When we view paintings and other works of art our eyes usually move across the surface of the canvas, hitting on various points, objects, and figures in the picture. In this lesson students will learn about repetition, one of the techniques artists often use to highlight important elements within a painting's composition, and to move a viewer's eye around the canvas, from highpoint to highpoint.

Students examine Martin Puryear's "Ladder for Booker T. Washington" and consider how the title of Puryear's sculpture is reflected in the meanings we can draw from it. They learn about Booker T. Washington's life and legacy, and through Puryear's ladder, students explore the African American experience from Booker T.'s perspective and apply their knowledge to other groups in U.S. History. They also gain understanding of how a ladder can be a metaphor for a person's and a group's progress toward goals.

Poet. Orator. Actress. Activist. Writer. Singer. Phenomenal Woman. These and many more superlatives are used to describe the incomparable Maya Angelou. Gone too soon in 2014 at the age of 86, Dr. Angelou's legacy will live on through the words she used to eloquently, powerfully, and honestly express emotions, capture experiences, and spread hope.

This site from Fordham University contains actual letters between the United Nations and the USSR. These letters are attempts to reach a resolution in the Cuban Missile Crisis.

The official web site for the 9-11 Commission with copies of the final report, information on the hearings held by the commission and more.

The complete transcripts of the public hearings held by the 9-11 Commission from March 2003 to April 2003. There is also a collection of video excerpts.

In this lesson, students learn to determine the latitude and longitude of locations within the United States, while making observations about climate and the ways in which these measurements can be useful. Includes maps and discussion prompts.

While "The New Colossus" once welcomed immigrants into New York Harbor from its perch on the Statue of Liberty, this video [5:22] excerpted from Poetry in America brings the discussion of poetry and immigration into our current moment. Host Elisa New rediscovers the freshness and the still-potent charge of Emma Lazarus' iconic sonnet alongside singer-songwriter Regina Spektor, activist and founder of the United We Dream Foundation Cristina Jimenez, President of the American Federation of Teachers Randi Weingarten, financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein, and poet Duy Doan. This video contemplates the physical, and figurative journeys charted by all immigrants.

The Nobel Foundation provides a biography of Joseph Brodsky (1940-1996 CE). The site contains a press release announcing his winning of the award, a presentation speech, a Nobel lecture and a picture of his Nobel diploma.

Find out about the diplomatic crisis between the United States and Great Britain at the beginning of the Civil War, why it was important to the North and South, and how it was resolved.

Video discussing the events leading up to the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. [11:58]

Khan Academy learning modules include a Community space where users can ask questions and seek help from community members. Educators should consult with their Technology administrators to determine the use of Khan Academy learning modules in their classroom. Please review materials from external sites before sharing with students.

What is American roots music? The term "American roots music" may not be a familiar one, and requires some explanation. At the beginning of the 20th Century, the term "folk music" was used by scholars to describe music made by whites of European ancestry, often in the relatively isolated rural South. As the century progressed, the definition of folk music expanded to include the song styles - particularly the blues - of Southern blacks as well. In general, folk music was viewed as a window into the cultural life of these groups. Folk songs communicated the hopes, sorrows and convictions of ordinary people's everyday lives. Increasingly, music made by other groups of Americans such as Native Americans, Mexican-Americans, and Cajuns came under the umbrella of "folk music." It was sung in churches, on front porches, in the fields and other workplaces, while rocking children to sleep, and at parties. The melodies and words were passed down from parent to child, though songs - and their meanings - often changed to reflect changing times.

A collection of resources about domes that includes basic facts about domes, challenges faced by dome builders, famous domes from around the world, and a lab that helps you understand different kinds of materials used to construct domes. Also includes links to recommended websites on related topics. An excellent site for exploring Roman contributions to engineering and architecture.

Amidst tensions over European political and territorial boundaries, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a Serbian terrorist in 1914 derailed peace in the western world by sparking World War IåÑone of the highest-casualty conflicts in modern times. While European nations quickly engaged, the United States immediately declared neutrality. By 1917, however, remaining neutral was no longer an option. The Great War would bring the United States out of isolationism and onto the world stage. It would also change life on the American home front forever. A centralized government took control of American life in an unprecedented fashion by instating a mandatory military draft, controlling industries, initiating food and ration restrictions, and launching elaborate campaigns to encourage patriotism. One of the most important, if temporary, changes brought by the war at home came from the stifled flow of labor, as men were pulled away by the draft and immigration slowed. The need for American labor provided second-class citizens, such as women and African Americans, a brief opportunity for better jobs. This glimpse would help foment in them a desire for more and equal opportunities after they were pulled away once more at waråÕs end. This exhibition was created as part of the DPLAåÕs Public Library Partnerships Project by collaborators from Digital Commonwealth. Exhibition organizer: Anna Fahey-Flynn.

This resource provides step-by-step lesson plans that detail the Presidential Inauguration. It offers links to superb primary sources (photos, poems, audio, etc.) that catalog past inaugurations. This resource will certainly help students understand the tradition and history behind the Presidential Inauguration.

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly video about the perceptions and challenges of being a Muslim woman in the United States. [7:21]

This site provides lesson plans that explore the First Ladies. Covers many aspects of the images and duties expected of the First Ladies. Provides numerous links to photos and other sites with extensive biographical information.

[Free Registration/Login Required] Author and professor, Michael F. Holt, presents an overview of his book, "The Rise and Fall of the American Whig Party." This party lasted roughly twenty years in the United States, but in some way it paved the way to the Republican party which emerged in 1854. [42:57]

A brief, easy to read definition of citizenship, with links to closely related subjects like how to become a citizen, the definition of naturalization, the Constitution on citizenship, and the history of citizenship in the United States.