TeachersFirst's Primary Sources
Discover this collection of tools relating to primary sources and engaging suggestions on using them in your classroom. Primary sources offer direct (firsthand) accounts about events, people, works of art, and more. There are many different types of primary sources: audio and video recordings, speeches, historical or legal documents, eyewitness accounts, and many more possibilities. This curated list includes resources for all grades, compares primary to secondary sources, and countless other topics to explore. Get inspiration from the "In the Classroom" section of each review, offering several suggestions to try in your class. View our even larger tagged list of resources for Primary Sources.
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The Plainest Demands of Justice: Documents for Dialogue on the African American Experience - Bill of Rights Institute
Grades
8 to 12
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This seven-lesson curriculum uses primary source documents to teach students about the efforts of individuals and groups from colonial times through the present work to ensure the ideals...more
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This seven-lesson curriculum uses primary source documents to teach students about the efforts of individuals and groups from colonial times through the present work to ensure the ideals of the Declaration of Independence with a focus on civil rights issues. Beginning with the Declaration of Independence and ending with current times, each lesson includes objectives, links to resource materials, and extension activities. Free registration is required to access all materials in the lesson plans. In addition, registration allows members to save their favorite activities to a personal library, share a link to your LMS (Learning Management System), and add lessons to custom playlists.
tag(s): 1700s (36), 1800s (66), 1900s (58), 20th century (50), civil rights (187), declaration of independence (14), martin luther king (41), primary sources (105), slavery (70)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save these lessons to supplement your current American History curriculum. Each lesson includes links to primary source documents; use these resources to find materials not typically available in a broader curriculum. Engage students in the lesson activities and introductory essays using Pear Deck, reviewed here, to create interactive presentations that include guiding questions, videos, and formative assessment questions. Extend learning by asking individual students or groups to present their concluding analysis as a multimedia presentation with their peers. For example, Lesson 1 includes six questions for the concluding analysis activity. Assign a question to six different groups of students and ask them to share their responses through a video presentation created with Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, or as a website created with Google Sites, reviewed here.
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Native American Month Resources for Teachers - Library of Congress
Grades
K to 12
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Start your search for Native American Heritage Month lessons and activities with the resources provided by the Library of Congress. This site includes a Teacher's Guide and primary...more
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Start your search for Native American Heritage Month lessons and activities with the resources provided by the Library of Congress. This site includes a Teacher's Guide and primary source resources from the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, and other national institutions. Lesson focus is on many different types of primary sources, including maps, artwork, and music.
tag(s): native americans (86), primary sources (105)
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 Creative Cloud Express for Education, reviewed here, and offer students options for creating videos Adobe Express Video Maker, or webpages sharing facts and information learned during your unit.
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Smithsonian Open Access - Smithsonian
Grades
K to 12
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"What will you create?" asks Smithsonian as they share a digital collection of over 3 million items available to download without use restrictions. Materials include images and data...more
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"What will you create?" asks Smithsonian as they share a digital collection of over 3 million items available to download without use restrictions. Materials include images and data from across Smithonian's varied resources, including museums, the National Zoo, research centers, and more. Find information with keywords in the search bar or explore featured platforms such as Smithsonian Learning Lab, 3D Voyager, or Developer Tools. After obtaining search results, use filters to narrow down the results to fit your needs. For a better understanding of how others use downloaded materials, explore the remixes found on the site.
tag(s): art history (82), creativity (90), images (254), primary sources (105), Research (79), sculpture (21)
In the Classroom
Think of Smithsonian access as your virtual museum of downloads to use without copyright restrictions. Search and find images to use for any need. Use the images in newsletters, teaching materials, student projects, digital books, and more. For example, include images on shared Google Slides, reviewed here, and ask students to annotate features using text or the drawing tool. Share the site with students to use when creating webpages using Site123, reviewed here, or to create posters in Canva Edu, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teaching with Primary Sources - Almetria Vaba
Grades
4 to 12
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Discover how to use PBS Learning Media's primary source library through three activities shared on Teaching with Primary Sources. Topics include an interactive scrapbook of the Seattle...more
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Discover how to use PBS Learning Media's primary source library through three activities shared on Teaching with Primary Sources. Topics include an interactive scrapbook of the Seattle World Fair, an investigation of presidential decisions using documents from the Presidential Library, and exploring the Civil Rights Movement using Library of Congress sources. Each activity includes correlations to National Standards. View state standards after creating your free account.
tag(s): civil rights (187), presidents (117), primary sources (105), Research (79), slavery (70)
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.
