Word Search Puzzle: Leading Figures in the Age of Exploration

K K M N P U N R S N E L L A S A L T N Y U A J D Z
T E I L O J D N A E T T E U Q R A M I C O Y R A F
C R X I Z E S K C L Y A B M U A K R A B A A O Z V
H U E M R N L A O Q E M C O R T E Z L Z K B R F T
U T O B A C R E R S U I U Y N I Z A P E O L R H Y
D J J V L T P V D L W B G C P W B F M W N A R A W
S T R Z I I W Z O E G O F H I W M P A J A M R L L
O S J E L Y G C A E C M W H Z K H E H L S A A J B
N T R R H B V N W I E N C Z A S F L C R U G X T K
Q C L R X I Z U P J D P O X R U M U F O L A B A L
G R L Q N Q D T P G H Z M P R J U Y I P X D M E A
A D P V N E D R E V J P S R O W D I L W N B U O L
R T G T O Y J O E M Z N G S D N Y R H L N H T F W
I T G T B P V M A G E L L A N Y T W E U Y G H Y G
I L L E U S W K T V X K L C H V A B L Q X R C J X


Explorers:

BALBOA
CABOT
CABRAL
CARTIER
CHAMPLAIN
COLUMBUS
CORTEZ
DA GAMA
DIAZ
DRAKE
GILBERT
HUDSON
LASALLE
MAGELLAN
MARQUETTE AND JOLIET
PIZARRO
PONCE DE LEON
RALEIGH

Word Search Puzzle: West Africa during the Age of Exploration

E W U A R E R A S T B Y T I N U M M O C
R A U I X O E W I L E A E S E N F L V N
C R O V S D T L D N W E A L T H E M A G
T A S O A R G U O H I E I A K O N G O H
Y H L R N O G N O K I N A M E A X N E A
J A T Y K R U V I L L A G E S R O O I N
S S O N G H A I T Z L B N E T A E I Y A
H E R D I N G S N D L O G R I U W T O I
T J L N K E N P A R A N E Q M S I I O C
O I H E A I I E V N I L I T B S R D Z U
G N I T N U H Q A M U R V S U T V A L N
L T S S R U S O R I S M E P K T A R E B
L N A E M A I A A E A I E O T D U T R S
E Y L I M A F A C L O T H E U N U L T A
U I T O U N R G I T S O T F L N I N E B



Terms:

Benin
caravan
cloth
community
Ewuare
family
farming
fishing
Ghana
gold
herding
hunting
Islam
ivory
Kongo
Mali
manikongo
oba
Sahara
salt
Songhai
Timbuktu
trade
tradition
villages
wealth


Click here for a free printable version of this puzzle (and the answer key).

Word Search Puzzle: The Columbian Exchange

N N M S I C A R T E R K F R O R R V G C Z I J S J J N T
A H O J L K G F X J U S I E C H E O L T P M V U C O O R
C E H I G T R Q V L R T J T Z O L V N X A M J B Y I I I
I H K V T V I C E R O Y S N U D S A L N R U A M O N T A
R C O N Q U I S T A D O R U C N W Z F I Z N V U N T A N
E K F O O C L T R E A T Y O F T O R D E S I L L A S R G
M U C J P Q P O C B T E X C H A N G E B N T M O I T O U
A F O O D S O D V O G X R N O R O E O D Y Y E C U O L L
N O I T A C R A M E D F O E N I L L A P A P R R Q C P A
I Z W R Q I O M L L R D H Y Q S G A Q N E E C E E K X R
T T N O I T A Z I N O L O C E I Z B O F S N A H H C E T
A C I R C U M N A V I G A T I O N I M M S C N P A O F R
L I H D Y M O N O C E N O I T A T N A L P O T O D M O A
M S I L A T I P A C O V Y Z C A S L C O P M I T U P E D
M I D D L E P A S S A G E R L R L V T X E I L S A A G E
L B C N A E B B I R A C T F E P E T J S M E I I L N A O
S E S A E S I D P E N B N A O V A M T W I N S R O Y D O
T K Z D R C W U B Z D I M X I L A I M T T D M H C R R K
M S I L A I R E P M I D L O U N Z L N O A A E C A K Q W
F J U A T A H U A L P A M M J O O C S C C H E P F O S U



