Vintage Ad Browser

Vintage Ad Browser is a great resources for, well, vintage ads!  From airlines to holidays to clothing to food and beverage, this site has it all! Some categories go as far back as the 1770s.

Vintage ads would be a great addition to a history project to add a day-in-the-life flavor to a historical topic or to add a primary source for the topic. With over 100,000 images, Vintage Ad Browser has something for every subject.

The BBC Archive

The BBC Archive is chock full of useful resources.   The archive collections include Art and Artists, Books and Writers, Politics and Government (UK and non-UK), Science and Technology, and more.  The collections are comprised of BBC broadcasts from both TV and radio and go as far back as 40 years.

In addition to fun things like Dr. Who and James Bond, the collections also have information that would be an excellent addition to a research project on the Holocaust (first-hand accounts of the Nazi regime ), ideas for building physics or mechanical projects (The Great Egg Race), and author interviews that would add another dimension to a literature study (Virginia Woolf, JRR Tolkien,  Ian McEwan, and more).

Aviary: Web-Based Photo Editing

Aviary, an free online photo editing site, is very easy to use. The graphics are colorful and fun. The tools are easy to figure out and there are many different ones to choose from.  Sharpen or blur, add text or stickers (including mustaches!), use a sepia or Polaroid effect!


Aviary also offers a version specifically for educators. Create private pages for classes or students with access to school-safe content only. 

This would be an excellent tool for any project with a multi-media component.  Students can find images online or bring in their own photos to scan and edit. 

Additional features are available, but there is a cost for the upgrade. 

The Awesome Library

The Awesome Library is just that...awesome. With over 37.000 resources for teachers, students, librarians, and parents, there really is something for everyone!

The straightforward (and almost 90s looking) site design makes it easy to find what you're browsing for without much distraction.  One drawback of this that you may have to drill down through several links to get to your final destination. 

Teachers will find links to lesson plans and other classroom resources for just about every subject. 

I especially like the Teen pages.  In addition to academic resources, The Awesome Library provides links to resources for things teen may not want to talk about with an adult like bullying, depression, and obesity. 

Hat Tip to Richard Byrne over at  Free Technology for Teachers.