The Dirksen Center wants to help teachers teach better by giving them the opportunity to use technology to create, customize, and share online learning activities in their classrooms. The Center wants to help students learn more by bringing educational resources together in one place that provide new ways to learn about Congress interactively.

* NEW *

* VIDEO: HISTORY OF THE HOLIDAYS * (4:53)

Independence Day, commonly known as July 4th or the Fourth of July, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

Discover the origin of the 4th of July and its traditional celebrations by watching the History of the Holidays video. Although twelve American colonies declared their independence from Britain on July 2nd, 1976, the 4th of July is the day most remembered.

Link to the History of the Holidays video at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/declofindep_1/2_declofindep.htm

*  LAWCRAFT *

Do your students want to make some laws? They can in LawCraft, where they play a member of Congress from the state of their choice.

Find LawCraft at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/makinglaws/2_makinglaws.htm

* THIRTEEN COLONIES WORD SEARCH *

Find all the words before time runs out.  Remember that the words can run horizontally, vertically,  diagonally, and even backwards.  Select each word by clicking on the first letter and dragging your mouse along the word. When you reach the end of the word, let up on the mouse button.  If you find a word on the list then that word will remain circled and the word will be crossed off the list.  It takes a keen eye to find them all.  Good luck!

* TRIVIA *

To the surprise of many, this wealthy signer of the Declaration of Independence admitted to fathering a daughter out of wedlock with a free black woman.  He then raised the girl as his own and sent her to the finest schools in American.  Who was this man?

1. Charles Carroll
2. Thomas Stone
3. Samuel Chase
4. William Paca

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

Answer to May 2010’s Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0510.htm

Do you have or know of an online activity you would like The Dirksen Congressional Center to feature on its new Web site for students -- Congress for Kids? The Center is currently seeking online activities that provide new ways to learn about Congress and the workings of the federal government interactively.

If you have questions or suggestions for online activities, contact Cindy Koeppel.