Web Smarts

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory

What: "Culture and Change: Black History in America" is one of several teaching tools by scholastic.com. It's also an online outlet for celebrating Black History Month.

BEST POINTS: Students can read about and catch interviews with such legends of African-American history as Rosa Parks, then publish their own responses online. An interactive timeline goes as far back as 1492, when Queen Isabel of Spain announced, upon the arrival of Columbus in the New World, that all indigenous people there were to be her subjects - a decree that spared the native Americans, but sent the Spanish looking to Africa for cheap labor.

There's also a special report by the National League of cities and Scholastic, "Working for Equality," which looks at local efforts to promote equality.

What YOU NEED TO KNOW: A guide for teachers offers recommendations for project plans - including a student-nominated "Honor Roll" for trailblazers of African-American history - relevant books, and ways in which the site helps students meet curriculum standards.

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