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: JEFFERSON WRITES DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE * (3:43)

In this Founding Fathers video, discover that from the moment Thomas Jefferson entered the second Continental Congress, he was part of the radical side, which John Adams loved; this seemed to be the fundamental source of their bonding.

Link to the Jefferson Writes Declaration of Independence video at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/declofindep_1/2_declofindep.htm

*  WhoRunsGov: ELENA KAGAN *

On April 9, 2010, Justice John Paul Stevens announced that he would retire after nearly 35 years on the bench of the U.S. Supreme Court. President Obama announced the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to replace Stevens on May 10, 2010. This is President Obama's second nomination to the nation's highest court, following his selection of Justice Sonia Sotomayor in May 2009. Notably the first female Solicitor General and first female dean of Harvard Law School, if Kagan is confirmed she will also be the fourth woman to serve on the Court.

Published by The Washington Post Company, WhoRunsGov offers profiles of government decision-makers that anyone can edit. Contributors can use their name, or not, and all information is reviewed by their editorial team before publishing.

Find WhoRunsGov: Elena Kagan at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/judicialbranch_justices/2_justices.htm

* A MORE PERFECT UNION: AN EXPLORATION OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY *

This site was developed by teens in Arkansas and Kentucky.  An entry in the 1999 ThinkQuest Internet Challenge, the site looks at some of the basic elements of democracy, potential problems democracy faces, solutions from multiple viewpoints, and various sociologists’ views on government. 

Find A More Perfect Union: An Exploration of American Democracy at: http://www.congressforkids.net/games/Democracy/2_democracy.htm

* TRIVIA *

What three words did George Bush say before "no new taxes" in 1988?

Answer: “Read my lips.”

*Find the answer in next month's issue.

Answer to April 2010’s Fun, Facts, and Trivia: http://www.webcommunicator.org/classroomresources/funfactstrivia_ans0410.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.