Today in History–December 6–the Library of Congress features the Washington Monument, completed on this day in 1884. Construction began on July 4, 1848 but stopped for 20 years owing to a lack of funds. Construction was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers under order from President Ulysses S. Grant. The 555-foot, 5-1/8" marble obelisk honors founding father George Washington and is the tallest structure in Washington D.C. and the tallest masonry structure in the world. On August 22, … [Read more...]
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Citizen U: Multidisciplinary Civics
Resources & lesson plans for elementary, middle, high school
Teaching Resources
Analyzing Primary Sources strategies and guiding questions for different primary source types
Selecting Primary Sources tips and strategies
Connecting to the Standards strategies for using primary source learning to meet national standards that foster critical thinking skills
Teaching Now news, research and examples from educators who are teaching with primary sources
Theme-based Teaching Resources curated lists of links to primary source teaching resources
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
Learning Resources
Guided Primary Source Analyses three-step activities spanning subjects and grades
Learning from the Source lesson plans spanning subjects and grades
Literature Links activity ideas for connecting primary sources with books
Timely Connections resources and activity ideas for connecting primary sources to contemporary topics and issues
Finding Resources tips for finding primary sources and more on LOC.gov
Using Sources instructions for accessing and presenting Library primary sources
Celebrate Black History & Culture
Today in History
- 1654
Portugal decreed that Jewish and Dutch settlers had three months to leave Brazil. Check out the Library's Today in History section related to the capitulation protocol. - 1837
Michigan joined the Union as the twenty-sixth state. Check out our curated collection of LOC.gov primary sources related to the “Great Lake State”.
Today in History: December Posts
Discover stories of events that happened in history on each day of December.
Voting & Elections in Early America
TPS Programs
Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress, since 2004 Citizen U, under the Barat Education Foundation, has provided free, engaging, inquiry-based learning materials that use Library primary sources to foster understanding and application of civics, literacy, history, math, science, and the arts.
The mission of the national Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program is to: build awareness of the Library’s educational initiatives; provide educational content that uses the Library’s resources; and offer access to and promote sustained use of educational resources provided by the Library and TPS Consortium members. Learn more.
The mission of the national Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) program is to: build awareness of the Library’s educational initiatives; provide educational content that uses the Library’s resources; and offer access to and promote sustained use of educational resources provided by the Library and TPS Consortium members. Learn more.
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Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program.
Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS program does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress.
Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS program does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress.