Podcast #172 - Preview of Smithsonian's Free Online Conference About Lincoln - February 4-5, 2009

Hello. Today's podcast is my fourth in a series of ten - "Ways You Can Celebrate the 200th Birthday of Abraham Lincoln". I briefly mentioned this at the end of an earlier podcast ( Podcast #166 - Using the Smithsonian's "In Your Classroom" to Teach Lincoln )discussing several excellent lesson plans on Lincoln featured in Smithsonian In Your Classroom, but I wanted to provide some more detail about this incredible opportunity for teachers to attend a free, online conference with some of the Smithsonian's experts on Lincoln. Attend in person or come back later and view the archives. I hope to attend several in person and then view the rest later.

Check out the podcast for the schedule, then go visit the Smithsonian's Official Site for the Lincoln Online Conference. If you're early introduce yourself on the discussions page and then come back on the day of the workshop. You can also check to see if your computer has all the needed applications to participate in the workshop live. If you have any comments, or if you are planning to attend, please leave a comment on this blog post.

Direct link to Podcast #162 - Preview of Smithsonian's Free Online Conference About Lincoln - February 4-5, 2009 - MP3 Audio File

Podcast #171 - Teaching Lincoln with Political Cartoons of His Time

Hello. As we get closer to the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln in several weeks, we look at another resource you can use in your classroom to teach about Lincoln. Today we discuss two books that I have used in the past to give students an understanding that Lincoln was viewed in a different light during his own time. There were many during his presidency that did agree with his policies and depicted this view through political cartoons. In today's podcast I discuss two excellent books you can use with students. A link to both of these books are listed below.

- The Political Cartoons of the Whispering Gallery by the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

- The Lines are Drawn - Political Cartoons of the Civil War edited by Kristen M. Smith

If you have used these books in your classroom or would like to comment on this podcast please leave a comment on this blog post. We would love to hear how other teachers are using political cartoons to teach Lincoln.

Direct link to Podcast #171 - Teaching Lincoln Through Political Cartoons of His Time - MP3 Audio File

Satellite Image of the Inauguration

Check out this incredible image of the Mall in Washington DC during the inauguration.

Wordle of President Obama's Inaugural Address

I created a Wordle tonight from the text of President Obama's Inaugural Address yesterday. I love Wordle. Great tool to bring text to life for visual learners.

Anyone Teaching A Lesson About Children Living in the White House?

I recently received an e-mail from a media contact looking for a classroom that is currently using the concept of children in the White House - specifically Sasha and Malia Obama - as a teachable moment.

If you, or one of your colleges, is doing a lesson focusing on children living in the White House please e-mail me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com and I will pass it long. Thanks.

President Obama Taking the Oath of Office

A quick picture of my classroom today during the oath by President Obama. My class was absolutely silent for the oath and the speech - not common in an 8th grade class.

Podcast #170 - Resources to Teach the Inauguration In Your Classroom

Hello. Classrooms across the country on January 20th will be focused on the inauguration of our next president - Barack Obama. Today I would like to share just a couple of resources that you can use in your classroom with your students. There are many, many sites to help you teach the inauguration, those listed below are just a few.

The New York Times has created a rich and interactive site to provide perspective on the inaugural speeches of every president in United States history - see the full text of each speech, a PDF of the New York Times the following day and a word cloud which demonstrates the number of times each word was used. The Times also has an excellent interactive page showing the route Mr. Obama will take during the day, ala Google Earth style. The third site is a link to a cool visual Obama mosaic created from the front pages of over 600 newspapers from the day after the election in November.

- New York Times - Inaugural Words : 1789 to Present

- New York Times - Inauguration Day and Parade Route

- Obama Mosaic of 600 Newspapers From Day After Election

If you have any comments about the podcast or would like to share what your classroom did on Inauguration Day please leave a comment on this blog post.


