The beginning of modern warfare

On this day in 1914, the first trenches were dug on the Western Front. While the trenches were extremely brutal ways to live, they actually saved many lives with the advent of modern warfare. This 6 minute video is a good way to introduce students to the realities of trench warfare during World War I.

How does this compare to the ways in which war is waged today?

The last photograph of the late President McKinley. 

Taken as he was ascending the steps of the Temple of Music, September 6, 1901

On this day in 1901, President William McKinley died after being shot while attending the Pan-Am exposition in Buffalo, NY.  The first president of the 20th century a glimpse into documents from that time period helps students to understand the dramatic shifts the United States was undergoing.  

A fantastic resource for documents surrounding the assassination and the time period can be located at McKinley Assassination Ink.

Those darn kids!!

Cave painting of a dun horse at Lascaux (via wikipedia)

Four teenagers wandering around looking for their dog, Robot, and they stumble upon a cave. Not just any cave - a cave in pristine condition housing amazing pre-historic art.

What can art tell us about history?

This Day in History: September 11, 2001

We were in the computer lab working on a webquest when the school media assistant came up to me and asked me to step outside.  She had CNN playing in her office and wanted me to see the television because she didn't understand if what she was seeing was real.  When I saw the first smoking tower, I joined in her confusion and then immediately worried that my students were on the Internet and might stumble across the exact same site.  If I wasn't sure what was happening, how on earth cold I explain it to 12 year olds?

Each year since then, this date has given me pause as it has millions of people in the United States and beyond.  The first few years, we revisited it with whatever perspective we could muster in class and talk about how current events were impacted by that one fateful day.

Nine years later - the impact has not lessened as the nation is once again torn apart by plans for an Islamic center and mosque near "ground zero" in NYC cause controversy and debate.

While the anniversary of this event falls on a Saturday and in the middle of opening week activities for many schools in the United States, I am sure that it may have gotten lost in the remembrance.  But the current events aspect is important and one I am hoping is addressed in classrooms.  Some resources for teaching about the event and it's lasting legacy are below:

The September 11th Education Program (A Ning sponsored by the September 11th Education Trust)
Reflecting on September 11 (Constitutional Rights Foundation)
Beyond Blame: Reacting to the Terrorist Attack (Education Development Center)
Who are the Arab Americans? (Teaching Tolerance)
Best Sites to Help Teach about 9/11 (Larry Ferlazzo)