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Primary
Other

On the Lower East Side: Observations of Life in Lower Manhattan

For Students 9th - 10th
Links to contemporary essays about life on the Lower East Side of New York City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These essays cover a range of topics and are well worth exploring to find out what problems writers were exposing...
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Activity
Other

Nyc Transportation Alternatives: Bicycle Blueprint

For Students 9th - 10th
This site details "a plan to bring bicycling into the mainstream in New York City." Offers maps and detailed information on improving big city other-than-auto transportation choices.
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Website
Other

New York Public Library: Small Town America

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides pictures to help you understand the way of life during the turn of the twentieth century. Enter the collection and click on "Browse" for a drop down menu of collections of photographs of "street scenes in cities,...
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Unit Plan
University of Minnesota

U Mn: Immigrants & Cities: Mapping Ethnic Enclaves in Early 20th Century Us

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource couples a visual and descriptive map of urban ethnic enclaves with an oral interview by an immigrant growing up in New York City. Its goal is to provide different ways of "mapping" or understanding life for immigrants...
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Interactive
New York Times

New York Times: Carnival in the Dominican Republic

For Students 9th - 10th
Captioned photos and music provide a taste of what life is like in the Dominican city of La Vega when Carnival comes to town.
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Unit Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: People: Assimilation and the Crucible of the City: The American Metropolis

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A photograph of State Street in Chicago and George Bellows' painting of Lower Manhattan, both depicting the vigorous, gritty, energetic urban life in the early-twentieth century.
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Graphic
Curated OER

A View on Cities: New York: Ny Life Insurance Company Tower

For Students 9th - 10th
NY Life Insurance Company Tower (New York)
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Unit Plan
The History Cat

The History Cat: History Trekker: Ellis Island: An Immigrant Story

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about the difficult life of Jews in Russia under Czar Alexander III, one where they faced discrimination and Jewish communities were attacked when pogroms took place. Follow along as a Russian Jew travels to America and is processed...
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Website
Other

Skyscraper Museum

For Students 9th - 10th
The Skyscraper Museum is dedicated to the tallest buildings in the world, most of which are in New York City, the museum's home. Learn about both how and why skyscrapers reach greater and greater heights.
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Handout
City University of New York

Brooklyn College: Exploring Life @ Bi Odot Edu: Signs of Life: Complexity

For Students 9th - 10th
A nice introduction to the idea that living things are highly organized at several different levels. Great as an introduction to biological complexity.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: North America Dear Pen Pal

For Teachers 5th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] A letter from Sara Makpah who lives in Canada to her pen pal living in New York City. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Article
A&E Television

History.com: 9/11: How Air Traffic Controllers Managed the Crisis in the Skies

For Students 9th - 10th
September 11, 2001 was not a great day in air traffic control. As the morning progressed, four separate terror attacks unfolded in the skies, with hijackers using commercial aircraft as weapons. Perpetrators deliberately flew three of...
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Website
PBS

A Life Apart: Hasidism in America

For Students 9th - 10th
Created to support of PBS documentary, this site can stand alone in its offerings of other resources on Hasidism, clips from video and interviews, and background information on this Eastern European religious community.
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Activity
City University of New York

City University of New York: Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter

For Students 9th - 10th
A series of discussion questions to accompany screenings of the award-winning documentary "The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter." The film can be purchased or ordered through some libraries.
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Professional Doc
AdLit

Ad lit.org: Reading Discussion Guide: Hello, America by Livia Bitton Jackson

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Eighteen-year-old Elli has a number tattooed onto her arm. It is an indelible remnant of a terrifying past a life lived, for many years, in the death camp of Auschwitz. When Elli arrives in New York City, she can not speak English, and...
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Website
Other

Place in History: The Bowery Hall of Fame

For Students 9th - 10th
Stroll through the Bowery in New York City and see what the tenements looked like in the late 19th century. This mini museum shows the life of the Bowery. Information about tenement areas in other cities is included.
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Handout
Other

Jazz Roots: James Reese Europe

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a detailed account of Lieutenant Jim Europe's life as a musician, his performances in New York City, and his impact upon the music scene. Includes links to relevant people, photos, and a personal account by a witness of...
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Website
Other

American Girl: Rebecca, a Lively Girl

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Meet Rebecca, a character in the American Girl series, and learn about life in New York City during the peak immigration period through this collection of stories, games, and activities. Also, includes teacher's guide and worksheets.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Bugging Out

For Teachers 4th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about bedbugs. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Profile of an Actor

For Teachers 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about the life of a typical actor in New York City. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
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Handout
Seymour Brody

Jewish Heroes in America: Beverly Sills

For Students 9th - 10th
Delves into the life story of opera singer and director of the New York City Opera, Beverly Sills.
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Handout
Art Cyclopedia

Artcyclopedia: Artists by Movement: The Ashcan School

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a description of the artists from this movement with links to their art in various museums.
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Boys' Choir of Harlem

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students read about the Boys Choir of Harlem. A question sheet is available to help students build reading comprehension skills.
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Handout
Stephen Byrne

History for Kids: Maria Tallchief

For Students 1st - 6th
History for Kids website offers an overview of the life of Maria Tallchief, a proud member of the Osage Indian tribe and prima ballerina for the New York City ballet.