Chicago, the largest city in Illinois and one of the largest cities in the United States is a fascinating place. Visually and virtually, historically and contemporary, Chicago has much to offer. Whether you are a student, teacher, resident or visitor, you will find information to help you enjoy, appreciate and understand Chicago.
Shelf Guide for TeachersFacts about Chicago
Early Chicago
The Great Chicago Fire
Growth of Chicago
Neighborhoods in Chicago
Architecture and Landmarks in Chicago
Science and Nature in Chicago
General Resources on Chicago
Fun Sites for Kids
Back to Home Page
Link to Susan Seymour's Page
http://cuip.uchicago.edu/~sseymour/chi_site_main.html
Links to Web sites:
Listing of interesting facts about Chicago, compiled by the City of Chicago. A quick statistical reference.
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/4336/cityfact.htmA terrific compilation of Chicago related internet sites.
http://www.suba.com/~scottn/explore/links/links2.htmCorporate Seal, Flag, Flower, Motto, Name Origin, Nicknames, Song.
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chisymbols.htmlFacts about Chicago of high interest level.
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chifacts.html
Print Resources:Back to ContentsChicago Portraits by ______ Sawyers. __________1991. Short biographies of famous Chicagoans from John Kinzie to Mayor Daley to John Belushi. Also brief sketches of other prominent figures who have contributed to Chicago's past. A great resource book and an interesting read.Audio and video sources:
Field Trips:
Related information:
Links to Web sites:
The Midwest approximately 16,000 years ago.
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/The Ice Age in the Midwest
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/ice_ages/This links you to the Potawatomi Nation home page.
http://www.potawatomi.org/This is link to historical Illinois with a concentration on the ChicagoLand area "At Home in the Heartland".
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/athome/Chicago Tribune newspaper reports on the Fire from Tales of the City.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/tales/history/fire/frame.htmLink to Chicago Tribune's 150 defining moments in Chicago's History.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/150th/moments/moments.htm
Print Resources:
Field Trips:
Video and Audio Sources:
Related web sites:
Back to ContentsLink to the Smithsonian Institutes Native American Museum.
http://www.si.edu/cgi-bin/nav.cgi
Links to Web sites:
This is the Chicago Historical Society site on the Chicago Fire.
http://www.chicagohistory.org/fire/intro/Link to a Pre-Fire tour of buildings and areas in Chicago.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/Tours/Prefire.htmlWalk the path of the Chicago fire on this Chicago Tribune site.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/tales/history/fire/frame.htmRead the Chicago Tribune articles about the Great Fire and the investigation into the Fire.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/tales/history/fire/frame.htmRead the letters written by a Chicago family to their daughter during the Chicago Fire, chronicling both the Fire and life in the city during the 1870's.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/tales/history/fire/frame.htm
Print resources:
Children of the Fire by Harriette Robinet. Maxwell MacMillian Publishing 1991. The fictional account of the Chicago Fire as seen through the eyes of a young girl named Hallelujah. Suitable for 3-5 grade. A read aloud for younger grades.The Great Fire by Jim Murphy. Scholastic 1995. Stories of the fire as seen through the eyes of survivors, from accounts recorded in books, newspapers, and letters. Sepia photos and other illustrations. Good reference source for middle and upper students.
The Great Chicago Fire by Robert Cromie. ________________ 19__. A narrative history of the Chicago Fire, with stories of individual courage and endurance. B/W illustrations and photos. Good for a read aloud with younger students. Older (3rd grade +) students might need help recreating the "olden days".
The Chicago Fire by _____ Warburton. __________ 1989. Part of the World Disaster series, it is a 24 hour account of the Chicago Fire. Good B/W illustrations and very interesting sidebars of information. 3rd grade and up reading level.
Field Trips:
Walk the route of the Chicago Fire. Start at DeKoven Street where the Chicago Fire Academy is located. Be sure to see the Water Tower and Pumping station, and Old St. Patrick's Church (survivors of the Fire).Visit the Chicago Fire Museum or a local Fire Station..
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/WorksMart/Fire/Prevention/Phones.htmlVisit the Chicago Historical Society and see the artifacts from the Fire..
http://www.chicagohs.org/Visit "The Survive Alive House" to learn about fire safety.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/WorksMart/Fire/Prevention/SurviveAlive.html
Audio and Video Resources:
"Backdraft". A movie, filmed in Chicago, about a Chicago firefighter and fire. Some of the language may be inappropriate for young audiences. Available at most video rental stores.
http://www.info2000.net/~rocket/backdraft.htm
Related Resources on Fire and Fire Safety:
Back to ContentsLink to Engine Company 44/Truck36's Web Page with connections to other notable Chicago fires.