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Engaging Congress - Indiana University
Grades
5 to 12
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Engaging Congress is an interactive game that uses primary sources to help students evaluate information as they learn about the United States government. Download the app from Google...more
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Engaging Congress is an interactive game that uses primary sources to help students evaluate information as they learn about the United States government. Download the app from Google Play or the iTunes store, or select the webGL link to play on the web. Begin play by choosing a story, primary source, or pick a trivia challenge or practice. Use the Teacher Toolbox to find documents by era or topic, learning objectives matched to Common Core Standards, and compelling questions for use with each issue and story. Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the home page to find the link to request classroom giveaways to encourage play!
tag(s): branches of government (62), congress (38), DAT device agnostic tool (137), primary sources (105)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free games and materials on this site to use as a supplement to your current resources for teaching history and government. Instead of written notes, strengthen learning by having students use an online tool such as Holt Interactive Graphic Organizers, reviewed here, to create diagrams, mindmaps, and other visual graphic organizers. To compare and contrast information found in different primary sources, create a Venn Diagram. As students prepare to share their findings and summarize their learning, have them modify their learning by creating infographics using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here, to visually represent facts and information. As a final assessment for your unit using these materials, ask students to form teams to debate different sides of the issues presented. Share their debates as a podcast using Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here. Spotify for Podcasters is a simple to use podcasting tool offering several free options for creating, hosting, and sharing podcasts. As an alternative, ask other students redefine their learning and to create multimedia presentations using Sway, reviewed here to share text, videos, images, and more.
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OneHistory - Hilary Mac Austin and Kathleen Thompson
Grades
6 to 12
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OneHistory uses stories, images, biographies, editorials, and essays to tell the history of America through the diversity of its people. Use links on the site to view information through...more
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OneHistory uses stories, images, biographies, editorials, and essays to tell the history of America through the diversity of its people. Use links on the site to view information through reading history and visual history. Be sure to check out the teacher feature index containing tips for teaching through photographs and links to great speeches and documents.
tag(s): 1800s (66), 1900s (58), african american (107), biographies (95), cross cultural understanding (149), essays (20), great depression (27), primary sources (105), speeches (18)
In the Classroom
Bookmark OneHistory as a resource for primary sources when teaching American History and as an excellent tool for finding information featuring diversity throughout the years. Have students create a multimedia presentation using 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. Challenge students to find a photo (legally permitted to be reproduced), and then narrate the photo as if it is a news report. Take advantage of the high interest, low readability level stories on the site to differentiate for the variety of reading levels in your classroom and to include informational (nonfiction) reading standards.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Students Investigating Primary Sources - Florida Joint Center for Citizenship
Grades
2 to 12
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Students Investigating Primary Sources is a series of lessons designed through a collaboration with the National Archives, Pinellas County Public Schools, and Brevard Public Schools...more
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Students Investigating Primary Sources is a series of lessons designed through a collaboration with the National Archives, Pinellas County Public Schools, and Brevard Public Schools for 2nd grade through High School Students. Choose from topics including separation of power and women's right to vote. Each lesson correlates to National Standards and a PDF link to the original activity including vocabulary, handouts, and other necessary materials.
tag(s): branches of government (62), civil rights (187), constitution (85), primary sources (105), womens suffrage (37)
In the Classroom
Benefit from the free lessons on this site for use when teaching the use of primary sources. Challenge younger students to demonstrate concepts learned by creating a presentation using slides, reviewed here, and older students to use a presentation tool from Marq (was Lucidpress), reviewed here. The easy drag and drop features of Marq allow you to personalize flyers, posters, presentations, and more. Ask students to incorporate primary sources and other research materials into an interactive timeline using Preceden, reviewed here, as a visual look at historical events over a certain period.
