Curated OER
National Park Service: Jazz Origins in New Orleans: 1895 1927
Dive into the rich history of jazz as it progressed in New Orleans. Focusing on the time from 1895 to 1927, this site highlights key musicians and influences that helped shape this American artform.
Iowa State University
The Roots of the Wto
This resource explains the origin of GATT and some of the events that took place in the earlier stages of GATT.
Texas A&M University
Wtamu Virtual Math Lab: Intermediate Algebra
This site is a tutorial for students in algebra 2 or for those who need a refresher. The site has explanations, definitions, examples, practice problems and practice tests are found covering topics such as linear equations, graphing,...
Texas Education Agency
Texas Gateway: Cognates (English Iii Reading)
In this lesson you'll learn about different types of cognates, words that sound or look alike from one language to the next. You'll learn how leveraging cognate knowledge helps you figure out unfamiliar words in English. When you combine...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Bewilder
The history of the word bewilder is more straightforward than you might think. Roots can be traced back to the Old English words wilde (undomesticated) and deor (untamed animals), eventually combined into the word wilderness. Jessica...
Other
Pop and Rock Music in the 60s: A Brief History
This site has an web-article of the origins of 60s rock. Sections include "The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll," "The 1960's Begin," "The British Invade," and "1968 & 1969: The Unraveling." Also includes a bibliography section called...
Other
Vocabulary Workshop
This vocabulary workshop will be helpful to anyone interested in brushing up on their skills. This site features a comprehensive look at root words, prefixes, suffixes and more.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Noise
The words noise, nausea, and naval all stem from the same Latin root. Jessica Oreck divulges how their spellings and meanings diverged from the original naus. [2:02]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Tuxedo
How did tuxedo's roots extend from Native American history to black tie evening wear? Jessica Oreck reveals what the Delaware Indians and formal fashion have in common. [2:04]
Other
Etymological Dictionary: Influences on Astronomy
An interesting look at the meanings of many of the words in mythology that have been used in English astronomical field. This resource lists the word, etymological and mythological root or character, and modern English meaning.
Other
Zhongwen: Chinese Characters and Culture (A Genealogy and Dictionary)
An excellent resource. Zhongwen's Chinese-English dictionary helps learners understand the origins of Chinese characters and their interconnections, with interesting information on character roots. In the readings section, English...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Sociology
A very detailed look at the development of the field of sociology. Looks at its historical roots, the earliest sociologists, and explains major theories that it was based on, and theories and schools of thought that evolved from those....
A&E Television
History.com: Day of the Dead: How Ancient Traditions Grew Into a Global Holiday
The Day of the Dead or Dia de Muertos is an ever-evolving holiday that traces its earliest roots to the Aztec people in what is now central Mexico. This article explains Day of the Dead Traditions.
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Keister
Originally meaning a woven container, the word keister has roots all over the place. The devil's tool box? Sure. A safe? That too. So, how did it become associated with the buttocks? Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel get to the bottom of...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Mysteries of Vernacular: Odd
Whether we're talking all things unusual or mathematical, the origins of the word odd point to the Indo-European root uzdho, which means pointing upwards. Jessica Oreck and Rachael Teel explain the evolution from the term for a triangle...
Other
New York University: Introduction to Sociology: The Field of Sociology
Explains what sociology is, what sociologists focus on, and its history.
Other
Catholic Culture: Catholic Activity: Carnival or Mardi Gras
Maria Augusta Trapp explains the origin of the time of feasting and revelry between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday, the seasonal celebration of Mardi Gras, which marks the beginning of Lent. Article also touches on the related tradition of...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: The True Story of 'True'
The older the word, the longer (and more fascinating) the story. With roots in Old English, 'true' shares etymological ancestors with words like betroth and truce, but also with the word tree. In fact, trees have been metaphors for...
Illustrative Mathematics
Illustrative Mathematics: A Rei Radical Equations
The purpose of the task is to show students a situation where squaring both sides of an equation can result in an equation with more solutions than the original one, because it is possible to have two unequal numbers whose squares are...
New York Times
New York Times: The Fortune Cookie: A History
Evidence points to fortune cookies originating in Japan, not China as most people assume. Here is a brief video presentation discussing the roots of the fortune cookies and how they became linked to Chinese culture. [1:21]