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Arena/4336/fire.htmlLink to a Kid's fire safety page with information and a quiz.
http://www.chicagofire.com/kids/corner.htmLink to the Chicago Public Library's brief history of the Chicago Fire Department.
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/timeline/firedept.htmlLink to Illinois Fire Safety site for kids.
http://www.state.il.us/kids/fire/
Links to Web sites:
Tribune article relating to the aftermath of the Fire.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/tales/history/fire/frame.htmLink to a comprehensive site about Chicago from 1910 to 1945 "Jazz Age Chicago"
http://www.suba.com/~scottn/explore/mainmenu.htmThis is link to historical Illinois with a concentration on the ChicagoLand area "At Home in the Heartland".
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/athome/1933 Chicago World's Fair
http://www.chicagohs.org/history/century.html1893 World's Colombian Exposition
http://www.chicagohs.org/history/expo.htmlLink to Chicago Tribune's 150 defining moments in Chicago's History.
http://chicago.digitalcity.com/150th/moments/moments.htmLink to a Web site that traces the history of the CTA by real enthusiasts.
http://www.Chicago-L.org/Timeline 1673-1998 includes numerous sites relating to historic happenings and brief histories of Chicago Political Conventions, Fire Department, Police Department, Public Library, City Hall, Weather, Political Divisions, and Population. Highlights Chicago Architecture and Public Art.
http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/004chicago.html
Back to Contents
Print Resources:Chicago Portraits by ______ Sawyers. __________1991. Short biographies of famous Chicagoans from John Kinzie to Mayor Daley to John Belushi. Also brief sketches of other prominent figures who have contributed to Chicago's past. A great resource book and an interesting read.Field Trips:
Audio and Video Resources:
Related Resources:
Links to Web sites:
Link to a Chicago Neighborhood map.
http://www.chgocitytours.com/NMap.htm
This is a virtual tour site of 4 Chicago Neighborhoods. Keepers of the Neighborhood includes specifics of the following neighborhoods: Douglas/Grand Boulevard, Rogers Park/West Ridge, Pilsen/Little Village, Near West Side/ East Garfield Park.
http://www.chicagohistory.org/Neighborhoods/NeighborhoodsIntro.htmlThis is the Chicago Landmarks tour of different architecturally significant neighborhoods.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/Tours/Districts.htmlThis is a link to the Illinois and Michigan Canal exhibit at the Chicago Historical Society with current photographs of the surrounding neighborhood, Bridgeport.
http://www.chicagohistory.org/canal/index.htmlThis is link to historical Illinois with a concentration on the ChicagoLand area "At Home in the Heartland".
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/athome/
Print Resources:
We came from Vietnam by ____________. _________19__. This book describes the efforts of a Vietnamese refugee family to adjust to life in Chicago. Reading level 3rd grade+.Audio and video sources:A Russian Jewish Family by ________________. ____________ 19__. This book describes one Jewish family's 14 year struggle to emigrate from Leningrad to Chicago and the adjustments they have made.
Field Trips:
What neighborhood do you live in? Find out when some of the significant buildings in your neighborhood were built.Take an "EL" ride through the city, it's a great way to see many of Chicago's neighborhoods. The Brown Line, Red Line, Green Line, Purple Line, Blue Line and Orange Line can take you to some amazing places. Start your tour in the Loop, everybody's neighborhood.
Take a walk through your neighborhood and see if you can find any remmants of the other ethnic groups that might have passed through.
Related information on Community:
This is Mr. Roger's site to take you to the "Land of Make Believe". This is a great site for K-2 grade.
http://www.pbs.org/rogers/Link to the Chicago Children's Museum. There is a section on prejudice.
http://www.chichildrensmuseum.org/
Related information and Links to maps and map making:
Back to ContentsContains Local City Guide, Online Maps, Driving Directions (tells how to get from one address to another in text and on map).
http://www.mapquest.com/These are map sites that will enable you to locate Chicago and other places.
http://pubweb.parc.xerox.com/map/border=1/color=1http://www.usgs.gov/education/learnweb/MA/
http://www.proximus.com/lycos/
Links to Web sites:This site by the city of Chicago has an alphabetical listing of Architecturally significant buildings.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/African-American History, The Loop, Pre-Chicago Fire, Early Skyscrapers, Modern Era, Subdivisons-Planned Towns, Music & Art, Boul Mich, Railroads & Bridges, Districts.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/Tours/Tours.htmlDistricts within Chicago, with specific places of interest linked within each district.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/Maps/Maps.html
Print Resources:Audio and video sources:
Field Trips:
Take an Architectural Tour by boat.
Take a walking tour of Chicago's Loop.
Related information on Architecture:Back to Contents
Link to the Mies vander Roe site.
Link to the Frank LLoyd Wright site.
Link to the Louis Sullivan site.
Link to the Skidmore, Owens, and Merrill.
Links to Web sites:Alphabetical listing of Chicago Parks
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/WorksMart/Parks/Alphabetical.htmlProposal to ecologically protect the Calumet Region of Chicago. For teachers.
http://www.sierraclub.org/chapters/il/calumet/parkproposal/index.html
Proposal to ecologically protect the Calumet Region of Chicago. For teachers.Dialog and environmental pictures of Crawdad Slough, Cook County Forest Preserve.
http://www.maryannzawacki.com/Spring 1999 pictures of baby birds seen at Crawdad Slough, Cook County Forest Preserve.
http://www.maryannzawacki.com/Babies.htmlGeneral Lincoln Park Zoo site menu. Click on Mammals, Birds, or Reptiles & Amphibians to see detailed information on specific subjects.
http://www.lpzoo.com/menu.htmlBrookfield Zoo general site.
http://www.brookfield-zoo.mus.il.us/Prairies in Illinois: prairie development and the persistence of prairies.
http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/midewin/frames.htmlLink to the State of Illinois Nature and Conservation site.
http://dnr.state.il.us/nredu/kids/toc.htmLink ti the Illinois EPA for conservation information.
http://www.epa.state.il.us/kids/
Print Resources:
Audio and video sources:Field Trips:
Visit Lincoln Park Zoo.
Zoo-cology Action Guide: Pre- and post-visit activities to get students excited about conservation for grades K-3.
http://www.lpzoo.com/education/zoocology/k-3/zoocology_k-3.htmlZoo-cology Action Guide: Pre- and post-visit activities to get students excited about conservation for grades 4-6.
http://www.lpzoo.com/education/zoocology/zoocology.html
Visit Brookfield Zoo.
http://www.brookfield-zoo.mus.il.us/exhibits/exhibits.html
Click on specific animal exhibits to learn details of animals in the exhibit.
Visit the Shedd Aquarium.
Visit North Park Nature Preserve.
Go play in the park. Check the Chicago Park District for locations, hours and facilities with this alphabetical listing.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/WorksMart/Parks/Alphabetical.html
Related information:Back to Contentshttp://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/larson/
Midwestern US, 16,000 years ago.http://www.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/ice_ages/
Ice Ageshttp://www.lpzoo.com/programs/programs.html
Numerous programs for teachers and students, supports national science learning goals and Illinois and Chicago academic standards,
Easily integrated into teachers' lesson plans.Connect to aquariums and zoos around the world.
http://now2000.com/kids/zoos.shtml#zoos
Back to ContentsLinks to Web sites:
General site for Chicago Historical Society includes History Files, The Great Chicago Fire, My History is Your History, and Just the Arti-FACTS.
http://www.chicagohs.org/chshome.html#MENUMaps (see URL Below) and Schedules, which includes Routes and Schedules and Travel and Visitor Information. Also shows CTA Store which describes how to purchase transit cards and passes over the internet. Hard to find links.
http://www.transitchicago.com/home2.wu?info=NOIncludes general system train maps and bus and train maps of specific areas.
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/systemmaps.html#Link to the Chicago Bulls Home Page (Basketball)
http://www.nba.com/bulls/Link to the Chicago Bears Home Page. (Football)
http://www.nfl.com/bears/Link to the Chicago White Sox Home Page. (Baseball)
http://www.chisox.com/Link to the Chicago Cubs Home Page. (Baseball)
http://www.cubs.com/Link to the Chicago Blackhawks Home Page. (Hockey)
http://www.chicagoblackhawks.com/Link to the Chicago Flame Home Page. (Soccer)
This link is to the Chicago Public Library Home Page giving you access to both adult and children resources.
http://www.chipublib.org/A list of Chicago's activities for the Year 2000.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/ChicagoTime/Calendar2000.htmlThis is a great link to find activities and listing, hours and locations of many of Chicago's attractions.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/This site connects to an interactive map of Downtown Chicago with an electronic tour guide.
http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Tourism/Downtown/
Links to Web sites:Back to ContentsGreat site for kids to learn about space.
http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/html/just_for_kids.html#topWhite house tour for Kids
http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/kids/html/home.htmlLink to the Chicago Children's Museum link page for sites to science, math, and geography projects.
http://www.chichildrensmuseum.org/sub_exhi.htmlLink to District 38's Third Grade Web site with connections to math, science, history, etc.
http://www.greenbriar.district28.k12.il.us/Links/3LinksFolder/3links.html