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The USC Shoah Foundation Visual History Archive - USC Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education
Grades
8 to 12
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At The Visual History Archive discover an online portal of 53,000 audio and video testimonies of survivors and witnesses of twentieth-century genocides. These are cataloged and indexed...more
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At The Visual History Archive discover an online portal of 53,000 audio and video testimonies of survivors and witnesses of twentieth-century genocides. These are cataloged and indexed with over 1,660 viewable at this URL. Besides the WWII Holocaust, other genocides covered are the Armenian Genocide during World War I, the 1937 Nanjing Massacre in China, the Cambodian Genocide of the 1970s, and the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. There is a newer collection titled Contemporary Antisemitism. All the interviews, collected by volunteers, were conducted in 63 countries and 40 languages. To access the content just scroll down the page. Search by genocide, experience groups, specific people, places, time periods and indexed terms. Save results in your account. Each item shows streaming audio or video file, identifying data and an interactive map of the location. No transcripts are provided. Many of these videos are available on the YouTube Channel of the USC Shoah Foundation. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): 20th century (50), holocaust (40), interviews (12), jews (23), oral history (14), primary sources (105), world war 2 (141)
In the Classroom
The streaming audio and video interviews of first-person accounts makes this collection a powerful classroom experience using non-text primary sources. Show students the extensive searching capabilities, have students research a topic, person or place, preview and then summarize content. Study interactive maps of interviews and locations. During class time, show selected interviews to make history come alive or assign videos to watch for flipped or blended classrooms. Using the interviews as models, have students video or write up an interview with someone on the topic for a local history collection. Since registration is required, teachers will need to register and show students how to register if they are to do their own research.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Primary vs Secondary Sources - The Minnesota Historical Society
Grades
6 to 12
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Primary vs. Secondary Sources is an excellent YouTube video explaining the difference between these two types of sources. The video provides several examples of each type of source...more
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Primary vs. Secondary Sources is an excellent YouTube video explaining the difference between these two types of sources. The video provides several examples of each type of source and tells why it fits into that category. If your district blocks YouTube, then this video may not be viewable.
tag(s): primary sources (105), Research (79), video (251)
In the Classroom
Share this video with students as they begin any research project. Be sure to add a link to this site on your class website for reference at home. Have students create a simple infographic with examples of both types of resources using Canva Infographic Maker, reviewed here. Have students upload a photo they have taken of a source and add an explanation about why it fits into a particular category using a tool such as Add Text, 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 12
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TPS Teachers Network is a social networking site for social studies and history teachers. The Library of Congress funded this as part of their Teaching With Primary Sources Program....more
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TPS Teachers Network is a social networking site for social studies and history teachers. The Library of Congress funded this as part of their Teaching With Primary Sources Program. Create an account to begin using features on the site (email and password required). Once enrolled, options include participating in a chat, adding friends, and searching using keywords. Use the search from the top right menu after logging in on the main page to find specific information topics such as primary source sets or political cartoons. Create albums on the site, including primary and secondary sources, and videos to easily share with students or fellow teachers. Be sure to check out the Help section by clicking the question mark at on the top menu bar when you first get started for Quick Tips to all sections of the site.
tag(s): bookmarks (47), primary sources (105), professional development (352), social networking (70), Teacher Utilities (133)
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 8
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This excellent resource includes articles on teaching primary sources to elementary students, classroom materials, and information on the latest research on this subject. You'll also...more
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This excellent resource includes articles on teaching primary sources to elementary students, classroom materials, and information on the latest research on this subject. You'll also find Primary Source Sets, a Primary Source Analysis Tool, and more.
tag(s): primary sources (105)
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.
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Classroom Materials - Primary Source Sets - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12
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This collection of primary sources from the Library of Congress is organized around key topics and themes in American History. View Primary Source Set titles in alphabetical order from...more
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This collection of primary sources from the Library of Congress is organized around key topics and themes in American History. View Primary Source Set titles in alphabetical order from Abraham Lincoln through Women's Suffrage. Choose any topic to view Teacher's Guides and analysis tools including graphic organizers for students. Sort information to find materials meeting Common Core Standards, State Standards, or national organization standards.
tag(s): 20th century (50), authors (100), black history (112), civil war (130), constitution (85), hispanic (28), history day (39), immigration (63), jefferson (18), lincoln (57), new deal (5), primary sources (105), Research (79), segregation (16), thanksgiving (23), veterans (19), washington (24), westward expansion (37), womens suffrage (37), 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.
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Barat Primary Source Nexus - Barat Education Foundation
Grades
2 to 12
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Find high interest primary sources for anything from teddy bears to Abraham Lincoln to King Kamehameha and much more. There are also primary sources for world connections for Serbia,...more
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Find high interest primary sources for anything from teddy bears to Abraham Lincoln to King Kamehameha and much more. There are also primary sources for world connections for Serbia, Iran, and Cambodia. Common Core emphasizes "reading" of visual sources of information, and this is the perfect source. Be sure to click on Learning Resources and Teaching Resources for lesson plans for Literature Links, Lesson Plans, Tech Tools, Integrating Tech, and much more. This is a growing resource, so be sure to sign up for their newsletter. The Primary Source Nexus is the online support resource for the TPS-Barat Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program. This is a great place to look for ideas to use for History Day! For instance, use the search bar to find several resources for Juneteenth. Preview before sharing with students.