Terms:

AGE OF EXPLORATION
ATAHUALPA
CAPITALISM
CARIBBEAN
CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
CIRCUMNAVIGATION
COLONIZATION
COMMERCIAL REVOLUTION
CONQUISTADOR
CUZCO
DISEASES
ENCOMIENDA
ENCOUNTER
EXCHANGE
FOODS
GOLD
IMMUNITY
INFLATION
JOINT-STOCK COMPANY
LATIN AMERICA
MERCANTILISM
MESTIZO
MIDDLE PASSAGE
MITA
MULATTO
OLAUDAH EQUIANO
OLD IMPERIALISM
PAPAL LINE OF DEMARCATION
PARDO
PLANTATION ECONOMY
RACISM
SILVER
SLAVERY


Click here for a free printable version (and the answer key).

Free Online United States Geography Quiz

How well do you know the capital cities of the Western stats? We have created a simple online quiz to test your knowledge. All that you need to do is (using multiple-choice) name the capitals of the 13 Western states within 13 minutes. Good luck!


Name the Capital Cities of the 13 Western States within 13 Minutes

Word Search Puzzle: Native American Cultures at the Time of Columbus

A R A P A H O R N A R R A G A N S E T T A S B K O O N I H C
L C E T Z A E K A D A P R O U D E N A T I V E N C L R L T H
G H U R O N U I V O O U E R H E R I T A G E S Q T F L L G I
O E Z N E A A O A E E N K A S H A Y A P O M O S A G E I N P
N R I O S U J O J E M I A M I I E P A A E F N E L T H N I P
Q O J I B W A N O N O K N M E A P E I I O I K M U S R O S E
U K L U T E T T S W A W S E U R U U A U W R C I Y O I I E W
I E T K L N T E A A M A A S U J E T R T A S O N I A T S A A
N E K S R A U L O P I K I C E Z B A O E M T N O E N Z U N I
C R E I W T O U Q E P I I A O U L R R S P A N L K A T O T L
A C O A A E V N M C L U T L L S O I A W A M A E I R X U O Y
O W A T C O H C U R R T S E T L N M C E N E H A O E I S E T
A A T O K A D I N E E L A R E M N O S X O R E L W E T H N O
R S Q E I P O H A P E N I O O U R T U S A I U M A N D A N O
A A C R O W S N O Z M O N A C A N A T L G C Q T A O S W E F
K K D E L A W A R E A O E P I I O W U H R A S G P H F N Y K
I C E N M L P T M N J T R A S R T A U U O N U I A S E E E C
R I H U I C H O L A U K R C W S T T L V N S S E C O A E H A
A H H I T C H I T I Y A S H O I P O W H A T A N H H E E C L
A C O M A N C H E A E A I E O B U P R C S T D L E S N E A B



Cultures:

Algonquin
Arapaho
Arikara
Aztec
Blackfoot
Cherokee
Cheyenne
Chickasaw
Chinook
Chippewa
Choctaw
Chumash
Comanche
Cree
Crow
Dakota
Delaware
Hitchiti
Hopi
Huichol
Huron
Illinois
Inca
Iowa
Jumano
Kansa
Kashaya Pomo
Kato
Kiowa
Kiowa-Apache
Kwakiutl Nootka
Mandan
Maya
Mescalero Apache
Miami
Monacan
Narragansett
Navajo
Nez Perce
Ojibwa
Ottawa
Paiute
Pawnee
Pequot
Pima
Potawatomi
Powhatan
Pueblo
Sauk
Seminole
Shawnee
Shoshone
Susquehannock
Taino
Tuscarora
Ute
Wampanoag
Zuni


Click here for a free printable (.pdf) version of this puzzle (and the answer key).

The YouTube Party Continues with the Causes of World War I

Courtesy of Erika Glover and YouTube

U.S. History: 1865 to the Present

The Research Channel on YouTube (University of Minnesota) has a lot of interesting, brief videos. These, along with other YouTube videos, are a great way for teachers to stay current, review course material, and essentially "stay in the game" during summer vacation.





The Research Channel

New Teacher Survey

America: A Story of Us - A Teacher's Review

The History Channel started broadcasting "America: The Story of Us" in April. This series spans the course of American history from the English settlement of Jamestown on May 14, 1607, to the present day.


