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Search results for: selecting primary sources

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Back to School with Primary Sources: A Primer from the Library of Congress

Posted by: Cheryl Lederle

Welcome (or welcome back!) to Teaching with the Library of Congress, where we hope you discover and discuss the most effective techniques for using Library of Congress primary sources in the classroom. We invite readers to engage with topics ranging from What Makes a Primary Source a Primary Source? to what's happening "next month in history?" Here are staff picks for places to start - or continue - teaching with primary sources.

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

10 Ways to Enrich Your Classroom with Primary Sources – Part 2

Posted by: Danna Bell

The first post of this two-part series offered ten tips for filling classroom spaces with engaging primary source displays to promote systematic critical thinking. This second post lists ten ways to introduce primary sources into pedagogy. No matter your grade level or subject, the ten ideas start from this basic premise: For every lesson a primary source!

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

Blog Round-Up: Primary Source Analysis Strategies

Posted by: Danna Bell

The Teaching with the Library of Congress blog regularly offers suggestions for helping students practice primary source analysis techniques. Since the launch of the interactive Primary Source Analysis Tool a year ago, thousands of students have analyzed maps, texts, photographs, political cartoons, and more the high tech way.

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

Observation in Primary Source Analysis: The Sticky Notes Solution

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.