tag(s): advertising (23), black history (112), cross cultural understanding (149), history day (39), immigration (63), journalism (69), Juneteenth (18), lincoln (57), martin luther king (41), poetry (182), presidents (117), primary sources (105), professional development (352), roosevelt (11), slavery (70), writing prompts (52)
In the Classroom
Take a look at the free professional development for using primary sources for teachers. Search for Connecting to the Common Core, where there are writing prompts for K-5 plus a link to the triangle activity. Download and use the PDF for the Thinking Triangle. Have older students research an interest and report to the class using a tool like Slides, reviewed here.
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Founders Online - National Archives and University of Virginia
Grades
6 to 12
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Founders Online is an archive from the National Archives of over 119,000 fully annotated primary source documents from six of the nation's founding fathers: George Washington, Benjamin...more
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Founders Online is an archive from the National Archives of over 119,000 fully annotated primary source documents from six of the nation's founding fathers: George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. Enter any search term or browse by author, recipient, or time period. Each document includes information such as author, recipient, date, and links to other similar documents if available.
tag(s): american revolution (81), colonial america (92), colonization (18), constitution (85), declaration of independence (14), franklin (9), jefferson (18), primary sources (105), washington (24)
In the Classroom
Search and view information from this site on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Find documents from similar time periods and events to compare and contrast different points of view. Have students download to 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. Have students create timelines (with music, photos, videos, and more) usingTimeline JS, reviewed here. Have students use Fakebook, reviewed here, to create a "fake" page similar in style to Facebook about any of the founding fathers included on this site.
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Engaging Students With Primary Sources - Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Grades
6 to 12
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The Smithsonian Institution offers a printable guide to using primary sources in any classroom. View examples of how to do it and suggestion! Explore each of the main sections including...more
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The Smithsonian Institution offers a printable guide to using primary sources in any classroom. View examples of how to do it and suggestion! Explore each of the main sections including documents, photographs, oral histories, and objects for ideas and tips. Each activity is aligned to National Center for History in the Schools standards. The guide is in PDF format for easy printing and use.
tag(s): primary sources (105)
In the Classroom
Bookmark and save this site for use throughout the year as a guide for using primary sources. Use some of the lesson strategies with other primary source collections
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Digital Public Library of America - Digital Public Library of America
Grades
5 to 12
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The Digital Public Library of America is a central portal pulling together the collections of US libraries, archives and museums. These individual collections are available in a single...more
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The Digital Public Library of America is a central portal pulling together the collections of US libraries, archives and museums. These individual collections are available in a single large database. The DPLA does not actually have any collection of its own; rather it provides direct links to individual artifacts that reside in other collections across the US. Artifacts include text, images, video clips, and more. You can search the DPLA using a timeline, using a map, or using a more traditional search box. The timeline feature makes accessing topics such as "civil rights" by decade very helpful. Creating a free account allows you to save searches. The DPLA also "collects" groups of artifacts into exhibitions.
tag(s): 1910s (7), 1920s (14), 1930s (18), 1940s (11), 1950s (7), 1960s (28), 1970s (10), 1980s (7), 20th century (50), data (142), museums (43), primary sources (105), Research (79)
In the Classroom
Adding the DPLA to your classroom bookmarks or introducing students to this resource will put a wealth of information into students' hands, aggregated into one place. Consider this a museum/archive/library specific search engine. Because each search links to an artifact or document which may actually be the property of any of dozens of different entities, students will need to understand that copyright and the ability to download material may vary depending upon where the original item "lives." Be sure to demonstrate how to FIND the rights information. Challenge students to explore basics on an artist, an author, or a social studies topic such as "civil rights" or "Martin Luther King" to see an overview in many media using the timeline display. Be sure to test the searches in advance to know which terms yield reasonable results.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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America in Class - The National Humanities Center
Grades
5 to 12
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Discover American History lessons correlated to Common Core reading and social studies literacy standards, especially those that require close reading and evidence. The goal of these...more
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Discover American History lessons correlated to Common Core reading and social studies literacy standards, especially those that require close reading and evidence. The goal of these lessons is to use primary resources, background information, and the analytical strategies suggested to meet the Common Core standards. In addition to these outstanding American History lessons, also find free online seminars and secondary sources. The secondary sources, under TeacherServe, include essays on topics in American literature and history.
