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...]
Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Music
May 21, 2012 by Leave a Comment
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 Leave a 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...]
Connecting to the Common Core: Analyzing Primary Source Images
March 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Although image analysis activities do not generally require reading (apart from reading bits of text found in an image), the skills required to extract information from visual content are similar to those required to extract information from text. Practicing these skills using primary source images provides students with a great scaffolded learning opportunity. The table below shows how the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Reading Anchor Standards map to primary source image analysis … [Read more...]
Pennsylvania Avenue parade celebrating end of the Civil War. Check out our 
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