See how the item record for a collection item can serve as a valuable research tool. Learn how using specific links from the record may lead teachers and students down some interesting and unexpected research rabbit holes.
One tool to make the process more engaging is to use the Library of Congress’ official site for federal legislative information, Congress.gov. The website offers a variety of information to support student learning. The Legislative Process section provides nine short videos detailing specific aspects of how a bill becomes law.
Political cartoons were effective tools used by reformers to promote their criticisms of capitalism with the goal of holding robber barons accountable for excesses.
Use resources from the Rosa Parks papers to gain personal insights into the lives of this ordinary individual who took extraordinary action and find connections between students’ contemporary experiences and this historic individual.
The Rosa Parks Papers at the Library of Congress testify to her courage, humility, and depth. They also reflect how she inspired others. Evaluating those documents based on their historical context, word choice, and revisions can deepen students’ understanding of her life and impact on the civil rights movement.
To begin the second half of the school year, Teaching with the Library of Congress highlights recent Library of Congress initiatives and selected blog posts that might spur some classroom activities or lesson plan ideas.
Many Americans take for granted the guarantees of the Bill of Rights. However, the story and order of the initially proposed twelve amendments submitted to states for ratification offer an interesting case study for students to analyze and discuss why certain rights were included as a protection against federal encroachment upon citizens' freedom and how they apply to us today.