What’s New on Kidport!

The Holocaust

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 14:35:53 -0700

The Holocaust was the genocide or killing of approximately six million Jews by Nazi Germany during World War II. The Holocaust was the result of political, economic and social factors facing Germany after World War I and during World War II. The results of the Holocaust had lasting implications on Jewish community, the post war view of Germany by the rest of the world, and the world view and reaction to future War Crimes.
Want to learn more about the causes, events and results of the Holocaust? If so, check out our new Kidport Holocaust reference library section.
Check out the following link to learn more about the Holocaust.
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Your Brain and Learning

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:30:13 -0700

It was a major revelation for me when I discovered that I learn best by doing, not seeing or hearing. I always found learning in the classroom to be difficult, and often very boring. I had trouble getting engaged by a teacher lecturing to me. Unfortunately, I didn’t find that out until many years after finishing school.
Everyone’s brain is wired in a unique way. We each have strengths and weaknesses based on the development and organization of our brain. Being left brain or right brain dominant can have a significant impact on how we interact with the world, what we do best, and how we learn best. If you don’t know how your brain works, then you may not be optimizing your learning ability.
Check out our new Kidport reference materials on Brain Hemispheres to see how being left or right brain dominant impacts the way you think and learn.
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World War II

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:20:01 -0700

World War II, or the Second World War took place from 1939 to 1945. It involved most of the world's major countries divided into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. In total, more than 100 million military personnel were mobilized during this war.
Fundamentally, World War II had its roots in World War I. At the end of the First World War, Germany was forced to financially compensate countries for the damage resulting from the war. This put a tremendous financial strain on Germany. The stock market crash in October of 1929, leading to the Great Depression, brought unemployment, poverty and despair to Germany. This fueled the rise of Adolf Hitler, who promised to avenge the Treaty of Versailles, and restore Germany to its previous glory. The allies eventually defeated Hitler and his alliance, but at a cost of over 25 million military deaths and 50 million civilian deaths. The repercussions of World War II were very broad, lasting even until today.
Want to learn more about the causes of World War II, the events of both the European and Pacific campaigns, the results, or the lasting implications? If so, check out our new Kidport World War II section. It includes a discussion and pictures of the war.
Check out the following link to learn more about World War II.
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Treaty of Paris

Sat, 3 Jul 2010 22:38:09 -0700

The Treaty of Paris is part 15, and the last part, of my “Revisiting the American Revolution History.” Have a great Fourth of July celebration, and remember what others have sacrificed for this privilege. Previous parts can be found on the Kidport blog home page.
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the revolution, and recognized the United States of America as an independent nation.
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1782 and was ratified on April 17, 1783. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America. Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from America. The treaty also set new borders for the United States including all land from the Great Lakes on the north, to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River.
Check out these links to learn more about the Treaty of Paris. Also see the Treaty of Paris video collection.
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Articles of Confederation

Fri, 2 Jul 2010 08:09:21 -0700

Articles of Confederation is part 14 of “Revisiting the American Revolution History,” my lead up to the Fourth of July celebration. Previous parts can be found on the Kidport blog home page.
The Articles of Confederation were created to define a new central government for America. The members of the Second Continental Congress continued to govern in place of a national government. The colonists needed policies on national issues such as commerce, foreign affairs and defense. They appointed a committee to draft the Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the thirteen states. The Articles were written in the summer of 1777, and established the United States as a new nation under the name "The United States of America." It set rules governing the operations the United States to provide for common defense, the security of their liberties, and the mutual and general welfare of its citizens. The Articles also defined the roles of the federal and state governments. Lastly, the Articles defined the union as "perpetual," meaning that it would continue forever. After a year of debate, the Articles were approved by the Second Continental Congress on November 15, 1777.
Check out these links to learn more about the Articles of Confederation. Also see the Articles of Confederation video collection.
In the next session, I’ll talk about the Treaty of Paris.
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