Teaching Resources

Library of Congress Resources

• Main Library page: http://www.loc.gov/  
  • Search topics; can choose by formats; availability, languages, subjects, dates, formats, etc.  

• Main page for teachers: http://www.loc.gov/teachers 
  • Search by Standards: Common Core; State Content; Organizations 
  • Search identifies primary sources, lesson plans, activities, classroom materials, collections 

• Library of Congress Professional Development Resources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/  
  • Webinars 
  • PD 
  • Youtube Videos  
  • Institutes   

• Using primary sources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/ 
  • Why use primary sources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/whyuse.html  
  • Citing primary sources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/citing.html  
  • Copyright and primary sources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/copyright.html 
  • Finding primary sources: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/finding.html  
  • Teacher’s guides and analysis tools: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/guides.html 

• Classroom materials 
  • http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/ 
  • Primary source sets 
  • Lesson plans 
  • Presentations  

• Free to Use and Reuse Sets – Public Domain 
  • https://www.loc.gov/free-to-use/  

• Research Guides 
  • https://guides.loc.gov/  

• Chronicling America – Historic American Newspapers 
  • https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/  

• TPS Blog 
  • https://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/  

• Civics Interactives 
  • https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/about-this-program/collaborations/civics-interactives/  

• Free iBooks
  • Discovery sets – The Constitution; Immigration; The Dust Bowl; Symbols of the US; The Harlem Renaissance; Understanding the Cosmos: https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/student-discovery-sets/  

Considerations for Selection of Primary Sources 

• Student needs and interests
• Curriculum
• Age appropriate
• Community considerations
• Time
• Ability of students (will change over time)
  • visual literacy, reading skill
• Bias/selection bias
• Other considerations?

Other Recommended Resources

• C3 Framework: http://www.socialstudies.org/system/files/c3/C3-Framework-for-Social-Studies.pdf
• Examining the Evidence: Seven Strategies for Teaching with Primary Sources by Hilary Mac Austin and Kathleen Thompson: https://www.amazon.com/Examining-Evidence-Strategies-Teaching-Primary/dp/1625216300 
• Right Question Institute: http://rightquestion.org/