 May 2004
Updated July 2009
Future State
The State Department Googles, too -- State's youth-oriented Web site.
Grade Level: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
http://www.future.state.gov/
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CONTENT:
"Future State" is the U.S. State Department's Web site for youth that offers them the opportunity to "explore American diplomacy and get a taste for what it takes to serve on the front lines of freedom." Included are lesson plans, informational articles, games, and links to current events, geography, and the environment. |
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AESTHETICS:
The site is well-designed, colorful, and user-friendly. Real Player is needed for viewing the videos and listening to the audio clips. Video clips are presented in a format that will accommodate for both high-speed and dialup connections. |
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ORGANIZATION:
Content is organized by topic and listed on the main page of the site. The internal pages have a left side navigation menu for moving within that topic and additional links for moving between topics. Additionally there is a top navigation bar with the five major topics of the site and an on-site search tool. |
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REVIEW:
Future State is a rich resource for history or social studies teachers to supplement the curriculum. The main five sections of the site -- Who, What, When, Where, and Why -- give students a wealth of information about the U.S. Department of State, including the people involved, career-related opportunities, cultural exchange activities, foreign relations issues, map and country information, the history of the department, the importance of diplomacy, and much more. The section for teachers and parents offers lesson plans for grades 6-12 including slide shows on terrorism, Vietnam, and the Cuban Missile Crises. These lesson plans can easily be included in existing curricula. There is also a section for additional online resources, which lists links to sites with more information about current events, geography, and the environment.
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