Homework Links: Social Studies

For sites addressing specific social problems or current events and issues, see our
CURRENT EVENTS, ISSUES & CONTROVERSIES page

Allies and Aliens - 'It's 3065 and Earth needs you for an important mission. Do you have what it takes to help Earth make the right decision? Enter the world of Allies and Aliens and you'll find out!' Allies and Aliens is a fun way to learn about bias, stereotyping, misinformation and propaganda techniques found on the Internet and in other media. Middle school. (Media Awareness Network)

Amazing Kids! - Stories of kids who are accomplishing amazing things in education, arts, science, athletics, and community service. New stories featured monthly. Now includes an online magazine with fiction, poetry, reviews, and articles about life in different parts of the world. Site does not display correctly in Internet Explorer 6. (Non-profit organization)

American Life - A collection of articles, multimedia, and other resources exploring diverse aspects of U.S. life and culture. (U.S. State Department)

Choices - Materials and ideas to help students and teachers explore the policy issues behind the news headlines of the day. High school; free registration required. (Brown University)

Congressional Award - 'The Congressional Award is a fun and interesting way to get more involved in something you already enjoy or something you would like to try for the first time. To earn the Award, you set goals in four Program Areas: volunteer public service, personal development, physical fitness, and expedition / exploration.' The program is open to all 14- to 23-year-olds, and is non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive. (Congressional Award Foundation)

Critical Thinking Web - Online tutorials, quiz, and other materials will help you understand what critical thinking is, why it is important, and how to develop your critical thinking skills (University of Hong Kong). See also Logic and Argument (University of Victoria), Mission Critical (San Jose State University), and Top 20 Logical Fallacies (New England Skeptical Society; commercial site). High school and up.

Current Events from Holt McDougal - Short articles on current events and issues, with links to related information, plus a daily quiz, calendar of events, 'Today in History' and other features. For grades 6 - 12. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company)

Debating Skills - This series of video lectures teaches you how to 'develop strong ideas, to present them effectively, to defend them skillfully, and to critically analyze opposing ideas'. High school and up. (University of Vermont)

Dictionary of the History of Ideas [UPDATED LINK!] - Four-volume e-text on selected central ideas in the history of western intellectual thought, covering topics such as nature, human nature, literature and the arts, history, economics, law, politics, religion, philosophy, and mathematics. You can browse the text alphabetically or by subject, or search by keyword; high school and up. (University of Virginia)

Dilemma Database - When faced with tough choices, what should you do? This website presents a variety of real-life ethical dilemmas in situations from the business world, education, and family life, encouraging you to think for yourself about how you might resolve them (Institute for Global Ethics). For related resources, see Applied Ethics (Santa Clara University), high school and up; and Upfront Ethics new , middle school and up (New York Times and Scholastic, Inc.).

Encyclopedia of Philosophy - In-depth articles on philosophy and philosophers, arranged A to Z. High school and up (Stanford University). Philosopher Timeline is a chronological list of important philosophers with a one or two sentence summary of the work of each, plus additional information on 20 great philosophers (BBC).

Frontline - Online documentaries and related background materials explore and illuminate 'the tough, controversial, and complex issues that shape our times.' Includes video and audio podcasts. High school and up. (PBS).

Game Theory - Clearinghouse for educational materials on Game Theory, the study of how people interact and make decisions. 'Students may gain greater familiarity with the theory by browsing lecture notes, text books, a glossary of terms, or online evaluation aids. Then, see how the theory can be applied to games, business, and life.' High school and up. (By Mike Shor, Assistant Professor of Economics at Vanderbilt University)

Glencoe Social Studies - Online learning center for New Jersey middle school and high school students, covering U.S. history, world history, world geography & cultures, government & civics, and other social studies topics. Also includes a separate section for teachers. (Glencoe McGraw-Hill)

Global Café - Learn about the life of teens in developing countries. High school. (PBS)

Good Manners - Basic lessons explain the reasons for practicing good manners, and teach you what good manners look like at home, at school, at the table, on the phone, etc. For elementary and middle school students. (Children, Youth & Women's Health Service, Government of South Australia). See also Emily Post Institute; all ages. Choose an age group from the left sidebar menu, or choose a subject from the tabs at the top.

