Kid-friendly Current Events Websites
News-O-Matic is an educational resource for students in grades K through 8. Every weekday, News-O-Matic publishes interactive daily news content that teaches children 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and global awareness. Thousands of schools incorporate News-O-Matic articles into their literacy, science, social studies, and social-emotional learning curricula. Contact your teacher for your login and password.
Teacher Selected Current Events
Teachers have selected these current events to supplement what is being learned during social studies. For these current events, they have also identified which SCH speech and follow-up questions the article pertains to.
FREE Electronic Resources Available with Howard County Library Card
- Howard County Library System: you will need a Howard County Library card to access the resources. To register for a Howard County Library Card visit: https://polaris.hclibrary.org/polaris/patronaccount/selfregister.aspx
- TumbleBookCloud Junior (enter library pin #, then search eBook collection)
With over 600 titles and reading levels from grades 3-8, TumbleBookCloud Junior is a great option for adventurous young readers who wish to go beyond the picture book collection in TumbleBook Library. TumbleBookCloud Junior contains early reader chapter books, children’s classics, graphic novels, children’s audiobooks, and National Geographic videos – many of which are paired with e-books – a perfect complement to support Common Core Curriculum. - TrueFlix (enter library pin #, then search eBook collection) http://hclibrary.org/research/remote-authentication/?resource=tlib\ Children who are proficient readers can watch a streaming video, read a nonfiction book, then further explore and research the subject matter through TrueFlix. TrueFlix also provides ideas and goals to assist beginning researchers with projects and homework assignments.
- BookFLIX – Stories for Children
BookFLIX pairs fiction video books with nonfiction Scholastic eBooks to build a love of reading, while reinforcing necessary skills. - PebbleGo
Designed for PreK through third grade students, PebbleGo features built-in reading and research tools expertly leveled for new readers. Audio supports navigation, and articles include narrated text, highlighting, audio, and video. Topics include Animals, Earth and Space, Biographies, and Social Studies.
- TumbleBookCloud Junior (enter library pin #, then search eBook collection)
Some of the other great and free resources available that will have current event topics and/or topics related to Grade 5 Social Studies that are likely to be kid friendly include:
Unit 2: Building a New Nation
How did the history and beliefs of the Framers influence the creation of the Constitution?
- Ideas Behind Basic Purposes of Government
- http://icivics.org
- William Bradford - Mayflower Compact
- John Locke - Social Contracts
- Thomas Hobbes - Natural Rights
- King George III - British Parliament
- Archbishop of Canterbury Stephen Langton - Magna Carta
- Molly Brant - Iroquois Indian Government
- Caesar Augustus - Roman Republic
- Montesquieu - Separation of Power
- Problems with The Articles of Confederation
- http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/weaknesses-of-the-articles-of-confederation-and-shays-rebellion.html#lesson
- Social Studies for Kids - http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/wwww/us/shayssrebelliondef.htm
- History.com - http://www.history.com/topics/shays-rebellion
- Background resources on the Articles of Confederation- http://loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/articles.html
- Online timeline - America’s Story from America’s Library found at: http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/revolut/jb_revolut_2ndcong_1.html
- “Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nlf07ZJuzjM
- Audio description of the Articles of Confederation: https://audioboom.com/boos/2661872-05-articles-of-confederation
- Belton, Blair. (2014). The Articles of Confederation - Documents That Shaped America. New York, NY: Gareth Stevens Publishing
- Isaacs, Sally Senzell. (2009) Understanding the Articles of Confederation. Crabtree Publishing. 978-0-7787-4377-4 (Media ISBN: 9780778743774)
- Sonneborn, Liz. (2013). Documenting U.S. History: The Articles of Confederation. Chicago: Heinemann Library. 978-1-4329-6738-1
- Conflicts and Compromise
- YouTube video, “Conflict and Compromise: The Constitutional Convention” at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbf23u6g1k8
- Jules, Jacqueline. (2009). Unite or Die - How Thirteen States Became a Nation. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. ISBN:9781580891905 (Electronic version is available through the Howard County Library in TumbleBooks- www.hclibrary.org (e-books for kids (near the bottom on the home page)
- Constitutional Convention Video- http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-constitutional-convention-the-great-compromise.html#lesson
- Compromise Role Play- About.com - http://esl.about.com/od/conversationlessonplans/fl/Compromise-Role-Play-Lesson.htm
- Branches of Government
- EDPuzzle on Organization of government: https://edpuzzle.com/media/5672ecae5d1f73ea287acc04
- Flocabulary - http://www.flocabulary.com/3-branches-of-government/
- Video: Three Branches of Government - “Checks and Balances”
- Supreme Court Justices Image
- Supreme Court Research Sites
- http://www.supremecourthistory.org/history-of-the-court/the-current-court/
- http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx
- worldbookonline.com (Username: howco Password: worldbook)
- http://discoverer.sirs.com (Customer Number: MD1570H Password: 21042)
- Executive and Legislative Branch Research Sites
- iCivics Teacher Account - https://www.icivics.org/
- A teacher account allows you full access to all of the iCivics resources contained on the site—including lesson plans and the Drafting Board tools, which cannot be viewed by students. Once you’ve signed up, you can establish virtual classrooms, send out assignments, track student progress, and manage class discussions.
