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Webcomics Web Archive - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): artists (80), comics and cartoons (53), politics (111)
In the Classroom
Include this collection in art classes during the study of comic book art. Share comics with students in history classes along with newspaper comics to demonstrate the use of comics to depict historic events or share political beliefs and satire. In literature classes, include this site along with others to share comics depicting characters in novels. Have students create their own comics or cartoons to summarize story events or depict characters and events from history using a comic creation tool like ToonyTool, reviewed here, to create single frame cartoons. Find more uses for using comics in the classroom by viewing the archive of our OK2Ask session Engage & Inspire: Comics in the Classroom, reviewed here.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Women in the Civil Rights Movement - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): black history (128), civil rights (197), women (140), womenchangemaker (28)
In the Classroom
Have students work in six groups and assign each group one of the featured speakers from the site. Using the website, have them create a presentation using Google Slides, reviewed here. Then jigsaw the students and let them teach each other about what they learned. If you need a refresher for the cooperative learning technique Jigsaw, it's reviewed here. Have students watch the interviews on the website and have them make a comparison on what commonalities they heard. Have them create WordClouds, reviewed here to see what the speakers have in common.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ida B. Wells and the Activism of Investigative Journalism - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): black history (128), civil rights (197), journalism (72), womenchangemaker (28)
In the Classroom
Using a podcasting tool like Podcast Generator, reviewed here have students produce a podcast episode that discusses Wells' life. Have students pretend to interview Wells for the podcast. Create stories using Book Creator, reviewed here that highlights Wells' major achievements, the challenges she overcame, and her impact on civil rights and journalism. Share those those stories with another classroom or post them on your class webpage. Create a timeline of important events from Wells' life. Choose a timeline creation tool located here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Belva Lockwood: Suffragist, Lawyer, and Presidential Candidate - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): primary sources (118), womenchangemaker (28), womens suffrage (44)
In the Classroom
Using a platform like Padlet, reviewed here have students create a virtual museum exhibit that showcases artifacts, photographs, and documents related to Lockwood's life, including her campaigns for women's suffrage and her presidential runs. With a tool like Snappa, reviewed here have students design infographics that highlight Lockwood's major accomplishments, the challenges she faced, and her contributions to women's rights. These infographics can be shared on social media or displayed around the school to educate others about Lockwood's contributions to women's history. Use the newspaper primary resources to introduce students to Lockwood. Have students download the newspaper PDFs and annotate the article, highlighting items they find interesting. Use the tools found at SmallPDF, reviewed here for the annotating.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Birth of Juneteenth; Voices of the Enslaved - Library of Congress and Neely Tucker
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): black history (128), civil rights (197), civil war (135), Juneteenth (22), primary sources (118), slavery (76)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this article to use when planning lessons on Juneteenth, slavery, or the Civil War, both as a resource of quality information and to access the many primary source links found in the article. Visit the Library of Congress: For Teachers, reviewed here to search and find many more Juneteenth-related documents. Engage students in learning more about Juneteenth by asking them to research information through different focus points. For example, this article discusses specific cities, people, and architecture. Ask students to share their learning by creating infographics using templates from Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here or Adobe Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Exploring Chronicling America Newspapers - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1800s (74), 1900s (73), journalism (72), news (227), newspapers (91), primary sources (118)
In the Classroom
Use this map to find historical primary source information by location for various classroom uses. Use the data to supplement your current curriculum; for example, see articles from different sites that discuss Civil War events to engage students in understanding and learning about varying perspectives of life during that period. Ask students to use images (including proper use of copyright) and annotate information to explain the featured events. Class Tool's Image Annotator, reviewed here, is an easy-to-use resource for adding hotspots to images that include a title, description, and links if desired. As an extended learning activity, ask students to share their understanding of the topic by creating an interactive timeline using templates found at Canva Timeline Infographic Creators, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Black History Month - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (110), black history (128), civil rights (197), lincoln (62), underground railroad (12), white house (15)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use as a supplement to your current resources for teaching about Black History. Engage students through the use of primary documents within Google Jamboard, reviewed here. Add a document to a Jamboard slide and ask students to add sticky notes with information learned throughout your lesson activities. As you continue through your lessons, enhance student understanding using visual organization tools like Workona, reviewed here. For example, create a dedicated space or your template for your current class project with tabs, docs, and links. As a final extended learning activity, ask students to interview local historians and Black activists to understand their first-hand experiences as a Black person in America. Share students' research using the storytelling tools found at Knight Lab, reviewed here. Tools include story maps, timelines, and Storyline - a tool for sharing the story behind numbers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Role of Women - Digital Inquiry Group
