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Living the Revolution: America - 1789-1820 - National Humanities Center
Grades
7 to 12
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Developed as part of the National Humanities Center's Online Professional Development "Toolbox" series, this site offers history and government teachers a wonderfully succinct resource...more
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Developed as part of the National Humanities Center's Online Professional Development "Toolbox" series, this site offers history and government teachers a wonderfully succinct resource kit for building one or more lesson units. Divided into five sections: religion, predicaments, politics, expansion, and equality, the site offers introductions and a set of primary source readings for each, along with presentation guidelines and discussion suggestions. Lots of critical analysis opportunities here.
tag(s): constitution (88), courts (19), evolution (85)
In the Classroom
This site provides both excellent discussion questions and the primary sources needed to base it on. To begin with, copy down some of the recommended topic questions on the front page of the site before opening it on an interactive whiteboard or projector. For the students, share the primary documents available by clicking on the topic, and then selecting the one in desire. After the class has read them, begin your discussion with the questions copied earlier!
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Habitats - National Geographic - National Geographic
Grades
1 to 12
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This collection of lesson plans from National Geographic Society provides standards-coordinated habitat lessons for primary, upper elementary, middle, and high school students. While...more
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This collection of lesson plans from National Geographic Society provides standards-coordinated habitat lessons for primary, upper elementary, middle, and high school students. While the lessons themselves are entirely text, each contains links to other NGS resources that offer graphics, images, and other visuals. These are very complete resources, but will require some preparation time.
tag(s): ecosystems (73), habitats (86)
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History Writing Guide - Bowdoin College
Grades
9 to 12
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This college-level writing guide for history papers from Bowdoin College may be beyond the scope of some secondary students. But for those who can already compose a cogent paragraph,...more
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This college-level writing guide for history papers from Bowdoin College may be beyond the scope of some secondary students. But for those who can already compose a cogent paragraph, it offers great suggestions on research process and assembling a paper that uses primary resources. AP history and social studies teachers may want to review this one and suggest or adapt it for their students. There's a wealth of information here.
tag(s): primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
Open this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector and have students read the information before beginning their first big research paper. (Teachers can also print the information, but why not save some trees?) The short introductory essay offers some great tips for paper writing and has reference points for students with more questions. Have students look at the rest of the information on their own or refer students with questions to it. Save this site as a favorite on the class wiki or webpage so students can access it both in and out of the classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Maine History Online
Grades
9 to 12
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This site from the Maine Historical Society offers access to lots of historical Maine images, essays, objects, exhibits, and more primary resources. Explore by Theme or Time Periods....more
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This site from the Maine Historical Society offers access to lots of historical Maine images, essays, objects, exhibits, and more primary resources. Explore by Theme or Time Periods. Teachers will likely want to use this site themselves to find suitable images for use in their classes.
In the Classroom
Post this website on the teacher web page to allow students to access it in and out of school. An excellent source of primary documents, the source could be the perfect fit for any student working on a research project in a social studies or literature class. Although the site is mainly focused on Maine, there is plenty of primary information on influential people in history such as Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow - to name a few.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Wisconsin Pioneer Experience - University of Wisconsin
Grades
6 to 12
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Here is a collection of original letters and other manuscripts written by those who settled the farms and prairies of Wisconsin. Secondary teachers teaching Wisconsin state history...more
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Here is a collection of original letters and other manuscripts written by those who settled the farms and prairies of Wisconsin. Secondary teachers teaching Wisconsin state history may want to make use of some of these first-hand accounts of pioneer life. The site would also be a great resource for teachers building an interdisciplinary "life on the frontier" unit.
tag(s): pioneers (9), primary sources (117), wisconsin (5)
In the Classroom
Use these primary sources as a way to teach students what it was like to be a pioneer during the period of Westward expansion in the United States. Select documents that are at the appropriate reading level for your class, and have groups read and analyze assigned ones. Have groups present their findings to class in order to portray what life was like from all different perspectives. This can be easily used in either a Wisconsin History course, or a US history class.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Civil War Letters of Calvin Shedd - University of Miami
Grades
6 to 12
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The library at the University of Miami has put together this collection of letters from Calvin Shedd, a Union soldier from New Hampshire who spent much of the Civil War ...more
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The library at the University of Miami has put together this collection of letters from Calvin Shedd, a Union soldier from New Hampshire who spent much of the Civil War in Florida. They will be interesting to history teachers interested in teaching with original source materials, and to those interested in studying the Civil War from a personal perspective.
