Online/Printable Resource for History?

[Paige]

I'm planning on creating my own history lessons for the kids this year since I haven't found anything "perfect" for us. I want to do secular US history from prehistoric times to the present. I'll be happy to split it into a couple of years if I need to. I have some books and activities planned but I'd really like some kind of online resource that would have printables, videos, activities, and other readings including primary sources that I could pick from to supplement and help me stay focused. I'm tired of finding everything piece by piece and of making up my own stuff for everything. I looked at Cicero but was  disappointed that their US History prehistory was really European history or basic Western Civ. I could deal with that if the rest was good but the preview was clunky. I've looked at ABC teach in the past and thought it was kind of babyish. I'd prefer to have something online and not a book, CD or PDF based resource.

 

Is there anything else? I'll be combining 4 kids (2nd-7th). If I have to pick, I'm more interested in resources for my older students than the younger ones. 

[TarynB]

I feel your pain.  It would be nice to have printables, videos, activities, and primary sources all online in one place, but I haven't one source I like yet either.   

 

There's lots of primary source material at the Library of Congress website.  http://www.loc.gov/

 

Have you seen World History for Us All?  It isn't limited to US history but other facets of it seem to fit with building your own curriculum so maybe you could use some of it.  http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/

 

Or perhaps the free PBS resources, including videos and some games, that go with Hakim's A History of US.  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/historyofus/

 

Hippocampus has US history videos too.  http://www.hippocampus.org/HippoCampus/History%20%26%20Government

 

I haven't personally used any of these, but have them bookmarked for future use.  Maybe something here will help.