Lesson Plans
This has some real potential, but it is only a limited free offer. So go in and take what you need, but your visits will be limited.

This Day in US History Video
So many teachers buy books that give a short update of what happened "on this day in US history." Well here is a site that gives a short video (which I found on FreeTech4Teachers.com). So now you can just show this each day! You can also subscribe to a free newsletter if you want more details.

Fireside Chats
If you want to hear FDR's fireside chats go to one here. But above is one that was filmed and has him discussing the Great Depression. I found this gem on the Social Studies and History Teachers Blog which has a lot of video.

In April, I ran a post on Snagfilms which allows you to take parts of films and "snag" a section of it to show in class - rather than the entire thing. I just received this e-mail from them

I wanted to let you know that we are doing a 50-State Giveaway of this collection (click on the link to apply)—one in every state—and we’re strongly encouraging K-12 schools / libraries to apply. Teachers can apply on behalf of their school library. Applications are due by July 4th, 2009. The application form is here: http://alexanderstreet.com/50states.htm

In exchange for the free year of access, schools will be asked to serve on our 50-State Advisory Board and give us 15 minutes of feedback 3 times during the year of their access. You can learn more about this collection and the Advisory Board at the link above.!

Seven Stories You Didn't Teach!
I'm not sure most of them rate w. the time we have to teach, but a few are pretty interesting. For example, a number of women were in the Civil War as men, Paul Revere's grandson fought, Dixie was a northern tune and most of you probably teach that Lincoln was willing to do anything to save the Union even have separate areas for African-Americans and whites. More

Fun Flappers Video

Links to Build A US History Course
This teacher's site has 4-5 links for every unit in US history. Ms. Blank has down a tremendous job starting with Colonization, expansion, the Civil War and well you get the picture. The best part is that if you take this unit by unit it is not overwhelming, but has items such as pictures, audio, articles, images and many very appropriate items for each unit.

Guns, Germs and Steel
Of course, this is the Pulitizer winning book and here is the complete movie. Above is the first installment. This came from one of the comments I received on the blog, so if you have a good site, please leave give it to me so I can share it.

Online Text, Review, Tests and More
Occasionally people find this site using Google.com searches and this helps me find new sites such as this one. It the Princeton Review "Cracking the AP US History Exam." It almost makes one wonder what is left in the book. First off it has practically and entire textbook here. They call it an outline, but if the kids know everything in this outline, they will do fine on the AP exam. Secondly there are timelines, lengthy practice tests, important historical documents, topic outlines, vocabulary words and their definitions and again, why buy their book - just go to the site.

We Didn't Start the Fire
Here is Billy Joel's song which I featured on April 17th, but in this version there are pictures and video of the people/events mentioned in the song.

Another Snagfilm - on Pearl Harbor
From the movie tag: Explore the real stories, real heroes, real places, and real action underlying the Touchstone Pictures release Pearl Harbor. Did the characters portrayed in the feature film really exist? How did the moviemakers decide when to use real events and when to foray into fiction? National Geographic documents how real life history and fiction came together to make a fascinating story. Spellbinding scenes from the film are juxtaposed with authentic combat footage and insights from historians, combat veterans, top-ranking military personnel, and the film’s all-star cast and crew. This film is 60 minutes and again might be a good post state exam movie if you have the time.

A Blog Divided
This is a site that has everything on the period 1840-1880. It includes such links as a link to online resources for Antietam, links to free online Yale Univ. courses on the Civil War, primary resources, articles and much much more on the period.

Debating History

If you're looking for an end of year activity (aside from showing movies) or an enrichment activity, here's a great article from the Washington Post. It could make for a great class debate over how to recognize even the not-so-nice parts of our history.

Obama and the Confederacy

FDR's Fireside Chats

You can find these on a few sites, but this site has a lot of other resources for other presidents as well. You can compare them with the Youtube.com versions by Obama which are here.

PowerPoints
I have already mentioned PowerPointPalooza, but here is a site which has all of those PowerPoints as well as John Billett's as well. Both are rich in pictures and best used for AP US. Go here to see them both on one page.