Greater Good Science Center - An interdisciplinary research center devoted to the scientific understanding of happy and compassionate individuals, strong social bonds, and altruistic behavior. Includes an online magazine. High school and up. (University of California)

High School Journalism - A variety of resources for journalism students (and teachers), including links to useful sites, information on awards and scholarships, student opinions, skills test, and advice from professional journalists, as well as a weekly collection of stories from high school newspapers around the U.S. (American Society of Newspaper Editors). See also Poynter's High School Journalism Guide (Poynter Institute, a journalism school). The American Press Institute (another journalism school) offers links to many additional resources for high school journalism. The Student Press Law Center is another useful site for student journalists (non-profit organization).

Hot Topics - Links to information on controversial issues from affirmative action to welfare reform (St. Ambrose University). Ethics Updates offers links to articles, surveys, court cases, multimedia, and other resources on issues such as abortion, animal rights, the death penalty, sexual orientation, and torture (University of San Diego). Political Advocacy Groups provides links to education and advocacy groups from both sides of a variety of issues (Washington State University). High school and up.

Justice Learning - Articles, editorials, and audio recordings teach you about reasoned debate and the often-conflicting values inherent in our democracy. All material is supported by age-appropriate summaries and additional links. For high school students. (Justice Talking and The New York Times Learning Network)

Kids' Vid - Lessons and tools for scripting, making, editing, and showing videos in the classroom; middle school and up (High Plains Regional Technology in Education Consortium).

Landmark Supreme Court Cases - Summaries, excerpts, and analyses of major US Supreme Court cases such as Dred Scott, Miranda, and Brown v. Board of Education. Includes interactive activities. High school and up. (Supreme Court Historical Society, Street Law and Glencoe Social Studies)

Meaning of Food - An exploration of culture through food: the significance of what we consume, how we acquire it, who prepares it, who's at the table, and who eats first (PBS; commercial site). Another food-related site is Seeds of Trade [UPDATED LINK!], a searchable virtual book on the cultivation of plants, their history, uses, and impacts on our society. (Natural History Museum, London)

Media Literacy Online - Links to media education organization websites, mostly for teachers (University of Oregon). Find more media literacy resources at Teen Health & the Media (University of Washington).

Merchants of Cool - A report on the creators and marketers of popular culture for teenagers. If you have a broadband internet connection, you can watch the entire TV program online. (PBS)

Mind Your Own Business - Helps you explore the challenges and rewards of being an entrepreneur, by walking you through five easy steps of setting up and operating a business. Includes teen business links and stories of teen entrepreneurs. (U.S. Small Business Administration & Junior Achievement)

National Geographic Homework Help - Movies, articles, interactive presentations, and links on nature, animals, geography, history and culture. Slow loading; best with a high-speed internet connection. Middle school and up. See also National Geographic Explorer for grades 2-6. National Geographic also offers My Wonderful World a fun geography site for kids & teens, with games, quizzes, interactive adventures, links, and more. (Commercial sites, flash ads)

New York Times Upfront - News articles, features, debates on hot issues, and more; for middle school and up (New York Times and Scholastic, Inc.). See also Scholastic News new (grades 3-8; commercial site), Scholastic Kids Press Corps new (for elementary & middle school; commercial site), Time Magazine for Kids (grades K-6; commercial site), and Teaching with the News, for high school teachers & students; free registration required (Brown University).

Oxfam's Cool Planet - Introduces you to the history, geography, environment, people and society of more than a dozen countries, including Afghanistan, Bolivia, Ghana, India, and Viet Nam. Also provides a map and basic data for each country. Cool Planet's Wake Up World interactive stories show a typical 'day in the life' of children from Ghana, Brazil, Russia, and India; middle school and up. (Oxfam GB)

Power of Place: Geography for the 21st Century - A video instructional series designed to teach students about the physical, human, political, historical, economic, and cultural factors that affect people and natural environments. Features case studies from 50 sites in 36 countries, with interviews, maps, animations, video footage, graphics, and academic commentary. High school and up. Free registration is required to view the videos. (Annenberg Media)

