Literature Links: Indian Boyhood

Literature Links: Indian Boyhood

The primary source set above and the associated learning activities below were inspired by a discussion on the TPS Teachers Network, a free professional online community designed to host and facilitate conversations, connections, and collaborations among educators of all stripes about using primary sources to improve student learning. In the discussion “S’a: Doctor, Author, Scout…

Teaching Now: Separating Myths from History

Teaching Now: Separating Myths from History

This unit plan and teaching guide was developed by Dr. John Bickford, Professor of Social Studies/History Education at Eastern Illinois University and Editor-in-Chief of The Councilor: A Journal of the Social Studies, in collaboration with Citizen U. It presents a lesson plan with teaching notes targeted to early and upper elementary students. TEACHER BACKGROUND Children—and…

Primary Source Learning: The Wampanoag, the Plimoth Colonists & the First Thanksgiving

Primary Source Learning: The Wampanoag, the Plimoth Colonists & the First Thanksgiving

This primary source set is targeted to elementary students and includes background information and thinking prompts. It was curated mainly by Dr. John Bickford, Professor of Social Studies/History Education at Eastern Illinois University and Editor-in-Chief of The Councilor: A Journal of the Social Studies, with the goal of helping students separate Thanksgiving myths from history. This…

Primary Source Learning: Being American Primary Source Sets

Primary Source Learning: Being American Primary Source Sets

This curated collection of primary sources was created to help students think critically about what it means to be an American by exploring and analyzing different perspectives and voices, particularly marginalized ones, over time. Thanks to the inspiration of Jen Reidel, 2019-2020 Library of Congress Civics Teacher in Residence, who suggested this theme. Executive proclamations…

Primary Source Learning: Community Helpers Then & Now Primary Source Set

Primary Source Learning: Community Helpers Then & Now Primary Source Set

Click the images to access them, then print or add to a digital folder or platform. Have students match the primary source images of community helpers from long ago and now. Then have students draw a picture of themselves as community helpers and/or a community helper in their neighborhood and share stories about those people….

World Spotlight: Ukraine

World Spotlight: Ukraine

Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Resources at the Library of Congress Ukraine primary source set World Digital Library Ukraine maps Ukraine image set Postcards of Kiev 1905-1940 Books & articles about Ukraine Final Report – Ukrainian, Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Films & webcasts related to Ukraine U.S. veteran oral histories (service in Ukraine) Oral histories mentioning Ukraine from…

World Spotlight: Iraq

World Spotlight: Iraq

Iraq country study Iraq country profile Iraq country profile BBC Iraq timeline BBC Places in the News: Iraq April 2003 June 2007 January 2008 June 2011 September 2012 November 2013 April 2014 June 2014 Iraq primary source set World Digital Library Iraq maps Iraq image set Books & articles about Iraq Films & webcasts related to Iraq U.S. veteran oral histories (service in Iraq, mainly…

World Spotlight: Gambia

World Spotlight: Gambia

Gambia primary source set World Digital Library The Gambia map Reports & other texts about Gambia Webcasts related to Gambia Oral histories mentioning Gambia from the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection of the Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training U.S. historical newspaper coverage of Gambia U.S. legislation related to Gambia Guide to Law Online: Gambia Gambia country profile BBC…

World Spotlight: Syria

World Spotlight: Syria

Syria country study Syria country profile BBC Syria country profile Syria timeline BBC Places in the News: Syria Syria primary source set World Digital Library Syria maps Syria image set Books & reports about Syria Report of the Syrian and Palestinian Relief Fund Sewing Rooms and Christian Herald Relief Fund Lace Industry Webcasts related to Syria Syrian dance…

Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Renaissance

Primary Source Spotlight: Harlem Renaissance

Harlem Renaissance primary source set, includes teacher’s guide Harlem Renaissance primary source iBook Harlem Renaissance recollections: oral history Harlem Renaissance online exhibition Harlem Renaissance artists The Harlem Community Art Center and the WPA The Whites Invade Harlem WPA life history captured 1938 Harlem rent parties WPA life history captured 1939 Related resources Learning from the Source: The Negro Speaks…

World Spotlight: Greece

World Spotlight: Greece

Greece primary source set World Digital Library Greece maps Greece image set Videos and webcasts related to Greece Greek related American life histories Greece mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection Veteran oral histories including service in Greece Greece sheet music Greek song recordings Historical newspaper coverage: Greece 1836-1922 Correspondence & reports related to Greece through 1899 Books related…

World Spotlight: France

World Spotlight: France

Country Profile: France Creating French Culture: Treasures from the Bibliothèque nationale de France online exhibition France in America bilingual digital library site France Allied with American Colonies February 6, 1778 from America’s Library France primary source set World Digital Library France maps France image set French image set Films related to France France mentions in the Foreign Affairs Oral History Collection French American life…