June in History with the Library of Congress
Posted by: Danna Bell
June highlights include the life of Henry Clay, "the Great Compromiser" and the signing of the Yosemite Land Grant.
Posted in: Lesson Ideas
Archive: May 2015 (8 Posts)
Civil War Photography: New Technologies and New Uses, a Teacher Primary Source Set from the Library of Congress
Posted by: Stephen Wesson
Can you imagine a photograph made of metal? A picture book made with egg whites? A wood-and-glass device that lets you see 3-D images? In the 1850s and 1860s, these were all cutting-edge photographic technologies. The Library's newest primary source set, "Civil War Photography: New Technologies and New Uses," immerses students in the new methods and formats that emerged in the decades around the war.
Posted in: Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877), Science Technology and Math, Teaching Tools
The K-12 Web Archiving Program: Preserving the Web from a Youthful Point of View
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
If you believe the Web (and who doesn't believe everything they read on the Web?), it boastfully celebrated its 25th birthday last year. Twenty-five years is long enough for the first "children of the Web" to be fully-grown adults, just now coming of age to recognize that the Web that grew up around them has irrevocably changed.
Posted in: Contemporary United States (1945-present), Lesson Ideas, Teaching Tools
Students Connecting with Veterans: The Harlem Veteran Project
Posted by: Danna Bell
We have published a number of blog posts featuring the work of the Veterans History Project (VHP) and how teachers can incorporate these resources in classroom activities. As we approach Memorial Day, we wanted to feature a teacher who has worked with his students to collect the stories of the veterans living in their community.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Analyzing Persuasive Techniques in Historical Media Messages: Child Labor
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
Before 1938, child labor was a controversial topic, as arguments raged over the benefits and harms of children working in factories, on farms, and in the streets as news and delivery boys. Persuasive messages filled the media, asking the American people and legislators to protect children by requiring education and limiting working hours.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Of Mice and Men: Exploring the Context with Primary Sources
Posted by: Danna Bell
While some of George and Lennie's experiences in John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men are universal like the dream of a place to call home and the need for friendships, others are directly related to the novel's setting.
Posted in: Industrial United States, World Wars and the Great Depression (1914-1945), Poetry and Literature
Celebrating Mothers with Primary Sources
Posted by: Danna Bell
In the United States, Mother's Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May, this year, May 10th. But it is not just a day to celebrate our mothers, but also a time to think about all women who care for, support, and strengthen us. Below are a few suggestions for engaging students with primary sources related to Mother's Day from the collections of the Library of Congress.
Posted in: Holidays, Women's History
Teacher Webinar May 7: English Learners, the Common Core and Primary Sources
Posted by: Danna Bell
How can time-strapped teachers find and use free resources from the online collections of the Library of Congress to support the needs of diverse learners? Join us in a webinar on Thursday, May 7, at 4 PM ET, to learn strategies "to engage students in the analysis of evidence (Common Core), increase comprehensible input (diverse learners), and promote content learning and student engagement."
Posted in: News and Events