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): 1900s (73), 20th century (61), comics and cartoons (53), politics (111), womens suffrage (44)
In the Classroom
Include this assessment as part of any American History lessons focused on the changing role of women and lessons about life in the early 1900s. Use the ideas found in this quick assessment with other political cartoons of the time. Running for Office - Cartoons Of Clifford K. Berryman, reviewed here, is a resource for finding additional cartoons from the early 20th century. After students spend time assessing the features that make up political cartoons, enhance learning and ask them to create their own cartoon using Comic Strip Templates from Canva, reviewed here. Extend learning by sharing student-created cartoons using Odyssey, reviewed here. Use Odyssey to share and compare the political feel of the time period through stories told across the country.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Native American Month Resources for Teachers - Library of Congress
Grades
K to 12tag(s): native americans (92), primary sources (118)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site to use not only for Native American Heritage Month but as a supplement for any lessons that include activities that teach about Native Americans. Take advantage of the many free primary source Strategy Guides available at Read Write Think, reviewed here, for teaching with primary sources. For example, search for the Inquiry Charts (I-Guide) Strategy Guide to download and use the printout that helps students focus on the content of any primary source. Create an inquiry chart using Google Slides, reviewed here, or Jamboard, reviewed here, for students to complete as a group. Enhance learning through the use of a video add-on tool such as edpuzzle, reviewed here. edpuzzle offers options to add comments and questions into videos to help students focus on important concepts. Extend learning by asking students to share their understanding of Native Americans using a variety of online tools. For example, ask students to use Google My Maps, reviewed here, to create maps sharing information of different tribes found around the United States. Another option is to use Adobe Express for Education, reviewed here, and offer students options for creating videos Adobe Express Video Maker, or web pages sharing facts and information learned during your unit.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching with Primary Sources - Almetria Vaba
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): civil rights (197), presidents (124), primary sources (118), Research (84), slavery (76)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of these free investigations to incorporate into your current lessons or as a starting point to introduce the use of primary sources. Consider using the PBS activities as an alternative to a typical research paper by taking advantage of technology tools to enhance learning. Have students create a bibliography of sources using Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Share a citation tool such as Cite This For Me, reviewed here, for students to use when citing and creating bibliographies of online documents. Encourage students to collaborate and discuss primary sources using Fiskkit, reviewed here. Copy the URL of an online resource into Fiskkit and share with students. Students then click on portions of the article to highlight and discuss relevant information found. Encourage students to delve further into any topic using Ted-Ed Clubs, reviewed here. This site allows you to create clubs with up to 50 members. Members participate in up to 13 sessions based on TED Talks by collaborating and discussing topics of interest.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Eagle Eye Citizen - Roy Rosenzweig Center for History and New Media
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): branches of government (63), civil rights (197), congress (39), elections (80), immigrants (33), inquiry (24), presidents (124), primary sources (118), Research (84), womens suffrage (44)
In the Classroom
Share activities from this site to introduce civics and government lessons; be sure to point out links with additional resources included after problem-solving activities. Share a link to this site on your class website for students to use at home. Replace written notes and help students organize information using a mind mapping tool like Coggle, reviewed here. Use Coggle to create and share colorful diagrams with included text and images. As students continue through the unit, have them enhance their learning by including their diagram on a website sharing their knowledge of civics concepts or discussing the historical event studied. Webnode, reviewed here, is a free website creator offering premade templates and easy to use tools. Transform student learning at the next level and ask them to create a book for younger students to teach them about the event studied using Book Creator, reviewed here. For example, when learning about the three branches of government ask students to create a digital book explaining the functions of the three branches. Book Creator allows you to include videos, images, audio recordings, and more.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Web Cultures Web Archive - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): cross cultural understanding (160), cultures (131), digital citizenship (87), STEM (269)
In the Classroom
