The Right Question Institute (RQI) is an educational nonprofit that aims to make democracy work better by teaching a strategy that allows all people to learn to ask better questions and participate more effectively in decisions that affect them. RQI’s education program offers online courses and free resources on the Question Formulation Technique (QFT), a practical yet transformational strategy that teaches students how to ask, improve upon, and pursue their own questions. In collaboration … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Tools & Guides
February 17, 2021 by Leave a Comment
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...]
Tech Tool: Primary Source Analysis with Padlet
February 19, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Padlet is a digital bulletin board in which you can pin comments and ideas in the form of text, documents, images, videos and more. In the video tutorial below we show how Padlet can be used to allow students to collaborate on a primary source analysis. Custom background image containing primary source analysis tool columns Primary source analysis question prompts for numerous primary source types 10 More Ways to Use Padlet and Primary Sources in a Flash! Two Geeky … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Newspapers
December 10, 2014 by 3 Comments
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) strike a balance between the reading of literature and informational texts and promote the use of a wide range of text types: “Through reading a diverse array of classic and contemporary literature as well as challenging informational texts in a range of subjects, students are expected to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspective.” [English Language Arts Standards: Key Design Considerations] Some items in … [Read more...]
Teaching Now: Using the Primary Source Analysis Tool
July 9, 2014 by 1 Comment
This is a guest post from Barbara Evans, a middle school language arts teacher at Holden Elementary in Chicago, Illinois. After working with TPS-Barat during the past year as part of the Chicago Public Schools Social Science Academy, I was excited to use primary sources in our literature studies. The primary source analysis tool is a great resource that I decided to tweak to meet the needs of my students. As you can see from the photo above, I changed the column headers from Observe, Reflect … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Video Recordings
May 31, 2012 by 3 Comments
Video is used to tell stories and provide information. Because we live in a world increasingly dominated by video, it is critical that we teach students how to analyze this powerful primary source that combines moving images with sound and, sometimes, text. In addition to dramatic or documentary films, primary source video recordings include news reports, interviews, press conferences, testimonies, advertisements, entertainment broadcasts, and more. The analysis of video recordings, like primary … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Audio Recordings
May 21, 2012 by 2 Comments
Written texts can be very powerful, but add sound and those words gain an extra dimension; just think of the difference between reading a speech and hearing one, particularly one delivered by a talented orator. In addition to speeches, primary source audio recordings include interviews, press conferences, testimonies, advertisements, entertainment broadcasts, and more. The analysis of audio recordings, like primary source images, Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS), including … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Music
May 21, 2012 by 2 Comments
Music can trigger powerful emotions and brain research has shown the strong link between emotion and memory. Songs and sheet music, also referred to as musical scores, are great primary sources to use with students to enable them tap into the feelings and emotions surrounding historical events and figures. Analyzing recorded songs and sheet music, which often include evocative cover illustrations, can help students better understand the historical context of these people and events and more … [Read more...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Texts
May 8, 2012 by 1 Comment
The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) strike a balance between the reading of literature and informational texts and promote the use of a wide range of text types: "Through reading a diverse array of classic and contemporary literature as well as challenging informational texts in a range of subjects, students are expected to build knowledge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspective." [English Language Arts Standards: Key Design Considerations] Through the analysis of … [Read more...]
Congress abolished the slave trade in Washington D.C., as part of the Compromise of 1850. Check out our 
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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 are also particularly helpful in meeting grade 6-12 Literacy in History/Social Studies Reading Standards 1, 2, 4, … [Read more...]