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Web pages for Grade 5 students with research links reviewed and selected by the
Librarians of the Lexington Public Schools, Lexington, MA
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Grade 5

Please note: Sites marked with an * require an adult reading level.
 
Health: Mental and Emotional Health
Math
Social Studies: Geography/History
Health: Nutrition
World Languages: Spanish
Social Studies: Colonies
Science: Electricity and Magnetism
Science:  Energy Conservation
Social Studies: Native Americans
Science: Human Body
Social Studies: The Revolution
Social Studies: Exploration
Science: Investigating and Inventing
Social Studies: Elections
Social Studies: U.S. Government


Health: Mental and Emotional Health
Feelings and Changes. Articles about your feelings--like why people sometimes feel sad or when someone dies--and about your changing body, like what puberty means.
 
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Health: Nutrition
Eat right with Benny Goodsport! Learn about the food pyramid.
 
Ten Tips to Healthy Eating and Physical Activity. Ten healthy tips for nine- to fifteen-year-olds with a food guide pyramid and kid's activity pyramid.
 
Food and Fitness. Articles about nutrition, calories, diets, the mysteries of the food pyramid, and a whole lot more. Dig in!
 
Fruit and Vegetable Nutrition Center. All you need to know about fruits and vegetables.
 
My Health. Articles about different medical conditions.
 
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Math
Fraction Shapes. Identify geometric shapes and answer questions about their relationships.
Math Fact Cafe  Click the "Begin" button to work on multiplication fact practice.
Meteor Multiplication  Play the game and print out your progress.
 
Totally Tessallated Learn about tessallation from A to Z.
What's My Angle?  Investigate angles and protractors.
 
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Science: Electricity and Magnetism

Benjamin Franklin and Electricity.  Information about Franklin with links to Edison, Faraday and activities.
 
The Blobz Guide to Electric Currents An interactive site for 1-5 students about circuits, conductors, insulators,and switches. Includes information, activities and quizzes.
Circuits and Conductors  Play the games to complete the circuits.
 Dr. Electric's Laboratory  Explore site to find information about cell phones, microwaves and more.
Earth's Magnetic Shield  Find out how our magentic shield protects us.
Energy Quest  Find out about  electricity, fossil fuels, solar and wind energy, turbines and generators.  Includes brief biographies of scientists.
Exploratorium: Electricity Try a few electricity experiments.
 
Exploratorium: Magnetism Experiment with magnetism.
Famous People in Energy  Brief biographies of individuals who have made significant contributions to energy and science.
 
Frankenstein's Lightning Laboratory Make electricity with a fruit and learn about electrical safety.
IEEE Virtual Museum  Browse virtual exhibits about women in science, electronics and music anddigital recording technology.
Lightning: The Shocking Story  Learn some shocking facts and hear some electrifying stories.
Magnetic Fields  Find out about magnetic fields.
Tech Topics   The Tech Museum in California has some great interactive Shockwave tutorials, including one on series and parallel circuits.  Shows electrons moving in circuits.
Theater of Electricity Boston's Museum of Science site that explains lightning, Franklin's kite experiment and the Van de Graaf generator.

What is Static Electricity? Find out about the nature of matter and why static electricity occurs.
          Wonders of Electricity  Do you know how electricity is generated?
 
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Science: Human Body
Airjunk. What's in the air you breathe? Close-ups of specks, flecks and particles and directions to make an air dust collector.
 
Brain Metaphors. Check out this list of brain metaphors. Can you add to it?
 
Heart: An Online Exploration. Explore the heart. Discover the complexities of its development and structure. Follow the blood through the blood vessels.
 
KidsHealth.org. Find out about your body, illnesses, and staying healthy at this site sponsored by The Nemours Foundation.

My Body. Articles about the different parts that make up your body. Find out what these parts do, what they look like, and what makes them so special.
 
Neuroscience for Kids. A searchable site for information on the brain, the nervous system, and the senses.
The Virtual Body Take a tour of the bones, build a skeleton and zoom in on specific bones.  Click "English" button followed by "Skeleton" button to get to this site.   
Your Gross and Cool Body. Learn all about the gross and cool stuff human bodies create such as burps, gargles, and snores.
 
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Science: Investigating and Inventing


Biographies of African-American Inventors. Biographies of 6 important inventors.
 
Edison National History Site. Follow a timeline with photographs of Edison's life. Check out the FAQs about him and learn more about his inventions.
 
Thomas Edison. Learn about the invention of the phonograph.
 
Inventions Change Our Lives. Scroll halfway down the page to click on links for famous inventors.
 
League of Extraordinary Scientists WebQuest Research three scientists so that you may nominate one to the League.
 
Lemelson Center. Look here to learn about Thomas Edison, his life, thoughts, and inventions.
 
Leonardo Homepage. Explore the fascinating life of this scientist inventor, and artist.
 
Smithsonian Edison after Forty. Look at a photo album of Thomas Edison.
 
Super Scientists. Find out about energy pioneers from Celsius to Woods.
 
Today's Scientists. Click to read about men and women scientists of the twentieth century.
 
World of Benjamin Franklin. Click on links to find out about Franklin as an inventor, scientist and printer.
Women in Science   Short bios of ecologists, geologists and other scientists.
 
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  Science: Energy Conservation
Energy Kid's Page  Find facts, games, and history.
Energy Efficiency World NStar site about how to save energy.
Forms of Energy  Find out about definitions and forms.
Light Bulb Life Story   How does a lightbulb affect our environment?
Watt's Up?  A Co-Nect Energy Project  Learn to monitor electricity use in school and develop a conservation plan.  

 

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Social Studies: Colonies

 
Africans in America: The British Colonies. Find out about the reasons for slavery in the colonies. Be sure to put your cursor over the colonies to find out about each colony.
 
Agriculture and Education in Colonial America. Follow the slide show to learn about Jamestown, Plymouth, and Georgia.
 
American Centuries...View from New England Explore American history using artifacts and documents from a New England museum.
 
The American Colonies and Colonial Life. Find many facts and a great deal of information about the original 13 Colonies. Includes maps, charts, and links to many other sources.
 
Colonial America Browse the timeline for links to early colonies, famous leaders and events.
Colonial America: 1492-1763. Jump back in time to Colonial America. Timeline, pictures, and information. Be sure to click on the More button for a list of topics.
 
Colonial America 1600-1775. Lots of links to information about history, education, medicine, art, architecture and more.

Colonial Era Webquest   Explore the resources at this site to find out about Colonial America.

Colonial Kids. Find out about home, school, transportation,chores and Native American friends.
 
Colonial Williamsburg: A Day in the Life Visit the Day in the Life Online Acitivities. Virtually dress the people of that time period.
Colonial Williamsburg Almanack. Click History Explorer to find out about people's houses, jobs, food, religion, politics, tools and clothing.
Jamestown 2007 Play an online adventure game to establish and maintain a new colony.
 
Jamestown Rediscovery. What was life like in 1607? Be sure to click the Our Exhibits link to see online exhibits.
 
Jamestowne Society. Find out about John Smith, Pocahontas, how the settlers survived. Includes the charter and timeline.
Lost Colony of Roanoke. What happened to the colony of Roanoke.
New France ABC Click on “ABC”, then click on “Start”. Select Level 3. Click on letters B, K,N, P, Q, V and W to learn about life in New France and interactions with the Native Americans.
 
New France is ... Click on the underlined words to learn more.
 
New Netherland Virtual Tour HomePage Scroll to the bottom of the page to begin your tour.
 
Plimoth Plantation Museum Page. Information about the 1627 Pilgrim village, crafts, and homes with links to the Mayflower, Thanksgiving and Wampanoags.
 
Rare Map Collection--Colonial America. Maps from the University of Georgia Hargrett rare Book & Manuscript Library.
 
Really Neat Books. Do you know what a hornbook was made of? Or what a battledore was used for?
 
History of St. Augustine Find out about America's oldest continuously occupied city.
 
St Augustine, America's Ancient City Find out about the events, the people and look at artifacts from
1565 to 1800.
13 Originals. Information and maps about the colonies.
 
Understanding Slavery. Explore the remarkable life of Olaudah Equiano through his own words and witness a slave auction.
 
Virtual Tour of Plimoth Plantation. Visit Plimoth Plantation to see the daily life of the Pilgrims.
 
Welcome to the French Frontier 1700-1800. Click on people, objects, timeline and activities for colonial times in Illinois.
 
Within These Walls. Go back in time and hear the stories of five families who have lived in a house in Ipswich, Massachusetts over the past 200 years ago.
 
You Be the Historian. See if you can learn what life was like 200 years ago for a family in New Castle, Delaware.
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Social Studies: Geography/History
Antiques Roadshow Jr.. Find out how to evaluate historical artifacts by playing the History Game, clicking on What the Rats Can Tell Us or visiting the Museum.
 
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Social Studies: U.S. Government


Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids Guide to our country, states, symbols and historical documents.
 
Branches of Government WebQuest Research the 3 Branches of Government.
Congress for Kids  Tour the Federal Government and learn about writng the Constitution and the branches of government.
Kids in the House Learn how laws are made, how congressional history has influenced today's government and about the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
 
PBS Kids' Democracy Project Cast your vote, step into a voting booth from history, or be president for a day! Learn about the Constitution, the three branches of government and what "checks and balances" are. Lots of interesting information and activities on this site.
 
Frequently Asked Questions About the Constitution How long did it take to write the Constitution? When and where was the Constitutional Convention? Find the answers to these questions on this page.
 

 
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Social Studies: The Revolution
Africans in America: The Revolutionary Era. Did you know that nearly 20% of Americans were slaves in 1750? This PBS site has a great amount of information in the Narrative and Resource Bank links.
 
American Revolution. Browse the timeline for links to early colonies, famous leaders and events.
 
American Revolution Many links to sites about causes, battles, people and documents.
 
Battle of Lexington and Concord Learn about the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
Birth of a Nation Award-winning site focusing on the people, places, and events of April 1775. Includes timeline.
Boston Tea Party First-hand account of participant George Hewes.
 
Chronicle of the Revolution Click on a location to find out about the progress of the Revolution. Includes many links to links to related topics.
 
Historyplace--Conflict and Resolution Timeline with pictures from 1775 to 1776.
 
In This Corner a New Nation Click on links to The Intolerable Acts, Proclamation of 1763 and many more on the Thinkquest Jr. site.
Liberty: The American Revolution    Read historical headlines about the war, test your knowledge of the Revolution and find out about the people and the times on this PBS site.
The Midnight Ride Read about the details of the famous ride. Includes a map and a link to Longfellow's poem.
          Midnight Rider Virtual  Museum  Explore Colonial Boston and take a virtual                 midnight ride.  Learn about events leading up to the Revolution.
Revolutionary Period: 1764-1789 Library of Congress site with a timeline, pictures and information about many topics. Be sure to scroll down the page or click the More button to see all the topics.
A Revolutionary Webquest Links to major events, heroes, lifestyle, battles, and more.
Spy Letters of the American Revolution  Find out about spies during the Revolutionary War.
Women in the American Revolution  Do you know about Molly Pitcher, Penelope Barker, Esther Reed, or Patience Wright?  Find out about these and other women who helped win the war.
 
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Social Studies: Elections
 
Kids Voting USA. Get involved in the voting process and take a quiz on the Constitution.
PBS Kids' Democracy Project. Cast your vote, step into a voting booth from history, or be president for a day! Learn about the Constitution, the three branches of government and what "checks and balances" are. Lots of interesting information and activities on this site.
 
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Social Studies: Exploration
          Age of Exploration  Biographies and information about explorers and
        their ships from before the Vikings to 1779.  Includes a timeline.

The Art and Science of 15th Century Navigation How did explorers navigate? What was it really like to be an early explorer trying to cross the ocean? Find out about their knowledge of latitude, longitude and the calendar. Links also to maps, ships, use of the compass rose, ocean weather and currents, astronomy and magnetism.
 
Balboa Information about the Spanish conquistador and explorer.
 
Become a Spice Trader. Imagine that you are the owner of a large sailing ship 500 years ago. On this site you will need to decide how to prepare for your journey and what route to take. If you fail, you may go bankrupt and lose your ship!
 
Biography of Henry Hudson. Fact-filled biography with links to all his voyages.
 
Come Aboard the Half Moon Facts and drawings of Henry Hudson's ship.
The Columbus Navigation Homepage Read about the ships, the crew, navigation methods, and lots more.
 
Coronado Short biography of the explorer of the American Southwest.
 
Culinary History of Christopher Columbus What did Columbus and his men eat? Find out about the foods and the recipes.
 
De Soto Information, map and portrait.
 
Discoverers Web: Jacques Cartier Information about the explorer of the St. Lawrence River.
 
Discoverer's Web: Primary Sources*. Check here for texts written by the explorers themselves. You may need some adult help reading these.
   
Explorer Graphics Images of explorers and ships that you can use in a project.
Explorers  KidInfo site with many links to information about different explorers.
Explorers Search by explorer, region or date.
 
Explorer's Webquest Follow the directions to claim all land for the monarchy, locate a new trading route across the ocean, look for the Northwest Passage, and bring back gold, silver, metals, spices, and new plants.

