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Home / Teaching & Learning / Timely Connections: Civics, History & Multidisciplinary Connections
Teaching & Learning

Timely Connections: Civics, History & Multidisciplinary Connections

December 19, 2018March 6, 2021

Interdisciplinary Civics

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

  • Collection Spotlights
  • NHD 2019 resources
  • Primary Source Spotlights
  • Theme-based Resources
  • Today in History Collections

Related articles

  • 3 Ways to Promote Civic Education EDC August 29, 2018
  • Citizen Z: An Education Week Project, Teaching Civics in a Divided Nation
  • How History Class Divides Us Education Week October 23, 2018
  • The Teachers Guild Synthesis Snapshot: Civic Engagement
  • Finding Support for Teaching Civic Literacy Skills in the Common Core Standards National Writing Project
  • A Cornucopia of Multidisciplinary Teaching Edutopia
  • [Ideas for] Interdisciplinary Lessons Civics for All: The Seattle K-12 Initiative
  • Critical Literacy, Civic Engagement and Connected Learning in the Classroom Connected Learning Alliance
  • Math: The Most Powerful Civics Lesson You’ve Never Had Education Week
  • Weaving Science and Civics through Interdisciplinary Courses Journal of College Science Teaching
Post Tags: #citizen u#civic action#civic competence#civic engagement#civics#december#do history#history#information literacy#interdisciplinary#learning resources#primary sources#teaching strategies#teaching with primary sources

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  • About
    • About PSN
    • Contact PSN
  • Primary Sources
    • NHD 2025 Resources
    • Today in History
    • Primary Source Spotlight
    • Collections Spotlight
    • Theme-based Resources
  • Learning Resources
    • Citizen U Multidisciplinary Civics Lessons
    • Guided Primary Source Analysis Activities
    • Learning from the Source Lesson Plans
    • Literature Links
    • Timely Connections
    • TPS Micro-credentials
    • Finding Resources
  • Teaching Resources
    • Analyzing Primary Sources
    • Selecting Primary Sources
    • Connecting to Standards
    • Teaching Now
    • Theme-based Teaching Resources
    • Tech Tools
    • Integrating Tech
    • Using Sources
  • TPS & LOC.gov
    • TPS Partner Program
    • TPS Regional Grant Program
    • TPS Consortium Members
    • TPS Consortium Created Materials
    • TPS Civics Resource Center
    • TPS Teachers Network
    • Library Homepage
    • Library Teachers Program
    • Library Quick Links
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