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Archive: September 2014 (11 Posts)

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

Encouraging Student Interest in the Economic Context of the Constitution with Continental Currency

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

In the September 2014 issue of Social Education, the journal of the National Council for the Social Studies, our "Sources and Strategies" article focused on the economic challenges facing the young United States at the time of the Constitutional Convention. We suggested that continental currency might ignite student interest in the subject.

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

Educator Webinar: Tapping the Power of Teaching with Visual Images

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

On Tuesday, September 23, at 7 PM ET, education experts from the Library will offer a webinar that will engage participants in a model photograph analysis activity, facilitate a discussion about the power of teaching with visual images, and demonstrate how to find visual images from the Library of Congress. Throughout the year, the Library will be hosting educator webinars every other Tuesday at 7:00 ET focusing on a variety of instructional strategies for using primary sources in instruction. The 2014 schedule and information about joining the webinar is now available from loc.gov/teachers.

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

Back to School with Primary Sources: A Primer from the Library of Congress

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

Welcome (or welcome back!) to Teaching with the Library of Congress, where we hope you discover and discuss the most effective techniques for using Library of Congress primary sources in the classroom. We invite readers to engage with topics ranging from What Makes a Primary Source a Primary Source? to what's happening "next month in history?" Here are staff picks for places to start - or continue - teaching with primary sources.

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

The Civil Rights History Project: Primary Sources and Oral History

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

History is most fascinating when we feel connected to the people who lived in the past. One way to pique student interest is by using primary sources from the Library of Congress -- letters, photographs, and oral histories -- that document real people's lives. The American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress recently launched the Civil Rights History Project, a digitized collection of interviews with active participants in the Civil Rights movement and essays about the movement.