Moving between Hawaii, Alaska, and the contiguous West, students understand the varied histories of this region. Learn about the Spanish explorers on the west coast, the Polynesians in Hawaii, and the Inuit of Alaska. Understand how each of these areas became a part of the United States. Discover gold in California and other parts of the West. Witness the construction of the transcontinental railroad that connected this region with the rest of the country.
Countries: US
-
The West Region: Environment
Discover the largest of the U.S. regions and the contribution of the west to the rest of the country. Visit the varied landforms and climates of the West, including Alaska and Hawaii. Learn about the vast amount of natural and human resources of this region from agriculture and fishing to tourism and technology.
-
The Southwest Region: People and Heritage
Starting with nomadic Native Americans, discover the diverse history of the Southwest. Learn about the Spanish explorers and the southwest as a part of both Spain and Mexico. Witness the events of the Alamo and the victory of Texas independence. Watch the events unfold, bringing this region into the United States and see how it has grown and how the people in this area have retained so much of the culture of years past.
-
Thanksgiving Day: America Celebrates
See the story of the Mayflower’s passage and the Pilgrims’ first year in the New World. Learn about the Wompanoag Indian tribe and a game they may have played during the first harvest celebration-Thanksgiving. Learn many different ways that Americans celebrate this important day.
-
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Two students from different ethnic backgrounds are brought together as they learn about the life of America’s foremost civil rights leader. This program will grab your students’ attention as they learn about Dr. King’s contributions to the people of the United States and those living throughout the world. They will learn about King’s childhood experiences with prejudice, his ability to speak in front of others, his commitment to nonviolence, and finally why it is so important to follow his message of hope and peace.
-
The Events Leading Up to War
What were the key events that brought a divided people together to stand and fight as one? In this engaging production your students will learn about The French and Indian War, Stamp Act, Intolerable Acts, Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party, and battles at Lexington and Concord. They will come to know the important actions of men like Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Paul Revere. Your students will gain a firm understanding of why America went to war with Great Britain and what motivated the Patriots to form their own country.
-
The War and a New Nation
The events surrounding the Revolutionary War are closely detailed as students learn about the major battles and significant people that impacted this time of turmoil. Students will learn about the battle of Bunker Hill, meet Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, witness the battle of Yorktown, and come to understand how other countries became involved in this epic war. Students will realize that while the events of war were taking place, the colonists were also busy forming the ideas and creating the documents that would become the foundation of a new country.
-
Corn: From Farm to Table
Analyze the steps involved in growing corn as we follow corn from a seed to the table-plowing, planting, and picking-using modern farm machinery and techniques. See harvested corn being transported by trucks, trains, ships, and barges to food processors, made into cornflakes and other products, then sold to the consumer. DVD features include on-screen teacher’s guide and vocabulary plus chapter selections.
-
Different Types of Maps: Topographic, Political?
Students learn about the different projections possible to represent the round Earth on a flat surface and the various kinds of information displayed on maps. Map types covered include political, physical, relief, climate, vegetation and more. Combining the latest technology with visual images supplied from around the world, this program takes difficult material and provides the student with easy-to-understand visual presentations.
-
Economy in and between Communities
This engaging program will grab and hold your students attention as they are introduced to the key concepts surrounding our community’s economy. They will learn the difference between goods and services in both the public and private sector. Lots of real life visuals show people at work – production workers and service workers – and helps students understand the role taxes play in our lives. Personal responsibility, work ethic, and the difference between wants and needs are shown in terms students will understand. (1) Introduction (2) Jobs in the Community (3) Providing Goods and Services (4) Types of Services: Public and Private (5) Public Services (6) Taxes (7) The Difference between Wants and Needs (8) Review (99) End