historical Events, Folk Tales, Links, Afro-Voices
and Issues in the News.
Please email John Simkin at spartacus@pavilion.co.uk
if you have information you want included in next month's edition
of Teaching
History Online.