tag(s): abolition (7), american revolution (81), civil war (130), colonial america (92), colonization (18), democracy (19), native americans (86), primary sources (105), religions (71), slavery (70), women (116)
In the Classroom
Use your interactive whiteboard or projector to help your class learn the background information and read the material through once. Work through the lesson together; then consider assigning groups of four students to go through the readings again, discovering the answers to the essential questions. Have students post the group's answers on a back channel chat program such as YoTeach!, reviewed here, so all groups can see all answers. Where answers differ, have students go back into the reading and cite evidence to support their answer on Today's Meet for all to see.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Picturing US History - American Social History Project / Center for Media and Learning
Grades
4 to 12
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"Picturing U.S. History" helps you use visual evidence to learn about the past. The essays and lectures are very detailed and flexible. Find primary source media by clicking on the...more
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"Picturing U.S. History" helps you use visual evidence to learn about the past. The essays and lectures are very detailed and flexible. Find primary source media by clicking on the links in the essays and lectures; these include: photographs, drawings, paintings, political cartoons, print media, statuary, furniture, and collectibles. Additional links provide explanations of historical and culture behind the images used at the site.
tag(s): art history (82), black history (112), history day (39), painting (56), primary sources (105)
In the Classroom
Use a projector or interactive whiteboard, and the zoom tool to look at one aspect of the picture and have students interpret the image. Challenge your students to create a web exhibit collection about a historical topic using a tool such as Pocket, reviewed here. Students can share all of the important links, information, and even brief descriptions that they find on this site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Docs Teach - The National Archives
Grades
6 to 12
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Explore collections of primary documents from US History enhanced with tools for teaching. This site adds the ability to manipulate primary documents to build informative and challenging...more
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Explore collections of primary documents from US History enhanced with tools for teaching. This site adds the ability to manipulate primary documents to build informative and challenging lessons. While a few of the documents and lessons are available for the casual visitor to the site, you need to register (and it's free!) in order to make full use of the amazing resources here. Once you have registered, you can access all the documents and use the activity builder to create lessons which use primary documents to teach sequencing, mapping, weighing evidence, interpreting data, and seeing the big picture. Please note that you do not HAVE to create anything, you can simply use what is already here. (And they do already have a lot to offer.) You will need to create a project if you want to package an activity that you can use now and again later.
tag(s): american revolution (81), civil war (130), digital storytelling (140), great depression (27), industrial revolution (20), primary sources (105), Teacher Utilities (133), westward expansion (37), world war 1 (64), world war 2 (141)
In the Classroom
If you teach history or social studies, you know what a great emphasis is being placed on the use of primary documents in helping students develop an awareness of the perspectives of those who lived during a particular era. Use this site to develop sophisticated lessons using primary documents on US History with the activity builder. Use the ready-made activities (the majority of which are available once you've registered), on an interactive whiteboard or projector for the whole class or assign groups of students to work independently at a computer workstation or at home. These activities encourage higher order thinking among students rather than simply the memorization of facts.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Our Documents - 100 Milestone Documents - National Archives
Grades
6 to 12
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This site, a collaborative effort among the National Archives, National History Day, and USA Freedom Corps, highlights the most important documents in US history. Each of these "milestone"...more
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This site, a collaborative effort among the National Archives, National History Day, and USA Freedom Corps, highlights the most important documents in US history. Each of these "milestone" documents is detailed and photographed on a separate page; the photo can be enlarged for presentation on an interactive whiteboard. What is most helpful for teachers, however, is the link to DocsTeach, reviewed here, with tools for educators. This site was clearly designed with teachers in mind! Click the items from the menu on the right.
tag(s): history day (39), primary sources (105)
In the Classroom
The use of primary sources in teaching has been greatly increased by our digital access to documents like these. Peruse the list of "milestone" documents, and commit to using the photographs on an interactive whiteboard (or projector) when the document comes up in a lesson or discussion. For teachers who are supporting student projects for National History Day, this site also has a link to specific tips, although it appears the site has not been kept up to date with current information on individual competitions. Challenge cooperative learning groups to investigate one of the documents and create a multimedia project of their choice. Looking for some inspiration? How about having groups create a podcast using podOmatic, reviewed here. Or have students create online posters on paper or do it together as a class using a tool such as Web Poster Wizard, reviewed here, or PicLits, reviewed here. Have students narrate a photo of the document (using a FREE and LEGAL photo) with a too 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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