Some of my favorite sites to use with students include sites constructed by students, virtual tours and "traditional" research type sites. Since we use a different thematic unit each quarter I have divided the sites I will feature into quarters, also.

First Quarter:

Internet for the Ages http://www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/lincoln/hirise/index.html: This site was created by sixth grade students at Lincoln School as part of a unit on heritages.Students interviewed residence of a near-by High Rise for the Elderly to gather information about their immigration to the U.S, the types of employment they had while growing up and their life as sixth graders. This information was then word processed and put together with pictures into an Internet site. I use it in my class to give students an appreciation for the hardships faced by immigrants and how the lifestyle in our country has changed in the last fifty years.

Second Quarter:

Ancient Sports http://olympics.tufts.edu/: This site includes the following information about the Ancient Olympics: why the games were played,what games were played and the rules that were followed, where the games were played and how the Olympic spirit has evolved throughout history. The site also includes a tour of Ancient Olympia. I use this site in my class when students are researching information on Ancient Greece.

Third Quarter:

Index of Middle Ages Material http://www.byu.edu/ipt/projects/middleages/Index.html#index: This site includes research on a wealth of topics about the Middle Ages. While the reading level is somewhat difficult for some sixth graders, the information offered in so inclusive that the site is very useful. Students use this site to gather information about the topics they are assigned to research during the Middle Ages and Renaissance unit.

Tower of London Virtual Tour http://www.itw.com/~dravyk/toltour/index.html: This virtual tour of the Tower of London displays wonderful pictures of each section of the complex and also gives comprehensive information about the construction and history of the Tower. Students use this site to research information about the Middles Ages.

Fourth Quarter:

World War II Commemoration http://www.grolier.com/wwii/wwii_arti.html: My students use this site to research information on selected famous and imfamous people who were involved in World War II. The site is useful for research purposes, however, it does not contain pictures. The reading level is for higher level sixth graders.