tag(s): civil war (135), florida (10), new hampshire (3)
In the Classroom
Beyond the obvious insight this sight provides concerning the gritty details of the revolution, but it can also be used as an excellent example of a useful primary source. Open one of the documents on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students read the document and then have a classroom discussion as to the reliability of the source. Question students as to the motive of the writer, bias, information quality, and how that affects how they interpret the source. An interesting starting point to discuss the variability of history, and how historians interpret different sources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Hispanic Historic Places - National Park Service
Grades
4 to 12
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This site from the National Park Service shows several historic sites associated with Hispanic culture in the U.S. It can also lead to an appropriate selection of lessons from the ...more
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This site from the National Park Service shows several historic sites associated with Hispanic culture in the U.S. It can also lead to an appropriate selection of lessons from the NPS Teaching with Historic Places series. These lessons are a nice way to integrate Hispanic themes and contemporary accounts into an American history unit.
tag(s): hispanic (28), national parks (27), resources (88), spanish (105)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans listed for Hispanic American/Latino American History here from the NPS Teaching with Historic Places series. This is a great resource for a history or geography classroom, just be sure to save it as a favorite to allow for easy retrieval later on.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Native American Heritage - National Park Service
Grades
4 to 12
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This site from the National Park Service shows several historic sites associated with Native Americans. It also leads to an appropriate selection of lessons from the NPS Teaching with...more
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This site from the National Park Service shows several historic sites associated with Native Americans. It also leads to an appropriate selection of lessons from the NPS Teaching with Historic Places series. These lessons are a nice way to integrate Native American themes and contemporary accounts into an American history unit.
tag(s): india (25), native americans (91), resources (88)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and activities offered on this site! Save this site as a favorite on your classroom computer to allow for easy retrieval.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Berlin Wall - The Newseum
Grades
6 to 12
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The Berlin Wall and the Press is a short video (just over 14 minutes) that presents life on both sides of the Berlin Wall including escapes and protests. Find three ...more
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The Berlin Wall and the Press is a short video (just over 14 minutes) that presents life on both sides of the Berlin Wall including escapes and protests. Find three activities (downloadable in PDF format) to prepare students to analyze the impact of the Berlin Wall. The video is a fascinating presentation with primary sources about the origins of the wall from both western and Soviet perspectives. There are also nine Optional Extension Activities; these cover everything from graffiti art on the wall, to writing personal journals as one of the residents of East Berlin, to researching the unification of Berlin after the wall came down, and even more. Two of the activities help increase student awareness of political unrest in other parts of the world (China's Tiananmen Square Nov. 1989; Tehran, Iran June 2009; Tunis, Tunisia Jan. 2011; and Cairo, Egypt Jan. 2011), asking students to research challenges and criticisms of the press while trying to report on them.
tag(s): china (62), cold war (30), egypt (48), german (48), germany (25), iran (8), politics (113)
In the Classroom
Teachers should plan on spending ample time previewing the site before using it in class. Initially view the video as a class and have a discussion. You might want to use a backchannel tool like GoSoapBox, reviewed here, for the discussion. The advantage of a backchannel chat is that every student has a voice, no matter how shy. Have small groups choose which of the extension activities they would like to investigate. Allow students to create a final project other than an essay to share their findings and present to the class. Suggest something like an online poster using Genial.ly, reviewed here, or a simple infographic using Snappa, reviewed here.
