Congress for Kids

http://www.congressforkids.net/

Rating: 2, High!

Description: Learn about how the federal government works, especially Congress. This website takes you through writing the Constitution and the Great Compromise that made the Senate represent the states and the House of Representatives represent the people. Learn how laws are made. Standards 3.4.4, 4.5.1 and 5.7.4

Comments: The text is a bit wordy in the Congress.org site, but the content is good.

Resource Type: Mix of Text and Graphics.

Graphics content: High.

Resource ID: 788

Constitution

http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/constitution.htm

Rating: 2, High!

Description: Specially written for students, this site examines the making of the Constitution, biographies of the signers, and the text of the Constitution. Then there is Constitution trivia called Fascinating Constitution Facts and a chart comparing the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Standards 5.7.1, 5.7.2, 5.7.3, 5.7.4, 8.2.2 and 8.2.3

Comments: This links to an interesting and well developed ThinkQuest project on the Constitution that has references to current constitutional issues.

Resource Type: Secondary Text.

Graphics content: High.

Resource ID: 796

Constitution for Kids

http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids4.html

Rating: 2, High!

Description: Here is basic information written for students in grades 4-7 about the Constitution including the key concepts and history of its development. The place of women and the issue of slavery in the Constitution are also discussed. Lastly, there is a section on how the government works, separation of powers, checks and balances, how a bill becomes a law, and the cabinet. Standards 4.5.1, 5.7.3, and 5.7.4

Comments: Higher graphic content would make this clearly written site more appealing for students.

Resource Type: Secondary Text.

Graphics content: Low.

Resource ID: 797

Constitution for Kids

http://www.usconstitution.net/constkids4.html

Rating: 2, High!

Description: Here is basic information written for students in grades 8-11 about the Constitution including the key concepts and history of its development. The place of women and the issue of slavery in the Constitution are also discussed. Lastly, there is a section on how the government works, separation of powers, checks and balances, how a bill becomes a law, and the cabinet. Standards 8.2.2, 8.2.6

Comments: Higher graphic content would make this clearly written site more appealing for students.

Resource Type: Secondary Text.

Graphics content: Low.

Resource ID: 798

Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention 1774-1789

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/bdsds/bdsdhome.html

Rating: 2, High!

Description: This site links to over 500 documents pertaining to the Constitution compiled by the Library of Congress. Standards 5.6.6 and 8.2.2

Comments: Check out the special exhibits.

Resource Type: Primary Source Text.

Graphics content: High.

Resource ID: 967

Documents of the Continental Congress and Constitutional Convention

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/bdsds/bdsdhome.html

Rating: 2, High!

Description: Here are a wealth of documents from the Contitental Congress and the Constitutional Convention (1774-1789) from the Library of Congress. Standards 5.6.6, 8.2.3, 11.1.2, Government 12.1.3

Comments: Original documents from the colonial era.

Resource Type: Primary Source Text.

Resource ID: 976

George Washington Recognized Equal Status of Jewish Americans August 17, 1790

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/nation/relig_1

Rating: 2, High!

Description: In the United States, freedom of religion is upheld by the First Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment was written in 1789. Not long after, the members of the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, presented George Washington with a congratulatory address when he visited their city on August 17, 1790. Standard 5.7.3

Comments: This is part of the America's Story site by the Library ofoCongress

Resource Type: Secondary Text.

Graphics content: High.

Resource ID: 1358

Hamilton and the U.S. Constitution

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/sfeature/hamiltonusconstituion.html

Rating: 2, High!

Description: This clearly written PBS document outlines Alexander Hamilton's contributions and ideas in the Constitutional Convention. His work to promote ratification and efforts in setting up the new government persuade readers that the Constitution would not have been ratified without Hamilton. Standard 5.7.2 and 8.2.4

Comments: This PBS site links to information about dueling.

Resource Type: Secondary Text.

Graphics content: High.

Resource ID: 1480

Land Ordinance of 1785 excerpts

http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=218

Rating: 2, High!

Description: This is a one-page version of the 1785 Ordinace that developed the land policy for the Ohio Valley which had been ceded to the U.S. by Britain as part of the settlement of the American Revolution. Standards 5.6.6 and 8.3.2

Comments: This is part of Dan Mabry's Historical Text Archive.

Resource Type: Secondary Text.

Graphics content: Low.

Resource ID: 1923

Papers of George Washington

http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/

Rating: 2, High!

Description: Get a taste of some of the writings of our first president ranging from the Revolutionary Series to his Farewell Address. Standards 5.5.4, 8.2.2, and11.1.2

Resource Type: Primary Source Text.

Graphics content: High.

Resource ID: 2408