Primary sources, as described by the Library of Congress, "are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects that were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts that retell, analyze, or interpret events, usually at a distance of time or place. Bringing young people into close contact with these unique, often profoundly personal documents and objects can give them a sense of what it was like to be alive during a long-past era. Helping … [Read more...]
TPS Spotlight: TPS Virginia
A Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Consortium member since 2003, TPS Virginia (TPSVA) partners with schools throughout the state as well as providing resources accessible to teachers throughout the country. TPSVA offers teacher professional development to help educators access and use primary sources from the Library of Congress in curriculum and instruction. They offer summer institutes, courses and webinars throughout the year, now fully online. Currently, TPSVA is … [Read more...]
Timely Connections: Civics, History & Interdisciplinary 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" … [Read more...]