Include this Library of Congress collection with your other resources shared with students for research. Consider using Padlet, reviewed here, to share resources with students. Sort information by topic and add notes then embed your Padlet onto your class website for student use. After studying information found on this site, ask students to create a short animated video using a tool like Powtoon, reviewed here, to compare and contrast the cultures of different time periods or countries.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Library of Congress Flickr Albums - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1900s (73), aeronautics (9), baseball (32), bridges (11), civil rights (197), civil war (135), gettysburg (15), images (261), jazz (16), lincoln (62), world war 1 (74), world war 2 (154)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many photographs included on this site for use as primary sources for lessons on American History. The site's settings allow for sharing and download of images. When sharing, be sure to follow guidelines for correct attribution of sources. Use any album from the site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Have students create an annotated image telling the story of the time including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Archive of Public Broadcasting - Library of Congress & WGBH
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 1900s (73), earth (185), radio (20), religions (79), sports (80), video (260), women (140), world war 1 (74), world war 2 (154)
In the Classroom
Bookmark the American Archive of Public Broadcasting for use as primary source material for classroom lessons. Browse by topic or keywords to find videos to share on your interactive whiteboard or share a link on your class website for students to view at home. Enhance students' learning and have them use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about an important figure from America's recent past. Transform student learning by having students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here, to demonstrate what they learned from one of the radio programs, videos, or exhibits.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): authors (104), biographies (95), literature (215), poetry (189)
In the Classroom
Share recordings on your interactive whiteboard to introduce literature readings in your classroom. Take advantage of the many biographies on this site for use when introducing poetry and literature. Include information from this site when transforming learning & creating multimedia timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) using Timeline JS, reviewed here. View all of TeachersFirst's Editor's Choices for Poetry Month here. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about an author or poet found on this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Library of Congress Celebrates the Songs of America - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): 1800s (74), 1900s (73), 20th century (61), poetry (189), songs (45)
In the Classroom
This site is a goldmine for finding music to accompany any American history unit! Use resources from the site as an anticipatory set or "activator" to introduce a unit or lesson on a projector or interactive whiteboard. Play music from the period you are studying during reading or research time. Allow students to explore the site on their own, and then share their findings with classmates. Have students create timelines (it can include text, images and collaboration) using Sutori, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TPS Teachers Network - Metropolitan State University of Denver
Grades
K to 12tag(s): bookmarks (46), primary sources (118), professional development (402), social networking (64), Teacher Utilities (156)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save TPS Teachers Network as an excellent professional development and social networking site. Share with your colleagues to create your own professional learning network on the site. Create albums with primary sources for use throughout the year in one easy to find location.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Getting Started With Primary Sources - Elementary Students - Library of Congress
Grades
K to 8tag(s): primary sources (118)
In the Classroom
Use information from this article when including primary sources in your Common Core based lessons. Take advantage of the free included lesson plans. Be sure to click on the links in each lesson activity to be directed to the complete lesson plan. Share information with your teaching colleagues. Use images from the lessons (with proper credit, of course) and create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Google Drawings, reviewed here. Google Drawings allows you to annotate an image with links to videos, text, websites, and more. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Classroom Materials - Primary Source Sets - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 20th century (61), authors (104), black history (128), civil war (135), constitution (87), evaluating sources (27), hispanic (30), history day (39), immigration (65), jefferson (18), lincoln (62), new deal (5), primary sources (118), Research (84), segregation (18), thanksgiving (24), veterans (23), washington (26), westward expansion (38), womens suffrage (44), wright brothers (15)
In the Classroom
When introducing a new unit, show students photos from the era (on the left menu) and have them describe what they see and what period they think it is. Find plenty of questions and activities (including a blank analysis organizer for students) in the Teacher's Guides. Also look at Library of Congress: for Teachers, reviewed here. Encourage your students to use this tool for projects. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted for reproduction), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Have students create a multimedia presentation using Google Slides, reviewed here. Google Slides allows you to narrate a picture (choose Insert from the top menu, then audio) modifying student learning. Include this site on your class webpage for students and parents to access as a reference.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sakura: Cherry Blossoms as Living Symbols of Friendship - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): japan (56), japanese (48), trees (18), washington (26)
In the Classroom
Cherry Blossoms are both a symbol of spring, and a legacy of the historical relationship between the people of Japan and the United States. Make a brief detour during a lesson on Asian history, on the development of Washington, D.C. as the US capital, or on important American cultural symbols, and look at the roots of this tradition. There are primary sources to explore, and links to contemporary photos of the Cherry Blossom Festival.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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