5^th Grade Melting Pot Possible Topics and Starter Resources

Traditions:

Christmas

http://www.historytoday.com/penne-restad/christmas-19th-century-america

http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/ch/in_america.htm

http://www.emmitsburg.net/archive_list/articles/history/memories/origins_of_christmas_traditions.htm

Thanksgiving

http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/read/thanksgiving-history

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving

http://www.thanksgiving-day.org/origin-thanksgiving-day.html

 

St. Patrick's Day

http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

http://lexington.patch.com/articles/17-things-to-know-about-st-patrick-s-day

http://wilstar.com/holidays/patrick.htm

Tooth Fairy

http://bestdentistnews.com/2011/08/the-tooth-fairy-may-be-young-but-her-story-began-a-long-time-ago/#more-685

http://www.essortment.com/tooth-fairy-history-21236.html

Easter

http://www.wyrdology.com/festivals/easter/bunny.html

http://wilstar.com/holidays/easter.htm

 

http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/easter-symbols

 Foods:

 Pizza

http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2006/02/a-slice-of-heaven-a-history-of-pizza-in-america.html

http://www.chacha.com/question/when-was-pizza-introduced-to-america

http://www.essortment.com/history-pizza-41733.html

Pasta

http://www.thenibble.com/reviews/main/pastas/history-of-pasta.asp

http://www.dirjournal.com/info/noodles-pasta-china-america/

http://www.pbs.org/food/the-history-kitchen/uncover-the-history-of-pasta/

Tacos

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Where-Did-the-Taco-Come-From.html

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/Tortilla_Taco_history.htm

Apple pie

http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/PieHistory/ApplePie.htm

http://annesasylum.blogspot.com/2006/06/is-apple-pie-american.html

http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpies.html

 

 

 

 

Games:

 Baseball

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875086.html

http://www.seanlahman.com/baseball-archive/brief-history-of-baseball/

http://www.sportspundit.com/baseball/articles/64-where-did-baseball-come-from

 Football

http://www.livestrong.com/article/338693-how-did-football-get-started-in-america/

http://inventors.about.com/od/fstartinventions/a/HistoryFootball.htm

http://amfootball.isport.com/amfootball-guides/history-of-american-football

 Basketball

http://www.hoop-hype.net/who-invented-basketball.html

http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0875085.html

http://www.olympic.org/basketball-equipment-and-history?tab=history

Soccer

http://www.historyofsoccer.info/

http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/042soccer.html

http://www.my-youth-soccer-guide.com/american-soccer-history.html

 

 

 

 

Symbols:

Statue of Liberty

http://statueofliberty.org/Statue_History.html

http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/statue-liberty-meaning-and-use-national-symbol

http://www.ohranger.com/statue-liberty/history-statue-liberty

 White House

http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wash/dc31.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/history/us/monuments/whitehouse/

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/636322/Washington/282669/Architecture

 Flag

http://www.usflag.org/history/flagevolution.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/history-and-symbolism-of-the-american-flag.html

http://bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/flag.html

 Democracy

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/government/democracy.htm

http://greece.mrdonn.org/athensdemocracy.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/26466/history_of_democracy.html

 Constitution

http://www.americassurvivalguide.com/montesquieu.php

http://www.conlaw.org/Intergenerational-II-2-1.htm

http://www.democracyweb.org/consent/history.php