- iCivics -
- “Three Branches” Webquest- https://www.icivics.org/node/617/resource
- Branches of Power game - https://www.icivics.org/games/branches-power
- Kids.gov-
- 3 branches overview: https://kids.usa.gov/three-branches-of-government/index.shtml (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- The election process for president: https://kids.usa.gov/president/index.shtml (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- Games about the government: https://kids.usa.gov/play-games/government/index.shtml (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- Controversy over the Bill of Rights
- Primary and Secondary sources representing the views of women, African Americans and yeoman: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/17ktPVlUG0U0kC7G7Sb2eS1l3eaPNQAi3 (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- Wixie - https://www.wixie.com/
- ThingLink - https://www.thinglink.com/
- Federalist and Antifederalist Research websites –
- Kahoot Quiz Federalist vs. Anti Federalist #1 (*copy and paste link to URL box): https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/e53f5d9c-394e-4b1f-a5a8-079607696224
- Kahoot Quiz Federalist vs. Anti Federalist #2 (*copy and paste link to URL box): https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/835a067e-6c2c-4a6b-afb3-fc69b3e805b3
Unit 3: Challenges of a New Nation
How did Marylanders meet the challenges of the 19th century that tested the new constitution?
- Federalism
- “iCivics Teacher User Guide” (Resource 1.p3.5)
- These step-by-step instructions will help you set up an account and use the newly redesigned iCivics site.
- iCivics Teacher Account -
- A teacher account allows you full access to all of the iCivics resources contained on the site—including lesson plans and the Drafting Board tools, which cannot be viewed by students. Once you’ve signed up, you can establish virtual classrooms, send out assignments, track student progress, and manage class discussions.
- iCivics -
- https://www.icivics.org/node/178818/resource
- “Who Represents Me?” WebQuest
- https://www.icivics.org/games/represent-me
- “Represent Me!” game
- Resources about Maryland State government:
- https://www.icivics.org/node/178818/resource
- “iCivics Teacher User Guide” (Resource 1.p3.5)
- Maryland's Government
- Flocabulary - http://www.flocabulary.com/3-branches-of-government/
- Three Branches of Government – “Checks and Balances” Video
- Three Branches of Government Research
- Executive – http://www.mdkidspage.org/Government.htm
- Legislative – http://www.mdkidspage.org/GovernmentLeg.htm
- Judicial – http://www.mdkidspage.org/GovernmentJud.htm
- iCivics- www.icivics.org
- YouTube – Schoolhouse Rock: America - I'm Just a Bill Music Video (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- School House Rock “I’m Just a Bill” video
- Maryland Government Information
- Flocabulary - http://www.flocabulary.com/3-branches-of-government/
- War of 1812
- Hold the Fort: Simulation of War of 1812. Students choose options for the battle game http://www.nps.gov/fomc/holdthefort/game.html
- Interactive Website that provides an overview of the War of 1812- War of 1812 Interactive Website
- http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/the-war-of-1812.aspx
- Overview of War of 1812: http://starspangled200.org/History/Pages/Welcome.aspx
- USS Constitution (games and fun facts on the USS Constitution, a ship from the War of 1812 that was nicknamed "Old Ironsides"): asailorslifeforme.org
- War of 1812 101: Contains an overview with links for more in depth study of the battles in the War of 1812: http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/warof1812/tp/war-of-1812-overview.htm
- The National Museum of American History's history of the Star Spangled Banner: http://americanhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner
- War of 1812 in Maryland: http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/chron/html/war1812.html
- War of 1812 in Maryland- Timeline of important events before and during the War of 1812.
- Minorities and the Constitution http://starspangled200.org/History/Pages/Timeline.aspx
- “Slave Narratives Video” (Resource 3.m2.1) Play media comment.
- “Investigate a Slavery Timeline”: http://mdroots.thinkport.org/interactives/slaverytimeline/intro.asp
- Legacy of Slavery in Maryland: Case Studies of different people in Maryland in the 1800s- http://slavery.msa.maryland.gov/html/casestudies/countycs.html
- Beneath the Underground: Short information on enslaved Africans, free Africans, slave owners, and non slave owners in Maryland in the 1800s http://slavery.msa.maryland.gov/html/antebellum/eaa.html
- Slave Interview Transcripts http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/snhtml/snvoices00.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- A description of how the New Deal employed white collar workers to interview and capture the stories of former slaves in the 1930s
- Maryland and the Civil War
- Frederick Douglass Biography
- http://www.biography.com/people/frederick-douglass-9278324#synopsis (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- A biography and video of Fredrick Douglass
- Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
- http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012400/012499/html/12499bio.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- A biography about Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a Maryland abolitionist
- Harriet Tubman (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- The Underground Railroad Escape From Slavery
- Following the Footsteps
- http://pathways.thinkport.org/following/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- An interactive website that puts students in a slave’s shoes and the students get to make key decisions for the slave that will determine that person’s fate.
