All About Illinois

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
ALPLM provides a variety of educator lesson plans (most are grades 4-12) covering topics from President Lincoln’s life and legacy, to the history of Illinois, to the use of technology during the Civil War. They also provide teaching guides on topics related to Lincoln and the Civil War. Additionally, you'll find a list of curated primary resources, including the papers of Lincoln.

Illinois State Museum
K-12 activities, lessons, videos, and worksheets on topics related to Illinois history, wildlife, and geology.

Audio-Video Barn Museum
The site contains audio and video recordings of more than 130 oral history interviews with people involved in agriculture and rural life in Illinois. Also includes ideas for students to explore further with history and science lessons.

Explore the Ice Age Midwest
A project of the Illinois State Museum, this site provides information about the Wisconsinan glaciation, also known as the "last Ice Age" in the Midwestern U.S. Here, you will find information about the plants and animals that lived in the Midwest between roughly 110,000 and 13,000 years ago.

Mussels of Illinois
Mussels of Illinois contains detailed and useful information on mussels in the collection of the Illinois State Museum, including activities and resources for students and lesson plans for teachers on mussel anatomy, life cycle, and habitat, as well as a searchable image archive of most of the 80 species of mussels that have occurred in Illinois.

Harvesting the River
An interactive visit to the cultural and economic life of the people of the central Illinois River from 1875 to 1950.

The ISM Herbarium Collection Online
This Web exhibit presents more than 350 herbarium specimens of trees and prairie plants found in Illinois. The accompanying databases contain entries for the 250 prairie plant herbarium sheets and the 50 tree herbarium sheets pictured in the Gallery.

In Her Footsteps
This site features female history makers with a connection to Illinois. “In Her Footsteps Women’s History Trail” seeks to highlight the stories of Illinois history makers and offer resources for continued learning.

Native Americans in Illinois
To the best of our knowledge, Native Americans first arrived in Illinois more than 12,000 years ago. They were the only people in Illinois until French explorers arrived in the late 1600s. Learn what life was like 12,000 years ago and how it's changed.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Lessons for grades 1-12 about Illinois wildlife. Also includes a Pre-K-2 lesson about trees.

Wildlife Illinois
Learn how to identify Illinois wildlife by tracks, habitat, scat, and more in this easy-to-use database.

Chicago History Museum
Lesson plans for Chicago-related history topics

The Chicago Fire of 1871 and the 'Great Rebuilding'
National Geographic article on the 140th anniversary of the Chicago Fire focusing on city planning and the "Great Rebuilding."

Champaign County Historical Museum
Digital exhibits chronicling area history using photographs and primary sources.

Elmhurst History Museum
Explore local history with the Elmhurst History in Focus Videos series.

Frances Willard Museum
Frances Willard was a social reformer who stood out against gender inequality and fought to give a voice to society’s disenfranchised. The basis of our modern social welfare policies can be found in the initiatives fomented by Willard, who died in 1898. You can explore the whole site, but a few things to look for include digital exhibits covering a variety of topics, including Frances Willard, the WCTU, women’s history, race, activism, and temperance; a resource guide providing readers with an assortment of primary source materials; and an extensive reading list if you want to do a unit study.

The Kewanee Historical Society
Videos, photographs, and primary source documents related to the history of Kewanee, Illinois.

Lake County Forest Preserves
Extensive video library covering local history, flora, and fauna

Museum of the Grand Prairie
Playlist of virtual tours of exhibits at the Museum of the Grand Prairie

Historic Preservation Division of the Illinois DNR
Students can explore photos, a digital archive of important Illinoians, 2,500 years of Illinois history in an interactive timeline, and a history of African Americans in Illinois.

General John A. Logan Museum
John Logan was born in Illinois, became a leader in the Union Army, and we all know about his most famous accomplishment, even though most of us have never heard of him. On May 5, 1868, General John A. Logan, as Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), issued General Order No. 11 designating May 30 “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion.” Logan’s General Order, his Memorial Day Order, established Memorial Day as a national holiday. Through timelines and photos, students can learn about Logan's military and political careers, and the probable story behind Logan's order.

Frank Lloyd Wright Trust
World-famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first twenty years of his career in Chicago. This site allows students to learn about Wright's work through articles, photos, videos, and video lectures. Be sure to use the Explore tab rather than the Education tab.

Illinois State Historical Society
The ISHS has compiled a list of online resources for learning Illinois history.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site
Discover the 16th president through essays, accounts, and his own words, his neighbors, and the only home he ever owned.

The Chester Gould Dick Tracy Museum
The creator of the classic detective lived in the Chicago area for most of his life, including the 46 years he spent drawing the Dick Tracy cartoons for the Chicago Tribune. Explore timelines and photos for both creator and creation.

The 50 States - Illinois
From TeachersFirst. A comprehensive resource on Illinois

Mr. Donn.org - Illinois
Collection of Illinois resources from Mr. Donn, who offers one of the largest collections of social studies resources available.

50 States.com - Illinois
Facts & Trivia about Illinois

RoadsideAmerica.com - Illinois
Unique tourist attractions and landmarks in Illinois

Illinois Map/Quiz Printout
EnchantedLearning.com

Awesome America - Illinois
Loads of fun facts, photos, and travel information about Illinois.