History of . . . Comics and Graphic Novels

Wish that history was funny? It can be when you are studying the history of comics and graphic novels. Check out the biographies and political debates that have always surrounded both types of books. Check out the best teen review site while you are at it -- so you can have more to compare.



http://www.ipl.org/div/procrast/graphicnovels/gnsHistBasics.html
Get the history and basics about graphic novels. Who really inspired them? How are they related to comics? What different types of graphic novels are there?

http://www.comic-art.com/history/history1.htm
Learn about the years of comic history. Biographies of famous artists.

http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/grd/resguides/comic/controv.html
Were comics as controversial as graphic novels?

http://www.noflyingnotights.com/
A graphic novel review site for teens. Also includes a new section (sidekicks) for younger readers.

Drug Use and Abuse

It's not just about collecting old facts about drug use. It's about being street smart and learning how to handle peer pressure. Check out these sites to know the true lingo, the real side effects, and ways to sidestep people that just don't get it! (Do you know what percentage of teens don't take drugs??)



Freevibe.com is a great site for getting up to date statistics on drug abuse, as well as teen feedback on current topics.
Freevibe.com was created for the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, a program of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Freevibe’s goal is to provide teens with the knowledge and personal empowerment to reject drug use.
http://www.freevibe.com/Drug_Facts/index.asp

http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/straight/intro.htm
This site is actually a book, put together by a “teen posse” (sponsored by the DEA – U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration). Each chapter is about a specific drug—discussing street names, facts, and legal issues surrounding the drug. Also included are teen activities that might be good for teen forum or discussion groups.

Also look at the DEA teen site http://www.justthinktwice.com/ for more formal, definitive facts, and a look at the effects of drugs on individuals. Also featured is a segment on hot topics in the news regarding drugs.

http://www.thecoolspot.gov/
Geared to younger teens and students. Only a few facts about alcohol – but a lot of survey type information that positively reinforces the idea that most teens do not drink (you are not alone)! Features include animated scenes that recreate peer pressure situations and “Know your No’s”, a guide to help you say no comfortably. This side was noted as a “find it site” because of the excellent self-help “healthy mind & body” links, in addition to more links to a few well-chosen research sites that provide hard facts for school projects.The Cool Spot was created for kids 11-13 years old by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/index.asp
A great interactive site that will inspire you to come up with new angles on research topics. Facts, first-person accounts about drug abuse, games, and challenges. Especially helpful is a searchable glossary of terms that may come up in drug research. Middle-schoolers and all teens should stop here. Sponsored by the National Institute of Drug Abuse.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/Infofaxindex.html
More facts and figures – but these are clearly updated and articles provide additional links for other sources. Not a “fun site”, but great for providing hard core statistics about demographics of use and $$$ spent on drug use and education.

Teen Eating Disorders

Whether you are trying to research eating disorders, or know someone that might have a problem, these sites will help you to get some basic knowledge of the symptoms of these diseases. Be sure to ask your librarian for more information -- here's a subject where books offer more recent and readable research for teens!



http://www.girlpower.gov/girlarea/bodywise/eatingdisorders/index.htm
A site for younger girls that gives short, clear-cut explanations of what eating disorders are, stories about girls who have battled them, and tells who to contact for help about suspected disorders.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/thin/
For those who like multimedia presentations of research – this is the online companion to a PBS special “Dying to Be Thin”. Hear first person accounts of the disease and click on resource links to gain additional information.

http://www.anred.com/stats.html
ANRED: anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders. This site is not teen friendly, and a bit hard to navigate. However, if you are looking for serious information with updated statistics, it is worth the hassle. Get a librarian or someone to help if you can’t unearth what you need.

http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/p.asp?WebPage_ID=294
From the National Eating Orders Association, again this site is not targeted towards teens. But, it provides a wealth of information including articles specifically targeted towards women of color and men and boys – often overlooked groups in the research.

