Here are some links to handy, general Social Studies research sites:

PBS
Type your topic into the search box to access a wealth of information about tons of topics

The BBC
Type your topic into the search box on the upper right--like PBS, you can trust this site

Mr. Donn's Social Studies site
A great starting point, especially for 5th and 6th grade students

Social Studies for Kids
This is a great place to start a project--but ignore the ads!

Ducksters History for Kids
Click on the icons or use the search bar on the upper right

Google
Endlessly useful, this is everybody's go-to search engine, but always evaluate your hits before accessing them. Aim for credible websites, and avoid commercial ones. Not sure? Ask your teacher or parent.

Use this link to finish filling out the Electoral College Map worksheet

We've got a great year ahead of us!

Here's a quick overview: 5th Grade SS will investigate all things American--our magnificent landscape, our history, and our democratic government.  6th grade will examine what it is to be human, beginning millions of years ago in prehistoric Africa, proceeding to our first civilization in the ancient Middle East, and moving forward into our own era.  7th grade looks at the earliest inhabitants in the western hemisphere, seeking to understand where they came from and how they managed to get here without planes, trains or automobiles, later observes the clash of cultures between those first Americans and the new European colonists, and studies our progression toward freedom and democracy.  8th grade begins the year deconstructing the myth of the American Wild West and continues to explore the developing American character by poring over the many influential decisions we've made on the global stage.

Go Social Studies!

Gr 8 TVA Essay

Following is the schedule for the TVA Constructed Controversy Project:

Research: Fri 3/27, Mon 3/30
Discuss/Debate: Tues 3/31
Essay: Wed 4/1

Essay Q:

Part I
Was the TVA a good idea for America? Which groups of people benefited? Which groups suffered? Did more people benefit or suffer?

Part II (choose one)
If a program is proposed by government today that would be bad for a few thousand Americans but good for millions, would you support it? Why or why not?
OR
If the TVA were proposed today, how could the plan be modified so that the number of people who would suffer would be minimized and the number of people who benefited would be maximized?
OR
Should the government be responsible for providing services to Americans, like affordable electricity or health care, or should government stay out of people's lives? If you don't think the answer is either one or the other, what things do you think the government should provide? Not provide?

Grade 8 TVA Map

Grade 8 Tennessee Valley Authority

Background information about the TVA can be found at:
http://newdeal.feri.org/search_details.cfm?link=http://newdeal.feri.org/tva/tnguide/ch09.htm

the following site describes how African Americans were treated at the outset of the many TVA building projects:
http://newdeal.feri.org/search_details.cfm?link=http://newdeal.feri.org/opp/opp34111.htm

many other articles can be found here:
http://newdeal.feri.org/index.htm