This is a guest post from Tim Anderson, a middle school English teacher and Google Certified Educator at Sulphur Springs Elementary School in Jonesborough, Tennessee. There often seems to be a disconnect between students and historical events. Connecting literature to history helps make it come alive for students. Since my eighth graders are studying the Civil War, I chose to have them read Chasing Lincoln’s Killer, a fast-paced thriller about the pursuit and capture of John Wilkes Booth pieced … [Read more...]
Timely Connections: Individual Influence
October 30, 2017 by Leave a Comment
The article, In a Lost Essay, a Glimpse of an Elusive Poet and Slave (The New York Times Sept. 25, 2017), tells the intriguing story of the discovery of a primary source text by Jonathan Senchyne, an assistant professor of book history at the University of Wisconsin. The essay, "Individual Influence" by North Carolina slave and poet George Moses Horton, was found in a scrapbook documenting an 1856 University of North Carolina (UNC) controversy compiled by Henry Harrisse, a 19th-century historian … [Read more...]
Teaching Now: Using Primary Sources with 21st-Century Learners
June 7, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This is a guest post from veteran teacher Heather Klos, an 8th grade U.S. history teacher and the Social Studies department chair at Crownover Middle School in Corinth, Texas.As an early American history teacher, I know it is important to use primary sources effectively with my 8th grade students. Analyzing primary sources can be very difficult for students, but it is usually my end-game when working with these documents. I have found that breaking down the documents into manageable chunks … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: Presidential Elections
October 4, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Guided primary source analysis activitiesFootrace, Pennsylvania Avenue 1844 The whole story (election 1888) in a nutshell! Taft About to Eclipse Bryan 1908 Goal! 1908 & 1912 Biggest Business in the World 1920 Massachusetts Did It 1920 Election Day contemporaryMore teaching resourcesAmerican Memory Timeline: The Presidential Election of 1960 Analyzing Primary Sources: Identifying Bias in Presidential Election Newspaper Coverage Elections... the American … [Read more...]
NHD 2017: CMHEC Topic Ideas – Race, Ethnicity Rights, Justice
September 28, 2016 by Leave a Comment
These curated resource lists coincide with the order of the topic ideas listed in the Chicago Metro History Fair (formerly CMHEC) NHD 2017 theme-related topic ideas. The links lead to resources from the Primary Source Nexus and the Library of Congress (LOC.gov) unless otherwise noted. Note: U.S. historic newspaper coverage is from 1789-1922 unless otherwise noted.Anti-LynchingAnti-Lynching historic newspaper coverage Primary Source Spotlight: LynchingRecognition of Jean Baptiste … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: Civil War
May 16, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Civil War photograph lessons & activitiesThe Mathew Brady Bunch New Technologies and New Uses Using Sources: Civil War Photography Technology & Tricks What Do You See?Civil War Photojournalism: A Record of WarThe Civil War Through a Child’s EyeCollection Connections teaching strategies & activitiesAbraham Lincoln Papers Alfred Whital Stern Collection of Lincolniana Civil War Maps Civil War Soldier in the Wild Cat Regiment Poet at Work: … [Read more...]
Primary Source Learning: U.S. Presidents
February 11, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Learning from the Source: lessonsAbraham Lincoln & Me Primary Source Activity Book The Art of Mourning (Lincoln) Monumental Men Mourning Lincoln & the Art of Tribute Presidential Portraits Indian Territory ResettlementFeatured Sources: guided primary source analysis activitiesA Plan of My Farm (Washington) Jefferson’s Pasta Machine Abolition frowned down (Quincy Adams) Rats Leaving a Falling House (Van Buren) Footrace, Pennsylvania Avenue (Tyler … [Read more...]
NHD 2016: CMHEC Topic Ideas – Power, Authority, and Governance
September 15, 2015 by 2 Comments
Below you will find Library of Congress resources curated by TPS-Barat that relate to National History Day 2016 topic ideas from the Chicago Metro History Education Center. This set specifically focuses on power, authority, & governance but all topic ideas are related to the 2016 NHD theme: Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History. More CMHEC topics will be referenced in subsequent posts.Interest in this area involves the way that government functions, how politicians lead, laws made … [Read more...]
Today in History: The Gettysburg Address
November 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Today in History–November 19–the Library of Congress features the Gettysburg Address, delivered by Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery on this date in 1863. Edward Everett, a well-known orator, delivered a two-hour speech. President Abraham Lincoln’s speech lasted only a few minutes. As the Library notes, "In spite of Lincoln's disclaimer that 'the world will little note, nor long remember what we say here,' his brief speech continues to resonate in the American … [Read more...]
Featured Source: Theory. Practice. Effect.
October 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Use only details from the illustrations and text to determine what the author of this print wanted the audience to know (view larger image) about these people and their relation to an important historical event. Use evidence from the source to support your conclusions.Now review the bibliographic record from a copy of this source and read the summary carefully. Describe what more you learned about this engraving and how that influences what you believe the author of this print wanted … [Read more...]
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