Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Spinning Wheel"

The Dodge Family and Chance: Seeking Freedom in the Revolutionary War

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:38:06 GMT

Students can learn about the Dodges, Chance and life at the time of the American Revolution by investigating a room from their house, a will from 1786, and artifacts from the period. By the 1770s, Abraham and Bethiah Dodge and many other Americans were willing to risk everything for independence, and African Americans such as Chance, their slave; asked white patriots to live up to their ideas about liberty. The Dodges and Chance are one group of people that lived in the Ipswich, Massachusetts house which is the focus of Within These Walls, an online exhibition.

Great Women of Our Pasts Homepage

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:24:27 GMT

This OurStory module, entitled Great Women of Our Pasts, includes links to hands-on activities and a list of recommended readings related to the topic of women's history. OurStory is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.

War of Independence

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:37:36 GMT

Americans went to war to win their independence from Great Britain. Through the use of images and objects from the Museum's collections, students will learn about the involvement of colonial militias during the French and Indian War, the causes of the Revolution, life in the Continental Army, the major battles of the War of Independence, the participants on both sides of the conflict and the legacy of General George Washington. This website is part of the online exhibition The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. A non-flash version of the site is availalbe: The War of Independence.