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…

Primary Source Learning: K-2

Primary Source Learning: K-2

Analyzing Primary Sources: Early Elementary (K-2) Image Analysis Choice Board Analyzing Primary Sources: Sensory Exploration Connecting to the Common Core: Kindergarten Writing Prompts & Activities Engaging Young Learners with Primary Sources video Guided primary source analysis activities History’s Mysteries: Kindergarten KidCitizen digital interactive episodes Kindergarten Historians: Primary Sources in an Early Elementary Classroom Teaching with…

Primary Source Learning: Disability History

Primary Source Learning: Disability History

Unit & lesson plans Teaching Now: Learning About (Dis)ability in History- An Inquiry for Elementary Students Learning from the Source: (Dis)ability History How Disability Activists Created Change Ancient Rome’s Veterans with Disabilities: Roman Accounts and U.S. Veteran Comparisons Activities Accessibility Aids Child Labor in the Early 1900s Disabled Newsies League of the Physically Handicapped’s Protests…

Timely Connections: Constitutional Rights of Students

Timely Connections: Constitutional Rights of Students

Every year the United States celebrates Constitution Day on September 17. How much do you know about U.S. constitutional rights? Did you know that those rights are different in the context of public schools? School officials have significant leeway when instituting and enforcing rules to maintain a safe environment conducive to learning but, over the…

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: Primary Sources Through Time

Primary Source Learning: Primary Sources Through Time

Looking for primary sources related to a particular time period in U.S. history? The Teaching with Library of Congress blog suggests using the American Memory Timeline,  an online presentation that provides a comprehensive look through U.S. history using primary sources from the Library’s collections. For teaching ideas, read the whole blog post. More resources are listed below. U.S. History by…

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 5 Writing Prompts & Activities

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 5 Writing Prompts & Activities

Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies. The activities below were designed around the grade 5 Common Core State Standards for writing. These fifth-grade writing prompts and activity ideas build on the K-4 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes CCSS Grade 5 Writing Standards Writing Prompts /…

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 4 Writing Prompts & Activities

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 4 Writing Prompts & Activities

Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies. The activities below were designed around the grade 4 Common Core State Standards for writing. These fourth-grade writing prompts and activity ideas build on the K-3 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 4 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity…

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 3 Writing Prompts & Activities

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 3 Writing Prompts & Activities

Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies. The activities below were designed around the grade 3 Common Core State Standards for writing. These third-grade writing prompts and activity ideas build on the K-2 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 3 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity…

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 2 Writing Prompts & Activities

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 2 Writing Prompts & Activities

Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies. The activities below were designed around the grade 2 Common Core State Standards for writing. These second-grade writing prompts and activity ideas build on the K-1 writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 2 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity…

Learning from the Source: Zooming into Documentary Photography

Learning from the Source: Zooming into Documentary Photography

Zoom into the picture above and you will see a face recognizable to many. The mother in the photo is Florence Thompson, most famously known as the migrant mother. This photograph was one in a series taken in 1936 by Resettlement Administration photographer Dorothea Lange. In this primary source activity, students will examine photographs individually…

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 1 Writing Prompts & Activities

Analyzing Primary Sources: Grade 1 Writing Prompts & Activities

Primary source images are great resources for integrating language arts with social studies. The activities below were designed around the grade 1 Common Core State Standards for writing. These first-grade writing prompts and activity ideas build on the kindergarten writing prompts and activities. Text Types and Purposes Grade 1 Writing Standards Writing Prompts / Activity…