| |
REVIEW:
Anyone with an interest in American History will find a wealth of materials here to whet their appetite, but it is especially a rich resource for teachers and students. The Online Collection contains 1800 artifacts and documents from the museum's collection. The interpretive text for each article is written in both beginner and advanced language, and it includes embedded links to the glossary, a link to more detailed information, and an option for a closer look or for viewing the object beside another object in the collection. Students or teachers can create their own collections by using the convenient "Add This to My Collection" link. After creating the collection, users can then put the tagged items on a customized chronology using the interactive Chronology. Chronologies can be based on New England History, U.S. History, World History, and Art, among others. Teacher-created activities that are based on articles from the Online Collection are available in the In the Classroom section. By registering (for free), teachers can create their own activity online or edit another activity to fit into their curriculum. Lesson plans are available for elementary, middle school and secondary as well as related teacher resources. Students will enjoy the engaging interactive activities such as rotating objects, reading through a "magic lens," and viewing video demonstrations of Early American tools. If that isn't enough, an excellent interactive online exhibit is featured. The Turns-of-the-Centuries Exhibit explores three past "turns of the centuries" -- 1700, 1800, and 1900. Five themes are explored across these time periods: Family Life, Native American Indians, African Americans, Newcomers (settlers and immigrants), and the Land. Each item in the exhibit is enhanced by interactive elements such as slide shows and rollover activities. |
