News Features
[Instructional Support] [Awards]
Instructional Support
The George Washington Connection
Check out the following online article from Newsweek magazine on George Washington's Texas heir.
Resources for Teaching About the Bill of Rights
Have you seen The Bill of Rights Institute's Student Website? Featuring audio, video, links, study help, and interactive activities, DoYouHavetheRight.org, provides the kind of interactive, multimedia pages students enjoy.
CONGRATULATIONS to AUSTIN PUBLIC LIBRARY - a successful applicant for the Picturing America Grant Award!!
In
the fall APL will be installing these exhibits at Spicewood Springs
Branch Library and at the Faulk Central Library.
But, full curriculum is
available now so that teachers can begin looking at the potential to taking
advantage of this opportunity to learn about American History through works of art.
The Austin Public Library as a winning grant recipient will receive a set of 40 high-quality reproductions (approx. 24" x 36") of great American art and a Teachers Resource book.
CLICK HERE to view the Teacher Resource Book and other Educator's Resources Online.
The National Endowment
for the Humanities' (NEH) new Picturing America initiative provides an innovative way for citizens of all ages to explore the history and character of America through some of our nation's greatest works of art. Picturing America is a free resource that can be readily used in every classroom.
Images of people, places, and events illustrating American history give citizens everywhere a chance to better understand our country's past and its ideals. From the courage and leadership portrayed in Emanuel Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware to the power of American democracy illustrated in Norman Rockwell's Freedom of Speech to the culturally defining Mission Nuestra Senora de la Concepcion in San Antonio, these works of art represent enduring American ideals. These masterpieces open the viewer's eyes to America's rich history and culture, while also providing an introduction to the broader world of the humanities.
8th grade TAKS-PREP RESOURCES
Statewide Social Studies TAKS Results for Spring 2008,
including TAKS Accommodated have been announced.
For 8th Graders 90% met the Standard across the state
and 38% were Commended.
The Texas Education Agency provides the following helpful resources:
TEA's online TAKS Practice
The Social Studies Center at TEA recently added a couple of items that may prove very helpful under the 8th grade TAKS section. Scroll down to the section entitled "8th Grade TAKS Resources". There are many helpful resources that you have seen but check these two new ones out--
There are specific lessons, student handouts, and explicit instruction to teach/reteach the student expections under objective 1 and 4.
Additional Tools and resources:
- 8th Grade TAKS-Review booklet (S. Everett; Austin ISD, 2008.)
- 8th Grade TAKS-Review flash cards (Region XIII)
- 8th Grade TAKS-Review Vocabulary & Concepts Review (Region XIII)
- 8th Grade TAKS-Review; Looping Cards (Region XIII)
- 8th Grade TAKS Comprehensive Things to Know List
- 8th Grade TAKS Review handout
- 8th Grade Review: Pre-1877 Timeline Lesson Plan
- Strengths & Weakness of the Articles of Confederation lesson plan
8th Grade TAKS Jeopardy PowerPoints from Texas LRE
Other District's website resources:
- Alief Independent School District
- Northside Independent School District
- Georgetown ISD
- Lewisville Independent School District
- A great Test-Taking Strategies powerpoint from our friends at Cy-Fair ISD
and finally,
- we found the Flash Cards (at left) on Houston ISD's Curriculum site to be well done,
they include a Spanish version as do the following resources:
The following Era Charts for 8th Grade U.S. History can be used in various 
ways, including student Interactive Notebooks, posters for class bulletin boards, and review pieces for assessments.