PROS

• The series is fast-paced, with a lot of trivial snippets mixed into the history that will keep students interested in the story.
• Celebrity commentators (such as Meryl Streep, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Rev. Al Sharpton, Donald Trump, etc.) frequently remark on the significance of events and movements. Recognizable faces are great for getting kids' attention.

CONS

• The series skips around a bit in terms of how events are paced and scoped in typical classrooms. However, this can be a benefit as it serves as a review of previous course material, as well as a preview of future course content.
• Celebrity reviewers offer opinions, not historical perspective or insight (as would a professional historian).
• The series begins with English settlers. This perspective completely overlooks the thousands of years of Indian settlement that predated European arrivals. (Teachers may want to examine this during a classroom discussion. Possible question: Who is the "Us" in the title of the series?)

Please bear in mind that the entire series has yet to air. A thorough review is not yet available. While History Channel does have educator materials online already (available here and here), not even the title of each episode has been released (and titles that have aired do not line up with what is officially listed). Not surprisingly, History Channel is already taking DVD preorders of the series. If you are an educator, the terrific news is that your school can obtain a free copy by clicking here.

The accompanying book (with a forward by President Barack Obama) contains the following chapters:

1. Rise of the Patriots
2. Revolution!
3. Westward
4. Seeds of War
5. Civil War
6. Conquering the Plains
7. City
8. Boom
9. Bust
10. America at War
11. Then and Now
12. Then and Now (continued)

The episodes which have aired (to the best of our knowledge) are:

1. Rebels
2. Revolution
3. Westward
4. Division
5. Civil War
6. Heartland
7. Cities
8. Boom
9. Bust
10. World War II (WWII)
11. Metropolis
12. Rise of a Superpower

Don't forget to visit the History Classroom website.

Alabama Fever!

As part of our United States Geography unit, we have puzzles and more for each of the 50 states, including Alabama in the American South.



Famous Alabamians Word Search Puzzle

Famous Alabamians Word Search Puzzle Answer Key



Alabama Crossword Puzzle

Alabama Crossword Puzzle Answer Key



Click here to visit our U.S. Geography page.



Enjoy!

The Rise and Fall of African Civilizations Word Search Puzzle

A C H R I S T I A N I T Y N A S G
R P S J T L L S S O N G H A I O S
B O Z I K E M L S A D T H E B V U
U Q C O R N S A T A E O U A L N P
H O O K W O R M M F N E T N N U P
A R W E I I P A A R T P K N O A L
C L R E T H S L L I U S U R T U Y
G S I E D K N I A C R Q B M R M A
O I E E F A J Q R A E A M N A E N
L T S D O X C U I R D R I J D L D
D N Y L S U O O A T S N T T E S D
E U A W E M F I R O E K U I R K E
D E A N C L F V T B R O N Z E S M
A Y R E V A L S U E V I L O O J A
E S X R B U E G U M A R A B I C N
A K O R I E S R T W N L F A H N D
U V O A Z I Y E X A T G E S A L T
F R W M A N S A M U S A E S C T H
M E R C A N T I L I S M E D N I L





Terms:

AFRICA
AKORIES
AXUM
BENIN
BROCADE
BRONZE
CHRISTIANITY
COFFLES
COWRIES
DAMASK
GHANA
GOLD
GUM ARABIC
HOOK WORM
INDENTURED SERVANTS
ISLAM
MALARIA
MALI
MANSA MUSA
MERCANTILISM
OBAS
SALT
SLAVERY
SONGHAI
SUPPLY AND DEMAND
TIMBUKTU
TRADE
YAWS


Click here for a free printable (.pdf) version of this puzzle (and the answer key).

Most Popular Baby Names of 2009: Word Search Puzzle

The Social Security Administration has released its official list of the most popular names for girl and boy babies in 2009. For future students and expectant parents (puzzles are great games at baby showers), we have created a word search puzzle using the top ten names for each sex.



