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Posted by: Danna Bell
Two collections of eyewitness accounts from the Library of Congress offer insights into the daily lives and struggles of soldiers during World War II: the drawings by Yank magazine artist Sergeant Howard Brodie and interviews through the Library's Veterans History Project (VHP).
Posted in: Veterans and Military History, World History
Posted by: Danna Bell
A frustration early in my teaching career was getting students to interact critically with primary sources. After many lackluster attempts, I determined to seek a solution. Through trial and error with different approaches, I found the most success when teaching students a step-by-step approach to critical analysis.
Posted in: Fine and Performing Arts, World History
Posted by: Danna Bell
Recently I updated our guide to World War I materials, which contains links to online photographs, documents, newspapers, films, sheet music, and sound recordings from the war. With the centennial of the U.S. entry into WWI approaching, I expect that the WWI guide will be particularly useful for teachers and students.
Posted in: Industrial United States, World Wars and the Great Depression (1914-1945), Interviews with Experts
Posted by: Danna Bell
Exploring scientists' writings and drawings, such as those in the Scientific Data and Observations primary source set and its related ebook, can give students an idea of how and why scientists record their observations, thinking, and learning.
Posted in: Science Technology and Math
Posted by: Danna Bell
How can we best document an analysis of film as a primary source? The complex motions, multiple scenes, and pacing can be challenging aspects not only to students analyzing film, but even more so in communicating their analysis and sharing it with others.
Posted in: Industrial United States, World Wars and the Great Depression (1914-1945), Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Danna Bell
Invasive species overtake both ecosystems and news headlines. Historical primary sources, such as newspapers from Chronicling America, paired with modern periodicals, reveal how organisms introduced into new ecological contexts can cause unexpected consequences.
Posted in: Science Technology and Math
Posted by: Anne Savage
Teaching difficult topics using carefully selected primary sources can help students connect the past to the present. Looking at events through the lens of history can often make approaching a difficult topic easier.
Posted in: African American History, Contemporary United States (1945-present), Teaching Strategies
Posted by: Danna Bell
Throughout history, humans have devised methods for transporting, testing, and transforming water, a limited natural resource. Examining historical primary sources invites students to grapple with the local, global, social, political, and scientific dimensions of water.
Posted in: Science Technology and Math
Posted by: Cheryl Lederle
While a primary source may be only one resource within a larger lesson, deliberating during the selection process over where in the lesson the primary source will be used can lead to greater engagement, inquiry, and learning from the students.
Posted in: Teaching Strategies