Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Slideshow Storyteller"

Full Steam to Freedom

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:14:43 GMT

Robert Smalls was born a slave in South Carolina, but made a daring escape to freedom on the ship CSS Planter and joined the Union in fighting to end slavery in America. By using this OurStory module, children and adults can enjoy exploring one aspect of the Civil War. Focused on actively reading Seven Miles to Freedom, an illustrated biography of Robert Smalls, this module also includes links to a related outdoor game, classroom-based newspaper investigation and online exploration.

Reading Seven Miles to Freedom

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:51:40 GMT

Seven Miles to Freedom is a book about Robert Smalls, a man who was born a slave in South Carolina, but made a daring escape to freedom on the ship CSS Planter and joined the Union in fighting to end slavery in America. Part of an OurStory module entitled Full Steam to Freedom, this activity includes strategies that will help adults and children actively read Full Steam to Freedom together. OurStory is designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of children's literature, everyday objects, and hands-on activities.

The Civil War

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:22:31 GMT

From 1861-1865, Americans battled over preserving their Union and ending slavery. The Civil War is the focus of this section of The Price of Freedom: Americans at War, an online exhibition. This pivotal and complicated period of American history is divided into sections that allow students to focus either on a specific aspect of the war, or the conflict as a whole. The sections included are: John Brown, Fort Sumter, the Battle of Bull Run, major turning points, the war at sea, Wilderness to Appomattox, political leaders, military leaders, soldiers in blue and gray; battles and casualties and Reconstruction and the legacies of the war. A non-flash version of this site is available: The Civil War.

Spreading the News

Fri, 30 Nov 2012 16:04:29 GMT

This activity is a guided Internet hunt, or "Web quest," in which children play the role of newspaper reporters in order to research, write, and publish an article about the history of the Star-Spangled Banner. Children will be better able to synthesize ideas and facts in written and artistic products and ask and seek answers to historical questions. It is included in an OurStory module entitled Making the Star-Spangled Banner. 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 children to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.