United States

The United States is enriched by its multiplicity. From the volcanoes of Hawaii to the glaciers of Alaska, the United States encompasses a great variety of landforms, wildlife and natural resources and has always boasted a diversity of cultures. In 1776, the United States was just one vote away from having German made its official language and continues to benefit from the arrival of people from all nations. Discover the scenic beauty and dynamic history of United States through the direct links on The Times Launch Point Web site: https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/

Level 1

America, the Land of Stars and Stripes: On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress resolved that “the flag of the United States be made of 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new Constellation.” Learn about the history of the U.S., including how America received its name, and experience some of its culture through songs, poetry and speeches.

https://tqjunior.advanced.org/5744/

Ben’s Guide to U.S. Government for Kids: To provide a balanced system of power, the U.S. government consists of three branches: the executive (president and vice president); the legislative (Senate and House of Representatives); and judicial (Supreme Court). Find out how laws are made and what it takes to become a U.S. citizen through this site, which has historical documents and information on governmental symbols.

https://bensguide.gpo.gov/

Stately Knowledge: Need to know the capital of Massachusetts? Wondering how states compare in terms of size or population? Learn more about each state in the union and test your knowledge of state capitals through an online test.

https://www.ipl.org/youth/stateknow/

Level 2

Library of Congress Learning Page: Try your hand as a historical detective as you get acquainted with the tremendous resources of the Library of Congress. The Americana collection includes digitized documents, photos, recorded sound and moving pictures on topics ranging from American music, literature, law, photography, history and art.

https://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/

Welcome to the White House: This site not only provides an interactive handbook to the federal government but also includes recent news releases, White House history and links to useful governmental agencies ranging from education and consumer protection to the U.S. business advisor and links to state and local government materials.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/

Encarta: United States of America: Though agriculture makes up a small part of the U.S. economy, the United States produces not only enough for its own residents but also exports more farm products than any other country in the world. Learn about the nation’s geography, population, economics, government, culture and history, from the time of the first inhabitants, the Native Americans to the present day.

https://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?z=1&pg;=2&ti;=05437000

Level 3

Smithsonian Museums and Research Centers: Whether you are interested in listening to Native American music, researching the Harlem Renaissance or viewing photos from U.S. space exploration missions, discover American history and culture for yourself through this collection of online museum exhibitions.

https://www.si.edu/activity/planvis/museums/start.htm

USA--An Outline of American History: This illustrated overview of American history begins with the colonial period and continues through the present day. Explore different eras through historic documents, essays and biographies of key figures.

https://odur.let.rug.nl/~usa/H/1990/

PBS: The American Experience: Get an in-depth look at key figures and events in American history ranging from surviving the Dust Bowl conditions during the Great Depression to the story of one of the world’s richest men, Andrew Carnegie.

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

Which two states rank in the top five in the U.S. for both largest size and population?

CLUE: See Stately Knowledge

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point now covers more than 100 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Answer to last week’s Quest: A candidate needs 270 electoral college votes to become president.

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Christy Dade, Raquel Nimtz, Kathy Menchaca Rauch and Anna Manring.