Direct link to Podcast #170 - Resources to Teach the Inauguration in Your Classroom - MP3 Audio File

Podcast #169 - My Five Podcast and Technology Goals for 2009

Hello. In today's podcast I discuss my goals for 2009 in relation to the podcast and technology. It is a rather ambitious list and I hope by putting it on "paper" and in the podcast it will hopefully give me more motivation to succeed. Listen to the podcast to learn more about each of the goals.

1. Create and publish 100 podcasts this year

2. Finish and publish my book on teaching American History with technology

3. Launch my comprehensive website with resources for American history teachers and with access to all of my notes and presentations

4. Use technology to enhance the Clay County Historical Society Museum - web site, audio guide by cell tours, video content, etc.

5. Interview Pulitzer Prize winning author David McCullough

If you have any comments or would like to share some of your goals for 2009, please feel free to leave a comment on this blog post. Good luck with all your goals for 2009!

Direct link to Podcast #169 - My Five Podcast and Technology Goals for 2009 - MP3 Audio File

Podcast #168 - Review of Abraham Lincoln : Great American Historians On Our Sixteenth President

Hello. As we near the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, I am discussing 10 great things you can do to celebrate the life of this amazing president. I started last week with a great lesson plan and online webinar resource from the Smithsonian ( check out Speaking of History Podcast #166 ). Today I am suggesting a great book I purchased just a couple of weeks ago - Abraham Lincoln : Great American Historians On Our Sixteenth President edited by Brian Lamb and Susan Swain. This is a C-Span book so you know it high quality content and a great way to reflect on a wide range of topics relating to Lincoln. Check out the podcast and listen to what I think of the book.




In addition to reading the book, I encourage you to check out the online content from C-Span on Lincoln as we celebrate throughout 2009. The C-Span site has many additional resources and amazing full length video content with authors and historians on Lincoln. You can view hours of discussion on Lincoln for free from this site - incredible.

If you have a comment you would like to share about the podcast, please leave a comment on this blog entry or e-mail directly at speakingofhistory@gmail.com


UPDATE:

The day after posting the podcast I was excited to recieve the following e-mail from Susan Swain, editor of the book:

Mr. Langhorst

Just listened to your podcast about our Abraham Lincoln book...thanks so much for telling other teachers about the book. We're all about education at C-SPAN and an endorsement from Missouri's teacher of the year is about as exciting as it gets.

Best regards, Susan Swain

Thanks again to Susan and everyone at C-Span for their work in creating resources teachers can use in the classroom.


Direct link to Podcast #168 - Review of Abraham Lincoln : Great American Historians on Our Sixteenth President - MP3 Audio File

Podcast #167 - Twitter, Social Media and the Reporting of the US Airways Plane Landing in the Hudson

Hello. Tonight I just wanted to share some thoughts on how I "watched" the coverage of today's top story - the US Airways plane landing in the Hudson River - on both mainstream media and my Twitter network. I'm not sure if I'm a fan of the term "citizen journalist" but I couldn't help but be amazed as I saw stunning first photos of the rescue - see picture above taken by Janis Krums while on a ferry coming to help the passengers. He used TwitPic to post the picture immediately and it is now being viewed around the globe.

I think this has some powerful implications for education and how our students obtain information. What do you think? Who controls the flow of information today? Is it as reliable as it was 15 years ago? Is it better or worse? Just some thoughts on a Thursday night before I head to bed.


Direct link to Podcast #167 - Twitter, Social Media and the Reporting of the US Airways Plane Landing in the Hudson River" to Teach Lincoln - MP3 Audio File

Podcast #166 - Smithsonian's "In Your Classroom" To Teach Lincoln

Hello. We are currently within a month of celebrating the 200th birthday of our greatest president - Abraham Lincoln. Teachers across the country are preparing and planning events. Today's podcast will discuss a couple of ways you can bring Lincoln into your classroom courtesy of the Smithsonian.