J A C O B R A S B A V A T C L
N A E D R E S A T F L G N H I
J R Y S K T M E I L E I N A D
C L N D L M E M S R N A S O T
E L P N E E Q A A R H A O N S
C D E W I N O U B T U V R W S
I E T M I C H A E L Z T Y L X
L R N A E L A B L E C I D L E
I D F O G U L O L I V I A R S
A L T H L I N I A E A J E K I
O I O U M V N R A N T H O N Y
E M I L Y A C U E M L W T I S
R P U Q M O H A M M E D X O S
S S R T T N L A I L A L M Y A
P A U L E A O N Z E A A J E M
A U B O I C E E I F D B E E U
Y I Z H V D L W G I S I S R E
J X P T X U W R S Q T G S I L
O O M H N Y K O O U P A I C J
S L Z K J J N I V H S I C A U
H L B M C N D O E P F L A G L
U A M A R I A N N E Z Q Y R I
A K T M I A J U I V H W G X A
S D M E R F Q B E N J A M I N
A N B O C P R E D N A X E L A


GIRLS

1. Isabella
2. Emma
3. Olivia
4. Sophia
5. Ava
6. Emily
7. Madison
8. Abigail
9. Chloe
10. Mia


BOYS

1. Jacob
2. Ethan
3. Michael
4. Alexander
5. William
6. Joshua
7. Daniel
8. Jayden
9. Noah
10. Anthony



For a printable version (PDF file) of this puzzle, click here.

For a printable version (PDF file) of this puzzle's answer key, click here.

For a page of word search puzzles featuring the most popular baby names by year (back to the 1800s), click here.

Civic Literacy Report

The Intercollegiate Studies Institute has a free Civic Literacy Exam online. Click here to take the test.


This is a fun, interactive way for students (and teachers) to test their civics knowledge.

Scholastic Printables

The Scholastic company has great printables that teachers can use for free.

Regents Review Live

The New York Network, a service of the State University of New York, has released Regents Review 2.0 online. The free review programs in English, Integrated Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2/Trigonometry, Earth Science, Living Environment, Chemistry, Physics, and Global History are available here.

You needn't be from New York State to enjoy these proficiency test prep tools!

Using Electronic Resources and Searching on the Internet

Here is a great video on how students might conduct internet searches for research purposes.

India-to-the-U.S.: Finding Teaching Jobs in the United States

Many Indians (as well as Filipinos and others) are eager to find teaching positions in the United States. For the most part, applicants are well-spoken, qualified educators with years of experience. However, a great many are unfamiliar with the requirements for obtaining teaching credentials in the United States.

In many countries outside of the United States, a person with a degree in Mathematics can be hired to teach Mathematics in a high school. While this does occur to a limited degree in the United States, it is not the norm. Most teachers in the United States (particularly at public schools) must possess a degree in Education. Additionally, teachers must often pass state-conducted or other standardized tests (such as the Praxis). Foreign teachers can get teaching jobs in the United States, but they must first complete the requirements for teaching certification for the state (such as Michigan, New York, or California) in which they plan to teach.

Teaching certification requirements are different in each state because, according to the United States Constitution, the administration of education is left to individual states. A teacher certified to teach in Ohio cannot automatically teach in a public school in Texas. Click here for a list of teaching certification requirements (and teacher job postings) by individual states.

If you are unable or unwilling to complete the requirements for state certification, it is still possible for you to find a teaching job in the private sector. This could be in a religious (e.g., Catholic, Jewish, Muslim) school or in a private secular school.

Catholic schools are organized by diocese. There are hundreds upon hundreds of dioceses in the United States. Typically, a single office conducts teacher hiring for an entire diocese. The diocese will have a standardized application. You must apply for a teaching job directly with the diocese. For example, imagine that you want to teach Science in a high school in Toledo, Ohio. You would visit the website for the Diocese of Toledo and complete the application process. For another diocese or school, try doing a Google search (such as "diocese New York" or "Islamic school Detroit" or "Hebrew school New Jersey").

Note: Some religious schools require that teachers practice the faith of the school, but this is not always a requirement. For example, many non-Catholics teach in Catholic schools.

Even if you do not pursue a degree in Education from an American university, you should familiarize yourself with common American educational practices and beliefs. You will be asked questions about these practices during interviews. You should understand the U.S. attitudes toward inquiry- and student-based learning.

Good luck on your journey!

