All About New York

NYS Dept of Environmental Conservation
Explore this database of New York's plants and animals.

Seward House Museum
Students will use primary sources to understand the experiences of Fanny Seward, a young woman who grew up in Auburn, New York during the Civil War. Her aspirations as an author, coupled with her family’s unique position in society due to her father’s role as Secretary of State during the conflict, leaves behind a vast collection of primary sources for historians to access. Students will analyze these sources to help them understand Fanny’s experiences. Grades 1-3.

ADKX-tra Credit Podcast
Each episode examines a topic in the history of the Adirondack Park region of New York State and brings it into focus. ADKX-tra Credit presents intriguing topics, interesting historical tidbits, and insights into the Adirondack Experience’s world-class collection. For upper elementary and middle school.

Virtual Tour of NYC's Historic Houses
One of the most significant themes in NYC history is the legacy of the Dutch colonists who settled New Netherland. The Dutch legacy lives on in many intangible ways, including in local cultural traditions and the names of neighborhoods and waterways. But preserved in the historic sites featured on this virtual trail are some of the most tangible examples of Dutch heritage that survive in New York City.

Putnam History Museum
This site has lesson plans, videos, and activities for learning New York history and geography.

Ellis Island
Lesson plans from the National Park Service for grades 3-12, with Teacher's Guides.

Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site
This lesson is based on Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site, and is part of the National Park Service’s Teaching with Historic Places program. Discover how the Vanderbilts became one of the wealthiest families in America and how their lifestyle influenced business, culture, architecture, and society in ways that still affect us today.

St. Paul's Church National Historic Site
Elementary-level lesson plans and teacher's guides for learning about the history of St. Paul's Church and the surrounding area from colonial settlement through the American Revolution. This page also includes a link to a previous WWII exhibit, with questions for discussion or writing prompts.

African Burial Ground National Monument
Unearthed during construction in 1991, this is the nation’s earliest and largest African burial ground rediscovered in the United States. The 6-acre burial ground containing upwards of 15,000 intact skeletal remains of enslaved and free Africans who lived and worked in colonial New York dates from the middle 1630s to 1795. Read about what archeologists and historians have learned from the site.

Statue of Liberty
Lesson plans from NPS for PreK-8.

Merchant’s House Museum
Considered one of the finest surviving examples of domestic architecture from the period, the 1832 late-Federal and Greek Revival Merchant’s House is a designated landmark on the federal, state, and city level. The Museum’s collection of over 3,000 items comprises the possessions of the Tredwells, the wealthy merchant-class family who lived in the House from 1835 to 1933. This website has online exhibits, videos, lectures, online tours, coloring pages, and suggested books.

New York State video from Nat Geo Kids
Part of the Nat Geo Kids 50 Birds, 50 States video project. In this short video, an Eastern Bluebird (the NY state bird) gives a tour to the series host, Barry the Bald Eagle.

Fort Stanwix National Monument
Known as "the fort that never surrendered," Fort Stanwix successfully repelled a prolonged siege, in August 1777, by British, German, Loyalist, Canadian, and American Indian troops and warriors. Learn about the fort, the battle, and the history of the area with lesson plans and virtual tours.

Seneca Falls 1848 Convention for Woman's Rights
Learn about the beginning of the Women's Rights movement in the U.S. with lesson plans from the National Park Service. Grades 3-12.

Battles of Saratoga
Middle school lesson plans from NPS about the Battles of Saratoga in the Revolutionary War.

Erie Canal
This page contains lesson plans, videos, and links to other useful resources and primary source materials. Grades 4-12.

The 50 States: New York
From Teacher First.com

A to Z Kids Stuff - New York
Fun Educational Activities

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

New York Primary Sources (Library of Congress)
Selected Library of Congress primary sources with a Teacher's Guide

50 States.com - New York
Facts & Trivia about New York

RoadsideAmerica.com - New York
Unique tourist attractions and landmarks in New York

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