ProPublica - Investigave reports on a variety of current issues, including the economic stimulus package & bailouts, health care reform, Guantanamo detainees, natural gas drilling, and more. High school and up. (Independent, non-profit organization)

Psychology Lectures - A library of academic lectures on video which explore various topics relating to psychology, such as 'How Group Stereotypes Affect our Lives' and 'Psychology of Evil, Politics of Fear'. High school and up (Smithsonian / Stanford University). For an online college-level psychology textbook, see Psychology: An Introduction (by Russell A. Dewey, Ph.D, Georgia Southern University Psychology professor; personal / commercial site). For definitions of terms, concepts and theories related to psychology and mental health, see Psychology Dictionary & Glossary for students ; high school and up (ITS Tutorial School, Hong Kong).

Public Agenda Online - Choose an issue from the drop-down menu under 'Issue Guides' for an in-depth analysis including facts, policy alternatives, public opinion, and the latest news. Covers abortion, environment, immigration, poverty, health care, and many other current issues. (A non-partisan public opinion research and education group)

Pulse of the Planet - A collection of two-minute sound portraits of Planet Earth, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide and blending interviews and extraordinary natural sound.

Reel Action: Teen Media - Resources and opportunities for young people involved in TV, radio, newspapers, film, and other media production all over the world. Links to classes & workshops, production tips, news, youth film festivals, and hands-on facilities for teen media (Proscenia Interactive, an association of independent producers). See also Training in Multimedia Reporting (University of California).

Responsibility Project - A collection of short films and other resources exploring 'what it means to do the right thing.' Website may be slow to load and navigate. Middle school and up.(Liberty Mutual).

Service Learning Primer - A guide to the whys and hows of doing a community service project. Aimed at teachers, but material will also be useful to students planning a service project. Includes dozens of examples of projects for elementary through high school (Live Wire Media, educational media producer). Links to Service Learning Resources for Kids & Teens (online project ideas and recommended reading) are available from the National Service-Learning Clearinghouse; separate sections for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Social Psychology Network - Thousands of links related to psychology. You can search by keyword, or browse links by topic. High school and up. (By psychology professor Scott Plous, Wesleyan University)

Social Science Glossary - Brief definitions of terms, arranged A to Z. High school and up. (By sociology professor Frank Elwell, Rogers State University)

Social Studies Links - A directory of recommended websites on career exploration, civics and government, economics, geography, history, and other social studies topics. Mostly for teachers (PBS Teacher Source). Federal Resources for Social Studies offers links to a wide variety of learning resources on topics related to social studies, from many different government agencies. Arranged by subject. For grades K-12; age level varies for specific resources. History / Social Science Resources has thousands of annotated links to social science resources for elementary through high school, searchable by keyword or grade level; for students and teachers. (SCORE H/SS: Schools of California Online Resources for Education, History/Social Science)

Social Theorists - Bibliographies, PowerPoint lectures, links to primary sources and other materials on eight classical social theorists: T. Robert Malthus, Auguste Comte, Karl Marx, Herbert Spencer, Thorstein Veblen, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and W. E. B. Dubois. There is also a related page on dozens of Modern Social Theorists. College or advanced high school students. (By sociology professor Frank Elwell, Rogers State University)

This I Believe - 'Americans from all walks of life share the personal philosophies and core values that guide their daily lives.' (NPR). Story Corps is a growing oral history archive of everyday Americans, interviews by a friend, neighbor, or family member — 'a WPA for the 21st Century.' (Sound Portrait Productions, with NPR and Library of Congress).

Unicef Radio audio - Audio reports and in-depth programs on the world's children, advocating for the protection of children's rights, and promoting the equal rights of women and girls. Created for journalists; suitable for older students. (United Nations)

Walk in My Shoes - Activities designed to help you understand what it feels like to grow older, what happens to our bodies as we age, and what is true and not true about aging and older people. (University of Illinois Extension)

Youthink! (But Do You Know?) - Information about critical global issues such as AIDS/HIV, conflict, environment, trade, and others. Includes complementary multimedia and stories. High school and up (World Bank). See also United Nations CyberSchoolbus .