Bridging World History

This site offers terrific, brief videos complete with lesson plans and more. Units include:


1 Maps, Time, and World History
2 History and Memory
3 Human Migrations
4 Agricultural and Urban Revolutions
5 Early Belief Systems
6 Order and Early Societies
7 The Spread of Religions
8 Early Economies
9 Connections Across Land
10 Connections Across Water
11 Early Empires
12 Transmission of Traditions
13 Family and Household
14 Land and Labor Relationships
15 Early Global Commodities
16 Food, Demographics, and Culture
17 Ideas Shape the World
18 Rethinking the Rise of the West
19 Global Industrialization
20 Imperial Designs
21 Colonial Identities
22 Global War and Peace
23 People Shape the World
24 Globalization and Economics
25 Global Popular Culture
26 World History and Identity


Bridging World History

Every Month Is Black History Month

Every Month Is Black History Month is a terrific social studies teaching blog with lots of interesting material and downloadable teaching items.


You should definitely check it out!


For those at the blog--keep up the terrific work!

The Gadsden Purchase on Jimmy Fallon

Gadsden Purchase from Michael G on Vimeo.

This video is pretty funny! Kids love it.

Maps of War

Maps of War is a terrific website with lots of interactive historical maps.



Here is the history of world religions in 90 seconds.

Today in History

Monday, May 10, 2010



1775 - Fort Ticonderoga captured from the British by Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys


1869 - Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad


1924 - J. Edgar Hoover became the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)



For more fun "Today in History" trivia, along with free printable monthly and weekly calendars and planners, click here.

World War II: History of the Battle of Iwo Jima

History Annotated has a terrific video clip on the events on Iwo Jima, complete with authentic voices. Great for teachers covering World War II in the Pacific!

Looking for a teaching job?

We are here to help not only new teachers, but current teachers making career and location changes.


Due to budget cuts and other factors, many teachers are finding themselves in a position where they must consider relocating to another district. If this describes you, take a look at our page of teacher certification requirements and educator job hiring links by state, including U.S. territories and military bases.


As this school year winds down, our thoughts are with all teachers who are faced with budget cuts, and left making tough decisions.

Gap Minder

GapMinder offers lots of free statistics for students and others to use when conducting research projects.


Compare the United States to other countries, or one state to another.


Lots of fun for grown-ups, too.

Economics Today: PIGS, PIIGS, and PIIGGS - International Monetary Crisis

We are watching the news today following the economic crisis on Wall Street and rioting in Greece. There are a lot of terms being thrown around that should be explained and discussed with students by teachers covering these important current events.

PIGS: Portugal, Italy, Greece, and Spain.
PIIGS: Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain.
PIIGGS: Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Great Britain, and Spain.
[The acronym has changed as more countries have been added to the group.]

Why are these countries "piiggs"? While not all of their economies are hurting like the economy of Greece, they are heavily in debt. A decrease in buying from Greece, the United States, or one another may cause severe recessions (or even depressions) in these countries. Because the world trading economy is so heavily linked, decreased spending by these countries can easily hurt the United States.

Example students can understand: Thousands (or more) American tourists visit Europe each year. These tourists buy necessities (food) and buy souvenirs (goods) when in Europe. Because of the recession in the United States, fewer American tourists have visited Europe. Debt-heavy European countries rely on tourism to support their economies. If American tourists do not visit Europe, the European economy suffers. [For older students, describe the trade goods of Europe and the United States.]

PIIGS from Marketplace on Vimeo.

The Story of Mothers Day: Story Word Search Puzzle

Can word searches be educative? We think so. In fact, as far as we know, we invented the concept of the "story word search." This is a word search puzzle that tells a story. Essentially, there is a block of text. Certain terms within the text are capitalized and bolded; these terms are hidden in the puzzle. Instead of looking for random terms in the puzzle, students are looking for terms they understand on some level (having read them in the text).



Here is a free, printable, story word search puzzle on the history of Mother's Day in the United States.

World War I: Remember the MAIN!

Mnemonic devices are a great way of remember lists of information. Acronyms do this job very well.


What were the MAIN causes of World War I?


Militarism
Alliances
Imperialism
Nationalism


Conceivably, after teaching this acronym (and explaining/discussing the causes of the war in detail), a teacher could assign an essay test question such as: "Explain the main causes of World War I," knowing that students should have no trouble recalling what the main causes were.