Curated OER
"The Father of Lavish Advertising": P.T. Barnum
Students examine the life and work of P.T. Barnum. They discover his advertising techniques and business practices. They examine his use of people with disabilities for amusement.
American Museum of Natural History
What Do You Know About T. Rex?
There's so much to learn about dinosaurs. A 10-question quiz tests knowledge of the more detailed characteristics of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. As individuals complete the quiz, they better understand how fossil records helped define some of...
E Reading Worksheets
Summary and Main Idea Worksheet 1
To develop their reading comprehension skills, learners read short paragraphs, summarize the passage in one sentence, and then develop an appropriate title that indicates the main idea of the selection.
National First Ladies' Library
Social Studies: Who Burned Down Barnum's Museum?
Learners examine the social conflict of the 19th century and the destruction of the American Museum. In pairs, they conduct Internet research and attempt to solve the mystery of who burned down the museum. Clues to the mystery are found...
Curated OER
Hunt the Fact Monster September #2
In this internet research learning exercise, 3rd graders use the Fact Monster search engine to find the answers to five multiple choice questions. A sample question asks: "Which ocean borders the African country of Ghana?"
Curated OER
Phineas Gage: Concept Analysis
Prepare for teaching Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science with this written analysis of the book. The analysis includes a summary, considerations for teachers, project ideas, and a list of additional resources that...
Curated OER
Eyewitness Dinosaur Video Quiz
In this science worksheet, students use their notes from the Eyewitness video on dinosaurs to help them select the correct answer for each question. They identify various types of dinosaur fossils found and their specific names.
Curated OER
Clowing Around: Ceramics
Clowns are a big hit with kids! Explore a few circus related websites to get an idea of how clowns look and what they do. They then build sculpting skills by creating expressive clown faces out of clay. Web links, materials list, and...
Curated OER
Household Names
Students explore the accomplishments of famous New Yorkers in the 19th century. In small groups, students read biographies and match them with a corresponding primary source document. The group that is most accurate in matching the...
Other
Barnum Museum
This website gives information on P.T. Barnum himself and special exhibits like Jumbo, the African elephant, and Tom Thumb.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
A description of many different forms of popular culture in the first half of the 19th century ranging from sensationalized newspapers to dime novels to pseudoscience. Read about Stephen Foster's music, theatrical productions, and even...
City University of New York
The Lost Museum
P.T. Barnum's American Museum was mysteriously destroyed by fire on July 13, 1865. The museum has been digitally recreated and you are invited to take a virtual tour. If you choose to register you can solve the mystery of who burned it...
Smithsonian Institution
Nat'l Portrait Gallery: Ballyhoo! Posters as Portraiture: Greatest Show on Earth
See a poster advertising The Greatest Show on Earth and read text explaining why the poster was so important to advertising the circus.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
American popular culture was many-faceted prior to the Civil War. Find out about the explosion of the number of newspapers and magazines, the many kinds of popular entertainment, and even phrenology as entertainment.
Other
History Magazine: Step Right Up!
History Magazine examines the America's love affair with the circus. Outstanding article about the history of the circus. Find links to other sources.
Other
Times: Recreation at the Crossroads of the World
Good site for historical overview of the rise and fall of the New York Hippodrome. Also mentions a one of its early productions, "A Yankee Circus on Mars".