It's Black History Month

Stop doing the same presentations every year! Look through these sites to find hundreds of African American authors, artists, scientists, and musicians.

http://www.bham.wednet.edu/bio/biomaker.htm
The Biography Maker. Wonder how to start writing that biography? This site explains what a biography is, and gives you prompting hints about how to search out facts and write an interesting report. Sponsored by a Washington public school district.

http://www.thehistorymakers.com/index.html
African Americans who have made history are biographied here. The history makers are sorted by topic (Art Makers, Law Makers, Science Makers, etc.) or my date, and every day there is a new "this date in history."

https://webfiles.uci.edu/mcbrown/display/faces.html
The Faces of Science: African Americans in the Sciences
Great website from Princeton University that features lists of scientists from the past and present, including biologists, chemists, and inventors. Each name links to a biography (some long, some short) and possible additional resources.

http://www.biography.com/blackhistory/
A multimedia website that includes a list of 200 notable Black Americans, including entertainers, scientists, activists, and artists. Click on several videos to hear short history clips, or page through 50 notable achievements by Black Americans.
Some annoying advertising – but the site is worth overlooking that fact.

http://www.factmonster.com/spot/bhmbios1.html
This is an interesting list of “Notable African Americans” that includes people such as Maya Angelou, Ernie Banks, and Boyz II Men. This list may be helpful for those looking for an unusual person to write about. Most are very short biographies but have several good links of additional resources.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/reference/articles.html
African American World. 300 articles sponsored by PBS that feature prominent African Americans and topics associated to Black history. A good starting point for brief biographies, as these articles are from the online Encyclopedia Britanica.

http://kids.yahoo.com/directory/Around-the-World/Countries/United-States/Cultures-and-Traditions/African-American/Biographies
Browse these websites featured at Yahoo for Kids and you will encounter bio information about artists, authors, scientists, and more. Top sites features a forensics coach that teaches high school students, and a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Facts About Our United States

Do you have 50 questions about a state you don't even live in? Are all the books checked out?
Try these resources to locate maps, culture, climate, and government information.


http://www.ipl.org/div/stateknow/

Kidspace at the Internet Public Library offers a quick way to click on the state and bring up most facts younger students might need. Older students should make use of the government links for additional information. An interesting feature is "Famous People from the State". Did you know Walt Disney was born in Chicago?


http://www.50states.com/
Click on your state and learn about climate, sports teams, government, commerce, and more. Flags, state birds, and capitals available here!


http://www.fedstats.gov/qf/states/00000.html
Federal census statistics from every state. Do you want to know how many people there are under the age of 18 in California versus Illinois? Easy to read!


http://www.statemaster.com/index.phpFor the older student. This site allows you to compare statistics across multiple states. For example: crime rates, education levels, geography, etc.

Teen Depression

Teen depression is a topic that needs to be talked about. Join people who are trying to get the word out about what it feels like and where to get help.

http://www.totallystressedout.com/
Learn how to relax and deal with everyday stress at home and school. To the point instructions for treating your mind and body better.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/feeling_sad/depression.html
Do you know what depression feels like? Read about several teens who are feeling tired, sad, and not themselves and how they cope with themselves and their. Find out what things trigger depression, and find out how to get help.

http://www.nostigma.org/students.php
This Mental Health site devotes much of its space to students, and includes: frequently asked questions about people in your life that are suffering, symptoms of trouble, how to be an activist, and an extensive list of who to contact for help. Talks frankly about how many people are affected in some way.

http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen_teenagers.htm
Positive advice on how to beat depression – and where to turn for help if you can’t. Linked resources explain what treatment is like if necessary.

http://suicidehotlines.com/
A hotline for suicide prevention and for help with emotional crises. National and statewide phone numbers for teens who need to talk to someone.

It's Almost Election Time!

It is almost election time! Here's a place to learn all about past presidents and their families, and about the election process.



http://www.ipl.org/div/potus/
Presidents of the United States by Internet Public Library. A source for points of interest including election results, notable events, and personal biographies.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/
What better source of presidential information than the White House? Find interesting facts, full biographies, and videos. Also has news information about the current president.

http://ap.grolier.com/
Profiles on the past and present presidents as well as on many hopeful candidates in past elections. Also included is information on first ladies, vice presidents, and the electoral process.

http://www.kidinfo.com/American_History/Presidents.html
A resource for photographs of past presidents and a direct link to the inaugural speeches. Especially interesting is the list of presidential gifts received from foreign dignitaries.

http://pbskids.org/democracy/
For middle-schoolers. Most interesting part of site is to see how government affects your everyday life. Also a section on the voting process that challenges you to understand who has actually been able to vote through history.

http://www.presidentschildren.com/list.htm
Wonder what you would be like if your parent was in the White House? Read about the children of past presidents.

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/?id=20004&lvl=F
Would you like to contact your president? Check here for email and snail mail addresses..

http://www.ipl.org/div/farq/POTUSFARQ.html
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the presidents form the Internet Public Library. Which presidents were related, who is believed to be haunting the White House, and more.

http://reference.howstuffworks.com/political-parties-american-encyclopedia-channel.htm
There has not always been just “Democrats” and “Republicans”. Read about past political parties in the U.S.