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Posted by: Stephen Wesson
A new primary source set from the Library of Congress, “The Spanish-American War: The United States Becomes a World Power,” brings teachers the artifacts and documents that tell these stories and more.
Posted in: News and Events, Teaching Tools
Posted by: Danna Bell
“The Library of Congress means many different things to many people,” wrote Stephen Wesson at the start of the second year of the Teaching with the Library of Congress blog. “But for teachers and students it represents a source of discovery and learning unlike any other.” He noted that the first year of the blog had looked at a variety of topics and provided teaching suggestions that help unlock the potential of our unique primary sources.
Posted in: Lesson Ideas, Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
So, where exactly do primary sources fit into the CCSS? We would like to highlight three ways .
Posted in: Teaching Tools
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
I talked the two sixth grade social studies teachers into letting me present the Waldseemüller Map: World 1507 and the Primary Source Analysis tool as part of their beginning of the year mapping unit.
Posted in: Lesson Ideas, Teaching Tools
Posted by: Danna Bell
As part of the continuing commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, the Library of Congress just opened an exhibition The Civil War in America, displaying more than 200 items from the Library’s unmatched collections. Students may look at maps, letters, diaries, or photographs to learn about the experiences of those who fought in the war and those who were left behind to tend the homestead. While these sources are excellent, make sure to include music as a way to help students learn about life during the Civil War.
Posted in: Civil War and Reconstruction (1861-1877), Fine and Performing Arts
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
The original Constitution of the United States was nearly mute on voting rights, ceding them to the states to determine. The 15th Amendment to the Constitution confers voting rights on African Americans, declaring that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”
Posted in: African American History, Constitution, Government and Law
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
Along the San Antonio River, you can find these gothic and Romanesque style buildings which house a rich history for Hispanic Americans all over the world. Studying these missions using primary sources from the Library of Congress is one way to help students learn about some of the contributions of Hispanics in America.
Posted in: Hispanic American History
Posted by: Danna Bell
Creatively sharpen your students thinking skills with headlines. Encourage direct student involvement in a analyzing headlines through maps.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
During recent Library of Congress summer teacher institutes, teachers of all grade and ability levels discussed ways to engage students in close observation of primary sources. They agreed that close observation is crucial to deep analysis and a key component of identifying and citing evidence from a primary source. One easy technique to help students improve their observation skill is to use sticky notes.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies