Resources for Social Studies and History
| Arkansas Archeological Survey | |
| Host: University of Arkansas System | |
| "The Survey is responsible for discovering, protecting, developing, interpreting, and caring for Arkansas' prehistoric and historic archeological resources..." The website contains information about archeology in the state, internships, research stations across the state, a catalog of publications, and links to Indians of Arkansas. The Arkansas Archeological Survey has produced a variety of materials to aid teachers in their instruction on Arkansas history and Native Americans, including teacher's packets, videos, slide sets, books, and exhibits. | |
| Record last updated: 6/1/2009 |
| Arkansas Council for the Social Studies | |
| Host: Arkansas Council for the Social Studies | |
| "Members of ACSS include elementary, middle and secondary, private and public, university professors and instructors, school administrators, and non-educational professionals who recognize the importance of a strong social studies background for our young citizens." The ACSS site includes information on the annual conference, lesson plans and class presentations plus links to national and state resources for social studies. There are special announcements for members, but most of the content and the list-serve are available to non-members also. The Council sponsors teacher award and offer small grants for teacher expenses. | |
| Record last updated: 5/29/2009 |
| Arkansas Geographic Alliance | |
| Host: Arkansas Geographic Alliance | |
| Professional organization for geography teachers and college faculty. Site offers geography materials, information on the state geography bee, travel opportunities, workshops, state frameworks, National Geographic lesson plans, a listserv, and more. Some financial assistance for professional development is available. | |
| Record last updated: 4/15/2009 |
| Arkansas Historic Preservation Program | |
| Host: Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| The AHPP identifies and preserves the state's historic resources. Their webpage offers numerous descriptions of sites to visit, tours, info on grant programs, and projects. A youth education component includes complete lesson plans for k-12 related historic sites in Arkansas, presentations, contests for students, and much more. The "site search" on the homepage accepts multiple words for searching and helps in exploring this extensive site. | |
| Record last updated: 4/24/2009 |
| Arkansas History Discussion Group | |
| Host: Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries | |
| The site features a listserv for Arkansas history questions and links to other sources on state history, biography. Users can submit questions and read answers provided by other interested researchers. | |
| Record last updated: 6/2/2009 |
| Arkansas IDEAS (Internet Delivered Education for Arkansas Schools) | |
| Host: Arkansas Educational Television Network & Arkansas Department of Education | |
| A partnership between AETN and ADE provides videos, workshops for teachers, telecourses, classroom instruction and summer camps for kids to learn about television production. Offers professional development opportunities and online courses which accrue ADE credit. Has many teaching resources for technology-enhanced lesson plans, including PBS lesson plans and an online library of resources. Teachers with an Arkansas license may register for a password. | |
| Record last updated: 4/17/2009 |
| Arkansas Judiciary: Information For Educators | |
| Host: Arkansas Supreme Court | |
| This site gives contact information for teachers who would like to take their students to view the Arkansas Supreme Court in action. The site has full text of recent Ark. Supreme Court and Court of Appeal decisions, and provides links to the Arkansas Code, Court Rules, and other resources that will interest teachers of history and government. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Arkansas K-12 Distance Learning Curriculum Portal | |
| Host: ADE & SW Arkansas Educational Cooperative | |
| Funded by the Arkansas Dept. of Education and Act 2325 of 2005, this site provides a portal to Arkansas K-12 Content Provider Websites. Includes documents explaining distance education in the state, hosts online classrooms, news, discussion boards, podcasts, and links to other distance education sites in Arkansas. Open to any elementary through secondary subject areas. Content is for students, teachers, and administrators. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission | |
| Host: Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| Charged with protecting natural areas in the state, the Commission's site offers activity guides and lesson plans on the ecosystem, habitats, and endangered species of Arkansas. An image library features photographs of plants, animals, and natural areas. Students and teachers can participate in citizen science surveys. Staff present programs and workshops. | |
| Record last updated: 4/3/2009 |
| Arkansas Secretary of State | |
| Host: Arkansas Secretary of State | |
| The mission of this branch is to educate the people of the state about Arkansas history, the capitol, and citizenship. "That information is provided through a variety of formats, from websites, events and publications to guided tours, exhibits and travelling presentations." The Education Resources link has interactive games and other materials easily adapted for classroom use to teach students about Arkansas state government. Office coordinates programs such as Young Voters Month, Sister Cities, teacher in-service workshops, and other educational programs. Has a link to the Secretary of State's Kid's Page. | |
| Record last updated: 5/6/2009 |
| Arkansas.gov | |
| Host: State of Arkansas | |
| Official website for the state of Arkansas. The site's purpose, in brief, is to provide a public service to citizens and businesses through "access to government services and government information." The extensive content covers, for example, the branches of government, state agencies, regulations, travel, industry, agriculture, services and other information about the state that can be used by teachers, parents, and students. The education section includes links to programs, museums, state facts, teacher licensure, school facility information, and many other aspects of the state. A search engine and directory of schools and colleges is available. Includes link to YouTube channel and flickr photo gallery. | |
| Record last updated: 4/3/2009 |
| Books for Arkansas Students' Education (BASE) | |
| Host: Butler Center and Central Arkansas Library System | |
| Describes a program to provide free books about Arkansas' natural, cultural, and political history to public high schools. Free resource for high schools. Schools are allotted books based on the economic need of their district. The books are distributed through the University of Arkansas Press. | |
| Record last updated: 8/1/2008 |
| Butler Center Digital Collections | |
| Host: Central Arkansas Library System | |
| Featues audio and video collections of interviews and lectures about Arkansas history. Includes lesson plans that are searchable by grade level, ADE curriculum frameworks, and resource content. A current highlight is the Aftermath Collection that tracks changes in Pulaski County following the desegregation crisis of 1957. | |
