Story Maps are immersive web applications that tell the incredible stories of the Library’s collections through narrative, multimedia, and interactive maps. The story maps are created within a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based software platform created by Esri. Story Maps are chock full of primary sources, including photographs, illustrations, texts, newspaper articles, and even maps. “I find story maps to be a twenty-first-century tool for a twenty-first-century library,” said … [Read more...]
Finding Resources: Browsing the Primary Source Nexus
June 6, 2018 by Leave a Comment
There are two ways to browse content on the TPS-Barat Primary Source Nexus: by content category or by using the top navigation menus. Content Categories Each post on this blog is assigned to one of five categories listed in the Browse Content Categories box in the middle column on the homepage. Primary Source Picks: curated primary source sets from the Library of Congress Teaching & Learning: primary source teaching resources—activities, lessons, and projects—and teaching … [Read more...]
Integrating Technology: Making Myriopticons
May 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment
OK, so this post isn't about digital technology but it does present an idea for combining history with a maker lab of sorts that incorporates math, engineering and art. Let's take a look at a blog post from In Custodia Legis, which features, “A Historical Panorama of the Rebellion” myriopticon, a toy manufactured by Milton Bradley around 1865. "The myriopticon was an educational device targeted at prepubescent boys that consists of a box containing a painted scroll and two scroll tubes. A key … [Read more...]
Integrating Tech: NHD 2018 Digital Resources
November 28, 2017 by Leave a Comment
NHD Categories & Rules NHD category infographics (.pdf) National History Day Contest Rule Book (.pdf) Curated resource lists for NHD 2018 topic ideas NHD 2018 U.S. History Topic Ideas NHD 2018 European History Topic Ideas NHD 2018 World History Topic Ideas Selecting, Using & Citing Sources Selecting a Topic for a History Project Selecting Sources: Tertiary, Secondary, Primary Selecting Primary Sources for Research Projects Tech Tools: Citation … [Read more...]
Finding Resources: Accessing Contemporary Articles
October 27, 2017 by Leave a Comment
In our new Timely Connections section, we will be linking contemporary articles to primary sources and teaching ideas. Some of the articles may come from websites, such as The New York Times and the The Washington Post, that restrict access to their content. Most sites provide subscription discounts to educators and allow anyone to access a limited number of free articles per month. But what happens if you don't have a subscription or when you've reached the monthly limit? Turn to your … [Read more...]
Integrating Tech: Let’s Recap & Primary Source Analysis
June 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This is a guest post from veteran teacher Heather Klos, an 8th grade U.S. history teacher and the Social Studies department chair at Crownover Middle School in Corinth, Texas. Primary sources are one of the most valuable tools we have as social studies teachers. What better way to incorporate primary sources for the 21st century learner than through the use of technology. This year I discovered Recap and realized quickly that this could be a powerful tool in the analysis process for my … [Read more...]
Tech Tool: Creating a Google Form Zoom-in Activity
March 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This is a guest post from Sara Conyers, a middle school history teacher at Longfellow Middle School in Falls Church, Virginia. Creating a Zoom-in primary source analysis activity using Google Forms is quick and easy. Step 1 – Select Image Select a primary source image that will challenge your students to dig deeper into the meaning and message of the creator. Images can be photographs, fine art, political cartoons, sheet music, printed ephemera and more. Step 2 – Create … [Read more...]
Integrating Tech: Zoom-in to Primary Source Analysis
March 15, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This is a guest post from Patti Winch, the Middle School Social Studies Specialist for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) in Virginia. I first learned about Zoom-ins about 10 years ago when taking a class with Northern Virginia’s Teaching with Primary Sources program or TPSNVA. Zoom-ins were originally developed by a FCPS teacher and subsequently shared via the TPSNVA platform. The strategy is also highlighted in Making Thinking Visible by Ron Ritchart, Mark Church, and Karin Morrison … [Read more...]
Finding Resources: LOC.gov Quick Links
February 1, 2017 by Leave a Comment
This teaching resource blog was created to help educators and students teach and learn with primary sources from the Library of Congress. There is a lot of material to browse and search on the Primary Source Nexus, but sometimes you just need to go directly to a particular section of the Library website. But how do you quickly locate and access that section? We've compiled a list of 30 links to get you to the resources you're looking for lightning quick: LOC.gov Quick Links page. … [Read more...]
Using Sources: Chronicling America Newspaper Pages
December 14, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Historic newspapers contain a wealth of information about the past, providing a snapshot of social and cultural values of a certain place and time. You will find news stories, feature articles, editorials, cartoons, advertisements, stories, poems, art and more. All of these can be useful to help contextualize events and people from history. According to the Center for History and New Media, George Mason University, “Historians generally use newspapers for three purposes: learning facts about … [Read more...]
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