Created specifically for middle school students, this database includes age-appropriate videos, newspapers, magazines, primary sources, and much more. Categories cover a range of the most-studied topics including cultures, government, people, U.S. and world history, and literature.

Use Advanced Search to limit materials by Content Type (e.g. primary sources) and Document Type (fact sheet, historical map, etc.).

Social Studies teachers, in World Book Online, select Discover or Student version, then click on Educator Tools at the top right and search for material by content area and grade level to view all the standards-aligned resources, including articles, games, lessons, and media. You can also utilize the Timelines resource from the World Book menu, where you can view multimedia timelines of important time periods in history, edit them with your own events, and have students create their own timelines. 

With easy-to-read articles and age-appropriate reference and learning materials, the middle school level of Britannica Online School Edition is ideal for 6th-8th grade students. Multimedia and interactive lessons, articles, and more.

Primary sources, articles, and more on the following U.S. History topics (click on U.S. History icon on the main menu page):

•  Early America (prehistory-1491)

•  European Colonization of the Americas (1492-1769)

•  The Road to the American Revolution (1770-1783)

•  Expansion & Manifest Destiny (1784-1860)

•  Civil War & Reconstruction (1861-1877)

•  Rise of the Industrial U.S. (1878-1913)

•  World War I (1914-1919)

•  Prosperity, Depression & the New Deal (1920-1940)

•  World War II (1941-1945)

•  The Cold War & Societal Change (1945-2000)

•  New Century, New Challenges (2000-present)

Sora, HIDOE's shared eBook collection provides the quickest and easiest way to access thousands of ebooks, audiobooks, and read-along digital titles for students and teachers. Search by subject, curated collections, "always available" titles, and more!

Did you know that you can also check out magazines? There are almost 5,000 titles available for your and your students, that can be used as supplemental materials for your lessons and assignments. They're also great discussion starters and rich with images and relatable text.

Click on this Quick Start Guide if it's your first time using Sora.

Points of View Reference Center

This database covers hundreds of topics, each with an overview (objective background/description), point (argument) and counterpoint (opposing argument).

Each topic features a Guide to Critical Analysis which helps the reader evaluate the controversy and enhances students’ ability to read critically, develop their own perspective on the issues, and write or debate an effective argument on the topic.

Gale in Context Opposing Viewpoints  

Informed, differing views help learners develop critical-thinking skills and draw their own conclusions. Opposing Viewpoints includes viewpoints, reference articles, infographics, news, images, video, audio, and more. Periodical content covers current events, news and commentary, economics, environmental issues, political science, and more.

With Learn360, teachers and students can stream and/or download from a premium library of more than 151,000 handpicked videos, video clips, interactives, teacher guides, and audio programs. Social Studies and History content includes:

• • Historical Understanding (2,556)

  • U.S. Historical Figures (482)

  • U.S. History (1,699)

  • U.S. Wars & Conflicts (516)

  • World Historical Figures (574)

  • World History (2,003)

  • World Wars & Conflicts (429)

Swank offers legal, convenient access to thousands of feature films, documentaries and foreign films to support classroom instruction. Students, check with your teachers for access. Teachers, if you haven’t set up your account yet, please consult the Teacher Guide emailed to you, or ask the librarian. You can set up Google Classroom to assign videos in Swank as well.