Timely Connections: Civics, History & Multidisciplinary Connections

The overarching goal of a general education in the United States has been, and should continue to be, to promote civic competence. Teaching with primary sources, no matter the content focus, provides students with the skills necessary to be competent and active citizens. Digging into primary sources and grappling directly with different perspectives provides students practice in information literacy skills that they will employ in numerous contexts throughout their lives.

When students “do” history with primary sources rather than merely read about history in a textbook, they learn how to think more holistically about people, events, and issues. Analyzing primary sources to investigate competing viewpoints while considering bias and purpose helps students to better contemplate complex themes and topics and draw conclusions about them. Because these skills help develop the ability to make connections across time and disciplines, students end up better prepared to consider the significance of their learning to contemporary life.

Where to start? Right here!

Learning resources for elementary, middle, and high school grades

Citizen U inquiry-based multidisciplinary lessons
Guided Primary Source Analysis Activities
Learning from the Source lesson plans
Literature Links activity ideas for connecting primary sources with books
Primary Source Learning theme-based sets of links to lessons and learning activities using primary sources
Timely Connections resources and activity ideas for connecting primary sources to contemporary topics and issues

Teaching strategies & tips

Analyzing Primary Sources strategies and guiding questions for different primary source types
Selecting Primary Sources tips and strategies
Connecting to the Common Core strategies for using primary source learning to meet Common Core State Standards and foster critical thinking skills
Teaching Now examples from educators who are using Library primary sources and teaching resources in the classroom
Finding Sources tips for finding primary sources on LOC.gov
Using Sources instructions for accessing Library primary sources
Tech Tools guidance and strategies for using tech tools when teaching with primary sources
Integrating Tech ideas for integrating technology into teaching with primary sources

Primary sources

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