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Category: Teaching Strategies

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

What’s In a Name? Learning from the Titles of Library of Congress Primary Sources – Part 1

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

In a recent Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) workshop, gathered to learn about the power of teaching with primary sources, a teacher was concerned that she needed to “change everything” to address anchor standards for reading. As we discussed ideas for using primary sources in the classroom (already a good sign, right?), we realized that some small activities, such as close attention to reading a title, can be very powerful.

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

Hide and Seek On Mulberry Street with the Library of Congress

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

Kids of any age enjoy playing Hide and Seek. It all starts with the very young playing "peekaboo", discovering their own view of the world and their place in it. Vary the game with any visually rich primary source, such as Mulberry Street, for a quick but worthwhile classroom activity. A quick scan of this print reveals a crowd on a busy street. But a closer look draws in the viewer to see specific people. The setting includes items that suggest a feast for the senses--horses, wagon wheels, a cigar, a baby, fresh vegetables, and more.