- Interactive Timeline
- http://pathways.thinkport.org/figure/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- An interactive timeline about slavery in Maryland. Has question choices and allows students to shift between years to see different data through time.
- Frederick Douglass Biography
- http://www.biography.com/people/frederick-douglass-9278324#synopsis (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- A biography and video of Fredrick Douglass
- Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
- http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012400/012499/html/12499bio.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- A biography about Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, a Maryland abolitionist
- Harriet Tubman
- The Underground Railroad Escape From Slavery
- Following the Footsteps
- http://pathways.thinkport.org/following/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- An interactive website that puts students in a slave’s shoes and the students get to make key decisions for the slave that will determine that person’s fate.
- Interactive Timeline
- http://pathways.thinkport.org/figure/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
- An interactive timeline about slavery in Maryland. Has question choices and allows students to shift between years to see different data through time.
- Chapelle, Suzanne Ellery. (2010). The Maryland Adventure. Layton: Gibbs Smith. ISBN 9780879058968 (located in Grade 4)
- How Did Slaves Find a Route to Freedom? And Other Questions about the Underground Railroad by Laura Hamilton Waxman. Lerner (2011) ISBN: 978-0-7613-7129-8 – Level S, Lexile 800. (Located in Media Center: PROF 973.7 WAX)
- The Underground Railroad: An Interactive History by Allison Lassieur. Capstone Press (2008). ISBN: 978-1-4296-1183-1 –Lexile 620 (Located in Media Centers: 973.7 LAS)
- Sweet Clara and the Freedom Quilt by Deborah Hopkinson. DragonFly Books. ISBN# 9780679874720. Lexile: AD680L. (Located in Media: E HOP)
- Barefoot: Escape on the Underground Railroad. Pamela Duncan Edwards. ISBN# 9781433305467. Lexile Level: 640L. (Located in Media: E EDW)
- Frederick Douglas: In His Own Words. ISBN# 978-0152294922. (Located in Media: 921 DOU)
- The Cost of Freedom by Joanne Mattern. Rosen Publishing Group. ISBN# 978-0823942418. (Located in Media Centers: PROF 973.3 MAT)
- Life Stories: Harriet Tubman by Gillian Gosman. Rosen PowerKids. ISBN# 978-1448827619 (Located in Media: 921 TUB)
- Minty: A Story of Young Harriet Tubman by Alan Schroeder, Jerry Pinkney (Illustrator)
Ben's Guide to the U.S. Government
Explanation of federal versus state governments
How a Bill Becomes a Law in the MD General Assembly
Describes the process for a bill to become a MD state law
Unit 4: We the People
How can you be a responsible citizen?
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Baxter, R. (2012). The Bill of Rights. Documenting U.S. history. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library. ISBN: 9781432967604
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Catrow, D. (2005). We the kids: The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States. New York, NY: Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780142402764
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Dalrymple, L. (2014). Be the change in the world. New York, NY: Crabtree Publishing. ISBN: 9780778706342
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Deedy, C.A. (2016). 14 cows for America. Atlanta, GA: Peachtree Publishers. ISBN: 9781561459612
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Fritz, J., & dePaola, T. (1997). Shh! We’re writing the Constitution. New York, NY: Puffin Books. ISBN: 9780698116245
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Grodin, E., & Juhasz, V. (2006). D is for democracy: A citizen’s alphabet. Ann Arbor, MI: Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN: 9781585363285
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Hoose, P. (2002). It’s our world, too!: Young people who are making a difference: How they do it – how you can, too!. New York, NY: Square Fish. ISBN: 9780374336226
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Maestro, B. (2008). A more perfect union: The story of our constitution. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN: 9780688101923
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Sonneborn, L. (2012). The United States Constitution. Documenting U.S. history. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library. ISBN: 9781432967611
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Sundem, G. (2010). Real kids, real stories, real change: Courageous actions around the world. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing. ISBN: 9781575423500
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Travis, C. (2012). Constitution translated for kids. Austin, TX: Synergy Books. ISBN: 9781478273509
- We the People-The Citizens and the Constitution, Center for Civic Education, California
Additional Social Studies Resources
- http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/american-revolution-historyLinks to an external site. (Brief history of the American Revolution)
- Activities and conversation starters to help your children develop money skills, habits, and attitudes that can serve them well as adults http://www.consumerfinance.gov/money-as-you-grow/Links to an external site.
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books For Young People http://www.socialstudies.org/notableLinks to an external site.
- College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies State: http://www.socialstudies.org/c3Links to an external site.
- CIA Factbook:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/Links to an external site.
- UNESCO world heritage site: http://whc.unesco.org/Links to an external site.
- Smithsonian Family Visitation Guide: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/families/family_visit/index.htmlLinks to an external site.