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Archive: April 2015 (12 Posts)

One woman watches as another examines with a magnifying glass an ornate, decorative image on a printed page

Inviting Students to Consider Possible Research Paths Suggested by Three Sources from the Late 19th Century

Posted by: Danna Bell

In the March/April 2014 issue of Social Education, the journal of the National Council for the Social Studies, our "Sources and Strategies" article described the invention of the phonograph and how it was used by the 19th century American ethnologists, Alice Cunningham Fletcher and Francis La Flesche, to record music and interviews with Omaha Indians.

One woman watches as another examines with a magnifying glass an ornate, decorative image on a printed page

Three New Ebooks from the Library of Congress: The Industrial Revolution, Jim Crow, and Children’s Lives

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

Walk with civil rights activists as they march against racial segregation. Pick out the details of a nineteenth-century factory. Zoom in on the faces of children at play one hundred years ago. As teachers begin planning for the next school year, the Library of Congress invites students everywhere to touch, draw on, and explore some of its most valuable treasures--all via its three newest free interactive ebooks for tablets.

One woman watches as another examines with a magnifying glass an ornate, decorative image on a printed page

Intern Lesson: Who Knew Analyzing Primary Sources Could Be So Exciting?

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

As the end of my internship draws near and I look back at all I have learned, one thing sticks out: I have been surprised by how exciting analyzing primary sources can be. I watched as teachers at our workshops sat with images in front of them, and their facial expressions went from an initial blank stare to expressions of full engagement and wonder as they looked at every detail of an image to answer questions like: What is the image trying to convey? Why? Who created it? In groups, the teachers became excited students working together to analyze an image.

One woman watches as another examines with a magnifying glass an ornate, decorative image on a printed page

Stellar Primary Sources: An Astronomy Day Blog Round-Up

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

Astronomy Day is April 25, and we at Teaching with the Library of Congress are standing by with a cluster of blog posts featuring primary sources that explore changing ideas of the solar system and what lies beyond it. Historical documents may be rooted in the past, but they provide a powerful way for the scientists and stargazers of today to familiarize themselves with scientific practices, to observe the ways in which scientific knowledge changes over time, and to honor the legacy of those who have boldly gone before them.

One woman watches as another examines with a magnifying glass an ornate, decorative image on a printed page

New Grant Funding Available!

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

Today, the Library of Congress announces the availability of $950,000 to support the development of online interactives and mobile apps for classroom use on Congress and civic participation.