Explorers of the Millenium Read about some of the greatest adventurers of the past 1000 years.

1492: An Ongoing Voyage Library of Congress exhibit about first contacts between American people and European explorers, conquerors and settlers from 1492 to 1600.
 
Jamaica History Columbus meets the people of Jamaica.
Making a Simple Astrolabe  Learn to make your own device to measure altitude.
 
Pomp-- The True Story of the Baby on the Sacagawea Dollar Learn about Sacagawea's son who travelled with Lewis and Clark.
 
 
Ponce de Leon Information about voyages to Florida and picture of ship.

Verrazzano Learn about an explorer of the east coast of what is now the United States.
 
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Social Studies: Native Americans

 
The American West-Native Americans Site with many links to Native American information and history, including the land-bridge.
           Anasazi and Pueblo Indians Learn about the history, geography, architecture and crafts.
Arawak/Taino Indians Find out about the housing, clothes, transportation and more about these Caribbean Indians.

Cherokee History Be sure to scroll down to the culture section for facts about their way of life.
 
Circle of Stories Read and listen to stories of Native American storytellers.
 
 
First Americans Click tribes to find one tribe from each region. Includes activities and history. 
First Nations Histories Links to Native American tribes. Includes information about history, culture, language and geography.
 
The Haida. Find out about the people, the land and the villages of this northwest coast tribe from the Queen Charlotte Islands.
 
History of the Cherokee--Samuel's Memory. Information about first contacts with the colonists and forced removal from their land.
 
Native American Recipes. Lots of recipes from various tribes and areas.
Native American Webquest Learn about four different tribes.
 
NativeTech. Links to a lot of information about the Eastern Woodlands. Click on Scenes of the Eastern Woodlands to take a virtual tour of life in the 1500s.
 
North, South, East, West: American Indians and the Natural World. Visit the Carnegie Museum of Natural History to learn about 4 tribes from different regions and how their lives are influenced by the natural world around them.
 
Seminole Tribe of Florida. Learn about the history and culture of the Seminole Indians.
 
Taino. Find information on the culture and history of the Taino people.
          Wampanoag Tribe  Find out about the Wampanoag and their way of life.
 
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World Languages: Spanish
Cinco de Mayo. The site provides information on Cinco de Mayo, an important Mexican celebration, along with links to other sites that tell about the holiday. It was awarded a "Times Link" citation by the Los Angeles Times in May, 1997.
 
Days of the Dead Did you know this holiday honors the dead?
 
Diego Rivera Web Museum. Read about the life and see the paintings of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.
 
Dictionary of Spanish. Tranlate words from Spanish to English and from English to Spanish.
 
E-Mail Classroom Exchange. Helps Classrooms to meet and correspond with other classrooms through the Internet; users can search, browse and contact classrooms listed in the online database or submit a profile of their own classroom.
 
Mexico for Kids. Click in the upper corner to see this site in Espanol.
 
Pacific Bell's Blue Web'n Applications Foreign Language Site. This is part of the Knowledge Network Explorer, an award winning site maintained by Pacific Bell for California schools and libraries. It provides direct access to award winning foreign language sites.
 
Sounds of World's Animals. Pictures of animals with printed versions of the sounds they make. This site takes you to Spanish, but provides links to other languages.
 
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Please report suggestions, additions, and notice of obsolete links to the Library Media Center Staff. Date Last Modified: 9/28/07

Criteria:Sites on these pages have been reviewed by Lexington (MA) School Librarians using the following criteria.

Disclaimer:To the best of our knowledge these links have been selected using the above criteria. The Internet is a constantly changing environment and we cannot be held responsible if students link to unknown material. We recommend that all sites be reviewed by teachers or parents before use.
Copyright Notice: Internet site annotations and library logo copyright 1997 by the Department of Libraries and Information Technology, Lexington Public Schools, Lexington, Massachusetts. Permission granted to print this page for non-commercial purposes only in its entirety.

This page was developed during the summers of 1997 and 1998, supported by a Lexington Education Foundation grant to the Lexington Public School's Department of Libraries and Information Technologies. Authors and developers were Linda Corbett, Library Media Specialist, Fiske Elementary School; Margaret Donovan, Library Media Specialist, Lexington High School and Web Manager; Susan Lum, Library Media Specialist, Lexington High School; Martha Stanton, Coordinator, Libraries and Information Technologies; Arden Veley, Library Media Specialist, Clarke Middle School; and Caryn Werlin, Library Media Specialist, Bridge Elementary School.