Be sure to view and download the Spring 2009 Issue of Smithsonian In Your Classroom which features 2 Lincoln lesson plans - Lincoln's Trip to Richmond and The Face of War. All of the resources are available for download as a PDF file. It could not be easier to incorporate these lessons into your classroom.

The second great opportunity from the Smithsonian is an invitation to attend/view the Online Conference Series focusing on the life of Lincoln. This virtual conference will take place on February 4 and 5, 2009. You can ask questions of the experts and learn about a variety of topics relating to Lincoln. All segments will be recorded and archived for viewing later.

If you have used these resources or have any thoughts on how you will celebrate the birthday of Lincoln, please leave a comment on this blog post or email me at speakingofhistory@gmail.com


Direct link to Podcast #166 - Smithsonian's "In Your Classroom" to Teach Lincoln - MP3 Audio File

Smithsonian In Your Classroom - Focus on Lincoln

This spring while in Washington DC as part of the National Teacher of the Year Program I spent an amazing day at the Smithsonian learning about the wealth of resources available to teachers - both when physically visiting the museums and when your classroom is hundreds of miles away. I became part of the Smithsonian Teacher Ambassador Program to help spread the word about these amazing resources.

Many of us are currently getting ready to help celebrate the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln with our students. I would like to pass along the following information about the latest issue of "Smithsonian in Your Classroom" - which includes a variety of great lesson plans on Lincoln. The issue includes some great information and one of my favorite Lincoln classroom activities - comparing photographs of Lincoln as he took office and then at the end of the Civil War just prior to his assassination. I encourage all history teachers to check it out. The issue and resources are available online, and as always - FREE.

Abraham Lincoln: The Face of a War

The latest issue of Smithsonian in Your Classroom is on its way to your schools and also available as a PDF download from SmithsonianEducation.org. The lessons in this issue use Smithsonian portraits of Lincoln to introduce a study of the Civil War. The portraits include the famous “cracked-plate” photograph, two plaster “life masks,” and an eyewitness drawing of Lincoln’s arrival in the enemy capital of Richmond, Virginia.

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/lincoln/index.html

Free Abraham Lincoln Virtual Conference

The Smithsonian is honoring Abraham Lincoln’s bicentennial with special exhibitions and programs, and you will be able to participate in the national celebration through the first Smithsonian Online Education Conference: Abraham Lincoln. Throughout the days of February 4 and 5, 2009, you’ll explore Smithsonian research and collections related to Lincoln’s life – everything from portraits and diaries to documents and historical artifacts. Alongside Smithsonian curators, you’ll look at Lincoln’s life and legacy from the perspectives of history, science, and art.

http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/lincoln

Lincoln at 200

Also check out all the Lincoln events and resources available from the Smithsonian:

http://www.gosmithsonian.com/lincoln/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/life-of-lincoln.html

Corps of Discovery - Dress As Your Favorite Member of the Corps Day

Hello. Each year I come to school on one day dressed as a member of the Corps of Discovery. About 7 years ago I received a grant to purchase an outfit based on the records of what a member of the Corps of Discovery wore on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In the past I have dyed my hair red and tried to become William Clark. Today I just came as a "common" member of the Corps.

Podcast #165 - The Book Blitz Classroom Activity - Getting Students to Read Historical Novels

Hello. We did an interesting activity in class today that I thought I would share - a Book Blitz. Our library media center has a great collection of historical novels and books with a historical interest - my task is to encourage students to check them out and read them. For some reason though it just doesn't work for me to tell them to "go to the LMC and find a good historical novel" so I decided to bring the books to them.

The podcast describes how we did the activity and the handout I created is available here as a PDF if you want to use in your classroom. I have also listed a partial list of novels and books that were pulled from the LMC to use for the blitz activity. I have read some, but not all, of the books on this list.

- Book Blitz Student Handout - PDF Format

- Online Timer - can be used in class to keep track of time for the activity

If you would like to comment on this podcast, let me know how this activity worked in your class or would like to comment on a novel from the list (or add a historical novel for junior high students to the list) please leave a comment to this blog post.

