Primary Sources at the US Library of Congress

The Library of Congress offers reliable classroom materials to help teachers use primary sources in their classrooms.  To see resources for educators on primary sources click here.  

 If you used an idea from this website then buy Mr H a gatorade :)  Thank you

National Archives - Primary Sources

 

If you are teaching about primary sources in your social science class you might want to give this a look by clicking here.

If you used an idea from this website then buy Mr H a gatorade :)  Thank you

Primary vs Secondary Sources

 

If you are teaching a history or social studies course that talks about primary and secondary sources the following video from the Gale Family Library explains it well.  

Primary Sources

 

If you teach Social Sciences you will talk about Primary Sources.  Here is a great summary of sources by Glenn Wiebe and Dan Krutka.  To see the pdf click here.

Canadian Museum of History Teachers’ Zone

 

From their website, "This website was created to provide Canadian teachers — primarily Grades 3–12 — with access to primary sources and high-quality content. We have worked closely with topic experts, members of diverse cultural communities, and teachers from across the country to create teaching resources on a variety of history-based topics.  In the Teachers’ Zone you’ll find curriculum-based themed packages that include museum artifacts, archival documents, audio and video content, as well as activity suggestions.  Please check back often, as we will continue to enrich these packages and develop new ones, while also reflecting the latest in scholarship, learning, and ways of teaching.  The Canadian Museum of History Teachers’ Zone is designed to bring Canadian history into your classroom in a dynamic and engaging way!"  To see the website click here.

Historical Scene Investigation

This site is catered to our US friends but it might be of some interest to Canadian Social Science teachers.  According to their website, "The Historical Scene Investigation Project (HSI) was designed for social studies teachers who need a strong pedagogical mechanism for bringing primary sources into their classroom. With the advent and accessibility of the internet, many libraries, universities and government agencies are housing their historical documents online. Simultaneously, there has been a push in K-12 history education to give students experiences that more closely resemble the work of a real historian."

To see the website click here.

Primary Sources from World Digital Library

 

A couple of Septembers ago I posted about this great site for primary sources.  To see the post click here.

There is a search box in the middle of the page but at the top left hand corner there is a drop down menu titled "Explore".  You will then have the choice to search by Place, Time Period, Topic, Type of Item, Language, Institution.  The other icons at the top are Timelines (which has a WWI timeline), Interactive Maps and lastly Themes.  

SmartHistory and Art

Smarthistory believes that:

art has the power to transform lives and build understanding across cultures. We believe that the brilliant histories of art belong to everyone, no matter their background.

Art connects us to the world; it allows us to imagine, to create, to build and to inspire, and it shouldn’t be locked up in a textbook. Smarthistory takes you inside museums and outside to ancient temples and brings you into conversations about how to interpret and understand the images you’re seeing.

Now more than ever we need understanding, rigorous analysis, and nuance, and art teaches the critical thinking needed to better comprehend current events and their cultural and historical context.

Smarthistory is the window through which to learn about today’s biggest clash points: we interrogate faith, class, race, gender, and power through a study of art and objects from ancient times until the present. We help learners navigate their world by teaching the skills of interpretation and judgement to help them make meaning of the world around them.

To see the website click here.

World Digital Library

If you teach Cultural Studies or History this site hosted by the  US Library of Congress is a great searchable source of primary documents and fabulous images.  You can use the search box or the tools in the top left part of the header.  To see the site click here.

The Avalon Project

Looking for a public domain digital copy of a primary source in Law, History or Diplomacy?  Try the Avalon Project from Yale Law School.  To see it click here.

Reading Primary Source Images Like a Book

On October 19 2016 I posted about Primary Sources from History Education MN.  To see the post click here.  I have since noticed a great poster produced by Shana Crosson also from the Minnesota Historical Society.  She has a great poster on her Google Drive.  To get the poster I have below click here.  She also has a great Pinterest Board on Primary Sources.  To see that click here.

History Education MN - Primary Sources

I noticed one of our History teachers doing a few lessons on Primary Sources.  I thought that these videos might be helpful for teachers doing the same type lesson.   They are created by the Minnesota Historical Society.

If you would like to see their website click here.  They have material for students and teachers.