Cartography of Contagion
Explore how maps are used to document pandemics and the spread of disease in the post from the Geography and Maps division.
Archive for the Science Technology and Math Category (141 posts)
Let’s Ride: Roller Coaster Design and Primary Sources
Students can analyze the engineering design of the Flip-Flap Railway historical roller coaster and then apply what they learn to their own design.
Exploring the History of Women in STEM with Primary Sources
How do we explore the experiences of women in STEM fields? One way is through the use of primary sources.
The Time they Tried to Legislate Pi
March 14 is Pi Day! If you are looking for an interesting piece of history to give your students both some practice with mathematical reasoning and the opportunity to reflect on a unique intersection of mathematical truth and legislative action, introduce them to the Indiana Pi Bill of 1897.
Exploring Census-Taking Processes Through the Years with Primary Sources
Now in 2020, over 100 years after this photograph was taken, the United States is once again preparing to undertake its decennial census, mandated by the U.S. Constitution for the purpose of determining how many seats in Congress go to each state.
The Role of Inventions in Changing Our Daily Lives
Use primary sources to help students compare and contrast the work of three inventors: Leo Wahl established a new barbering tool; Samuel F. B. Morse developed the telegraph; and Benjamin Franklin revolutionized sight with bifocal lenses.
Math, Measurement, Civil Rights, and Pancakes: A Recipe from Rosa Parks
Rosa Louise McCauley Parks is best known as a public figure but the documents in the Rosa Parks Papers at the Library of Congress allow students to explore the private side of this civil rights legend.
Happy Birthday to the Amazing Periodic Table!
The year 2019 marks the 150th anniversary of Dmitry Mendeleyev’s ground-breaking Periodic Table of the Elements, and provides an opportunity both to celebrate Mendeleyev’s historic accomplishment and to reflect on important lessons that students can learn about the nature of science from his experiences.
Thomas Edison: The Birth of Recorded Sound
Thomas Edison, an American inventor from New Jersey, invented the first device to record and play back sound. The phonograph was the predecessor of present-day recording machines.
Celebrate National Aviation Month with the Wright Brothers and Primary Sources
November is hailed as National Aviation History Month to celebrate America’s contributions to – and future endeavors in – aviation. To celebrate the month, let’s explore two pioneers of flight: The Wright Brothers.