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Category: Lesson Ideas

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Encouraging Student Examination of Persuasive Strategies Used in an Anti-Lynching Report

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

In the November-December 2018 issue of Social Education, the journal of the National Council for the Social Studies, our “Sources and Strategies” article focuses on one document used in the battle against mob violence against African Americans: a 1921 report from the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary in support of a bill to make lynching a federal crime.

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

Start the School Year with Library of Congress Teacher Resources

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

It may not feel much like fall in most of the U.S., but even in the absence of autumn leaves, school doors are opening and educators are preparing for--or beginning--a new year of teaching. In that spirit, we'd like to welcome you to another year of teaching using primary sources from the online collections of the Library of Congress! The Library offers millions of primary sources for free to all on its Web site, loc.gov, and its education program supports teachers as they use these powerful items effectively in the classroom.

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Welcome Back!

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

This blog supports teachers and school librarians as they teach with primary sources, particularly those from the rich online collections of the Library. Our posts cover a wide range of disciplines, spotlighting powerful items from the collections as well as sharing teaching strategies from our staff and many partners.

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

Our Favorite Posts: Teaching About September 11 Using Primary Sources from Library of Congress

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

Part of the power of teaching with primary sources comes from their immediacy—eyewitness accounts of historic events can have an emotional impact that secondary sources might lack. This is especially true of primary sources relating to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

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

Informational Text: Child Labor Reform Panels and Multimedia in the Early 20th Century

Posted by: Stephen Wesson

Common Core State Standards and many other standards require that students compare informational texts in different media. However, multimedia texts aren’t limited to the 21st century. In fact, one of the most compelling multimedia campaigns in U.S. history was launched more than one hundred years ago, using paper, glue, and an effective set of persuasive techniques.