Thinking deeper with the primary source thinking triangle.

Teaching Now: Thinking Deeper with Primary Sources

This is a guest post from Ruth Ferris, an elementary school librarian from Billings, Montana, and a grantee in the TPS Regional Grant Program. I originally learned about the TPS-Barat Primary Source Thinking Triangle through Martha Kohl of the Montana Historical Society. I loved it! I work with K-6 students and many of them struggle academically so I am always looking…

TPS-Barat TTT Cohort creating a frozen living picture

Analyzing Primary Sources: Frozen Living Pictures

We know that primary sources engage students, helping them to personally relate to persons and events of the past and develop a deeper understanding of history as a series of human events. One way to enhance the connection and empathy is to have students analyze a primary source image, then create tableaux or frozen living pictures. The goal is…

Take me out to the ball game

Primary Source Learning: Baseball

Baseball: Across a Divided Society (primary source set) Baseball, Race and Ethnicity: Rounding the Bases Baseball, Race Relations and Jackie Robinson Black Diamond! Satchel Page and the Negro Baseball Leagues Past and Present: Using Baseball Statistics to Teach Math (student worksheet) Tinkers to Evers to Chance Collection Connections: Baseball Cards Collection Connections: Jackie Robinson Recreation Yesterday and…

Twelve Years a Slave

Primary Source Learning: Oral Histories & Personal Narratives

LOC.gov contains numerous oral history and personal narrative resources. Check out the lists below! Teaching resources Analyzing Primary Sources: Learning from Oral Histories Learning from the Source: Chicago Meatpackers & the Unions Learning from the Source: Digital Stories of Our Heroes Learning from the Source: Media & Migrant Laborer Perspectives Primary Source Learning: September 11,…

But how to let go -- gracefully

Learning from the Source: Cartoonist Commentary-Vietnam War

U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War lasted more than a decade. Have students analyze political cartoons from the primary source sets below to consider different issues related to this war and how cartoonists’ perspectives of U.S. involvement evolved over time. If students are not practiced at analyzing political cartoons, use the accompanying resources to help…

By th' way, what's that big word?

Analyzing Primary Sources: Reading Cartoons

We often think of cartoons as funny but, in addition to entertaining and amusing us, they can also enlighten, provoke or persuade us. Political or editorial cartoons, in particular, provide subjective viewpoints about current issues and events and the people involved in them. Cartoonists use a variety of techniques—symbolism, exaggeration, irony, analogy and labeling to…

Poetry Left At Memorial

Primary Source Learning: Poets & Poetry

Found Poetry activities Guided primary source analysis activities Learning from the Source lessons Teach This Poem lessons More learning activities & resources From the Catbird Seat Teacher’s Corner blog posts Teaching with the Library blog posts Teach Social & Emotional Skills through Poetry MiddleWeb April 16, 2023 Primary Source Spotlight: Poetry

Students at Irving School in Berwyn, IL analyzing a primary source

Analyzing Primary Sources in the New SATs

The Common Core State Standards emphasize primary source analysis (specifically, RH.9-10/11-12.1, RH.9-10/11-12.2, RH.9-10/11-12.9, RI.9-10/11-12.9). Now the retooled SAT will too according to Todd Balf’s article, “The Story Behind the SAT Overhaul“, published March 6, 2014 in the New York Times Magazine. Below is an excerpt. Click the previous link to read the full article. Starting in spring 2016, students will take…

Page from Abraham Lincoln's sum book

Primary Source Learning About Lincoln

We all can learn a lot from Abraham Lincoln. Below you will find links to primary source activities, lessons, and projects from the Library of Congress and TPS Consortium members. Abraham Lincoln: Rise to National Prominence primary source set and teacher’s guide Lincoln’s Life Lincoln’s Death Collection Connections Letters to Lincoln Transcription Project Teaching with…

American Federation of Hosiery Workers protest against the boycott of Japanese silk

Primary Source Learning: Protest & Reform Primary Source Set

Have students use the primary sources in this set to tell a story about protest and reform in the United States. (For background information, check the bibliographic records for dates then review the relevant sections of the American Memory timeline.) Related primary source collections highlighted on the Primary Source Nexus are linked to below. The…

Primary Source Learning: The Places You’ll Go with Maps

Primary Source Learning: The Places You’ll Go with Maps

The Library of Congress has custody of the largest and most comprehensive cartographic collection in the world and there are so many places you can visit with the Library of Congress’ fabulous digitized map collections. Take a look at the wide variety of maps you can explore in incredible detail and discover engaging primary source…