Spotlight

Image by jordi.martorell via Flickr

PBS has a series "They Made America" coming to television. The companion website includes a video of the trailer, links, teacher resources, transcripts, behind the scenes interviews and primary sources to examine. You students can take part in the tournament on the page as well. Creative innovators are in the spotlight like Ruth Handler who created the first "Barbie" and Samuel Insul who was an apprentice to Thomas Edison with the dream of cheap electricity for everyone.



"Read about the four films, and access transcripts and film credits.
The series includes:

"Revolutionaries"
Four early American innovators who got the new nation up and going.

"Newcomers"
Three immigrants who helped create modern urban America.

"Gamblers"
Three mid-20th century figures who contributed to American commercial dominance.

"Rebels"
Two 21st-century American media entrepreneurs."