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Jesse James resources
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Phrenological Delineation of His Character
Divide the characteristics listed in this source into positive and negative traits; use a dictionary to help you. Which characteristics listed do you possess? Read this short article to find out who was assassinated, or killed, by Charles Guiteau. What else did you learn from the article? Use a dictionary to discover what phrenology is. What…
Today in History: Uncle Sam & James Montgomery Flagg
Today in History–June 18–the Library of Congress features Uncle Sam illustrator James Montgomery Flagg, born on this day in 1877. In addition to the iconic Uncle Sam, Flagg created dozens of posters supporting the war effort during World War I. Find out more by visiting the Today in History section, then click the links below to access more primary sources related to Flagg…
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Political Cartoons
Political cartoons, many of which contain both an image and text, are great primary sources to use with students to help them recognize and understand symbolism, perspective, and bias as well as put people, events, issues, and ideas into historical context. The analysis of political cartoons, like other primary source images, Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS). They…
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Lessons for My Community
This source is listed as a letter with illustrated fable. What is the moral or lesson of the story? Read more about the author and recipient of this letter. What interesting information did you uncover? Write and illustrate your own brief fable that contains a lesson useful for your school or local community. What…
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Steam engine, cam ring & hammer shaft
Use a magnifying glass to study the details of this design drawing? What did you learn? What types of skills do you need to have to be an industrial designer? What similar types of skills do you have? Imagine a new industrial product and sketch the design. How will this product advance industry? What other…
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Images
They say pictures are worth a thousand words. Primary source images, whether they are photographs or prints, provide windows into unique perspectives of people, places, and events. The analysis of primary source images helps scaffold and differentiate learning and aligns closely to the Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS). The Library of Congress is a treasure…
Guided Primary Source Analysis: Jefferson’s Pasta Machine
Curator description: Thomas Jefferson noted these plans for a macaroni or pasta machine while touring northern Italy in 1787. When Jefferson prepared these plans, macaroni was a highly fashionable food in Paris, where he was stationed as minister to France. He later commissioned his secretary William Short to purchase a macaroni machine in Italy, but…