George Washington, Spymaster - by Thomas B. Allen

The Captain's Dog by Roland Smith

The California Gold Rush - An Interactive History Adventure (You Choose Books) by Elizabeth Rawn

The Rifle by Gary Paulsen

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Hope's Crossing by Joan Elizabeth Goodman

The Ransom of Mercy Carter by Caroline B. Cooney

Beyond the Divide by Kathryn Lasky

Letters from the Corrugated Castle by Joan W. Blos

Just Jane by William Lavender

47 by Walter Mosley

The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds - The Donner Party Expedition (My Name is America Series)

The Murder of Abraham Lincoln (Graphic Novel) by Rick Geary

Cabin on Trouble Creek by Jean Van Leeuwen

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox

An Enemy Among Them by Deborah H. DeFord and Harry S. Stout

Hang A Thousand Trees with Ribbons - The Story of Phillis Wheatley by Ann Rinaldi

Direct link to Podcast #165 - The Book Blitz Activity - MP3 Audio File

Podcast #164 - Review of Henry Knox - Visionary General of the American Revolution by Mark Puls

Today's podcast is a review of one the best best I have read recently on the American Revolutionary War era and its leaders - Henry Knox - Visionary General of the American Revolution by Mark Puls For the past couple of year Knox has fascinated me as one of the most under appreciated figures of the American Revolution. His contributions during the war and in the years immediately following the war are incredible - and most Americans are not aware of his contributions.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning more about the Revolutionary era and teaches this time period to students. My wife gave me this book for my birthday in the fall and I really enjoyed reading it. I would love to have the opportunity to sit down and chat with Mr. Knox and I think I would instantly like him.

If you have a comment about his book, have read it and would like to share your impressions or share my admiration for Knox -please leave a comment to this blog post. Thanks.

Direct link to Podcast #164 - Review of Henry Knox - Visionary General of the American Revolution by Mark Puls - MP3 Audio File

"School House to the White House" Teacher Workshop at the Truman Library

Just passing along some information about a great opportunity to Kansas City area history teachers - or anyone that can make it the Truman Library on February 7, 2009. I plan on sending in my application later today.

Beginning on February 7th and lasting through August 30th the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum will host the National Archives traveling exhibit, "School House to White House: The Education of Presidents". Journey back to the schooldays of the 20th-century presidents through photographs, archival materials, and museum objects revealing fascinating detail about the children who would one day grow up to be President of the United States.

In conjunction with this exhibit, a teacher workshop will be held from 9:00 - 3:00 on Saturday, February 7th. Educators from four Presidential Libraries (Hoover, Truman, Eisenhower, and Clinton) will share information and teaching activities for use in the classroom. The cost for this one day workshop is $25.00 and includes a lunch. The workshop is limited to 50 participants. You must go to this Truman Library website education page to download and print the registration.

http://www.trumanlibrary.org/educ/schoolhouseregistration.pdf

This form with your $25.00 payment must then be mailed in.

Free Webinar on Zunes in the Classroom January 6th

Hello. Just wanted to let you know I will be hosting a free Microsoft Tech Tuesday webinar describing how we have been using Zune MP3 players in our classroom at 3:00 PM on Tuesday, January 6,2009. Follow this link to register for the webinar and learn more.

I have been piloting the use of the Zune MP3 player in my classroom for the past two years. In one of my 8th grade American history classes each student has a 4GB Zune MP3 player. I use it to give them StudyCasts, history related podcasts, video and copies of the presentation notes. It has been an exciting project and my students love it. The webinar will be an opportunity for me to describe the project in more depth. This webinar is also scheduled to repeat on March 10, 2009 if you can't make it on Tuesday.

At the end of the webinar one lucky participant will win a 120 GB Zune MP3 player! It could be you. Hope to see some of you on Tuesday. If you have any questions please leave a comment or sent me an e-mail. Thanks.