| Record last updated: 11/3/2009 |
| Butler Center For Arkansas Studies | |
| Host: Central Arkansas Library System | |
| Created at CALS in 1997, the Butler Center "is dedicated to exploring, preserving, and interpreting the history of Arkansas." Education resources include lesson plans searchable by grade level, ADE curriculum frameworks, and resource content; The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture (free online), and Books for Arkansas Students Education (BASE, a free book program for public high schools in the state). The Center also offers a professional development course in Arkansas history for educators. See also the Ed Portal's links to the Butler Center's digital collections and blogs on Arkansas history. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Butler Center for Arkansas Studies Blog | |
| Host: Central Arkansas Library System | |
| This blog "is set up to be a new avenue to encourage discussion between the Butler Center, other historical professionals, and our patrons out there in the blogosphere." Begun in May 2008, the blog already offers many topics from the Arkansas Studies Institute (follow its progress) and the Arkansas Korean War Project to the YouTube of Arkansas History. | |
| Record last updated: 4/3/2009 |
| Census State Data Center | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| The center is the official representative of the U.S. Bureau of the Census in Arkansas. The tasks of this center include promoting the census, dispersing information gathered by the census, and providing technical assistance to understand census information. | |
| Record last updated: 4/7/2009 |
| Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| Host: Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| The DAH "offers a variety of educational packages for teachers, students, and parties interested in learning more about Arkansas's historical, cultural, natural, and artistic heritage.” Provides lesson plans and curriculum guides on topics related to state history, architecture, Indians, bio-diversity and more. Offers traveling exhibits, workshops, and a calendar of events and speakers. Extensive resources for educators. | |
| Record last updated: 4/24/2009 |
| Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture | |
| Host: Butler Center, Central Arkansas Library System | |
| This project of the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the Little Rock Public Library "strives to offer a definitive, comprehensive, and accurate record of the twenty-fifth state." Researchers can browse by subject categories, time periods, gender, ethnicity, type of content, or use a search feature to retrieve full articles with bibliographies, media, and photos. Links for lesson plans are included for many articles. Information for contributors is also available on this actively growing Web site. | |
| Record last updated: 11/20/2008 |
| Historic Arkansas Museum | |
| Host: Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| Formerly called Arkansas Territorial Restoration, the museum offers fieldtrips for students to experience Arkansas frontier life hands-on and resources to assist teachers even if a visit is not possible. Materials have been developed by grade levels. There are downloadable resources, a loan box program, information on planning student visits, and professional development opportunities for teachers. The museum features "Arkansas Made" products such as arts, furniture, silver, pottery, quilts, firearms, and tools. | |
| Record last updated: 4/15/2009 |
| Indians of Arkansas | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| "This website provides information and educational resources for students, teachers, and life-long learners interested in Arkansas Indian history—a history which began 30,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, and extends to the present." Site includes learning exercises, writing prompts, and information about Arkansas Indians throughout history. | |
| Record last updated: 7/9/2008 |
| Mosaic Templars Cultural Center | |
| Host: Department of Arkansas Heritage | |
| The Center is dedicated to preserving and educating the public about the achievements of black Arkansans, especially in politics, business, and the arts. It has lesson plans on civil rights, the artist Isaac Scott Hathaway, and musician William Grant Still. Frameworks are addressed in the lesson plans. It offers classroom presentations, adult education programs, museum tours, museum-based programs, and resources and training for teachers. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Presidential Studies | |
| Host: University of Arkansas at Little Rock | |
| A public service of UALR's program in presidential studies, this site organizes links to websites with information, photos, documents, audio and video files relating to the American Presidency. Virtual tours related to President Bill Clinton in Arkansas and links to lesson plans and teacher resources on presidents, such as portraits and documents, are featured. | |
| Record last updated: 4/18/2009 |
| Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History | |
| Host: Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville | |
| The Center's mission is "to document the history of Arkansas through the collection of spoken memories and visual records, preserve the collection in perpetuity, and connect Arkansans and the world to the collection through the Internet, TV broadcasts, educational programs, and other means." The site offers transcriptions of over 200 oral interviews and will be adding audio and video. | |
| Record last updated: 7/8/2008 |
| Rock Art in Arkansas | |
| Host: University of Arkansas, Fayetteville | |
| A website about rock art in the state throughout history, intended for use by archeologists, educators, students, and the general public. Site includes quick facts, articles, interpretations, technical papers, resources, a database, picture gallery, and an area just for kids. | |
| Record last updated: 11/6/2008 |
| Shiloh Museum of Ozark History | |
| Host: City of Springdale, Ark. | |
| The museum is dedicated to preserving and studying the history of the Arkansas Ozarks, focusing on six counties in Northwest Arkansas. An education link provides information on discovery boxes available for loan to teachers. Has workshops and videos on local topics. Kids pages have content such as recipes, games, school history, and descriptions of everyday life for children in earlier years. School Programs index includes curriculum frameworks and activities for teaching local history topics to k-8 students. | |
| Record last updated: 2/27/2009 |
| Teachers' Resources from Special Collections | |
| Host: Special Collections, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville | |
| Using the resources held in the libraries' archives, Special Collections staff have developed several poster series with lesson plans. There is a set on outstanding Arkansas women leaders, one on important African Americans in Arkansas, and one on the civil rights movement in Arkansas. Includes a bibliography of books, articles, and videos. | |
| Record last updated: 7/2/2008 |
| Texarkana Museums System | |
| Host: American Association of Museums | |
| Provides links to Museum of Regional History and Wilbur Smith Research Library, Discovery Place Children's Museum, and Ace of Clubs House. | |
| Record last updated: 7/29/2008 |