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Twain's Hanibal - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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This unit from the Library of Congress offers students an exposure to the use of primary resources in the study of history and literature. The Library's collection for this time ...more
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This unit from the Library of Congress offers students an exposure to the use of primary resources in the study of history and literature. The Library's collection for this time period is rich, so there are many highly visual ways to expose students to Twain's world. Students will need to spend some time with this one.
tag(s): mark twain (8)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans on this site! Be sure to save it as a favorite on your desktop to allow for easy retrieval.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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AMDOCS - Univ. of Kansas
Grades
6 to 12
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Created at the University of Kansas, this collection of primary sources offers coverage from the 15th century through the present, making it useful for both early and contemporary history....more
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Created at the University of Kansas, this collection of primary sources offers coverage from the 15th century through the present, making it useful for both early and contemporary history. Many of the documents are on third-party sites, so expect some level of change over time.
tag(s): american revolution (83), history day (40)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the hundreds of available primary sources on this site. History teachers can use these documents for a variety of activities, from supplementing the text to using them to teach students how to analyze the validity of sources. The documents are organized by date, and can benefit both World History classes in addition to American History.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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History Matters - George Mason University
Grades
9 to 12
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George Mason University has created what is almost a one stop shopping site for American History. This is a rich resource of primary source materials, introductions to historical analysis,...more
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George Mason University has created what is almost a one stop shopping site for American History. This is a rich resource of primary source materials, introductions to historical analysis, factual material, and much more. The site concentrates on both historical content and the craft of teaching history. This makes it an ideal starting point for social studies or history teachers interested in a fresh approach to their curriculum.
tag(s): history day (40), states (122)
In the Classroom
This site offers a treasure trove of primary sources that would be useful for any history classroom. Teachers can either use the sources to supplement their lectures, or can use them to start a debate with students on the qualities of effective primary sources. Separate students into groups, and provide each group with a different primary source, although from the same time frame you are studying in class. Have the groups analyze the sources, and a list of reasons as to why or why not their source is a reliable source. From then on, have the groups debate in class which is the most reliable by way of class debate. Not only will the kids synthesize the important information within the sources, but they will also get a handle as to what makes a source reliable.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Midnight Ride - Paul Revere House
Grades
1 to 12
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A stockpile if information on Paul Revere's midnight ride. There is an interactive map, copies of primary sources, and a few illustrated depictions of his journey. ...more
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A stockpile if information on Paul Revere's midnight ride. There is an interactive map, copies of primary sources, and a few illustrated depictions of his journey.
tag(s): american revolution (83)
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The Wars for Vietnam - Vassar College
Grades
9 to 12
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Historical perspective on Vietnam, its history, and the evolution of American involvement. ...more
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Historical perspective on Vietnam, its history, and the evolution of American involvement.
tag(s): vietnam (35)
In the Classroom
This site hosts a TON of information about the Vietnam war - from overviews to primary sources! During a unit studying the Vietnam war, have students use this site as a means to learn some of the basic concepts in a non-lecture format. Create a follow-along for this site using a tool such as Graphic Organizer Maker, (reviewed here). Have students read through the overview offered on classroom computers, while filling out their organizers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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World War II Resources
Grades
9 to 12
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This is a collection of primary source documents from American and Allied sources. This site includes pre-war assessments and intelligence, cryptography studies, and even the actual...more
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This is a collection of primary source documents from American and Allied sources. This site includes pre-war assessments and intelligence, cryptography studies, and even the actual German and Japanese surrender documents. It would be a great starting point for students interested in using primary sources.
tag(s): world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
Primary sources could be used to teach both the content and historical thinking skills in your classroom. Divide students into 5-6 groups, with each group assigned a different primary source to read and evaluate. (Sources should come from various perspectives to make the game more interesting, but should have the same general topic). Have the groups present quick summaries of their source to the class, making sure to mention who the author is and whether or not there could be bias. After all have presented, have each team pick a representative to argue in front of the class as to why their source is the most reliable and valid. After all have made their argument, use Dotstorming, reviewed here, to enhance learning and to have the class vote off the least reliable "survivor style" until you are left with just one! Extend learning by challenging students to reflect on their learning and what they would like to learn more about using a tool such as Flip, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Southern Homefront - 1861-65
Grades
9 to 12
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This site from the University of North Carolina contains full-text documents written by southerners during the course of the Civil War. Students may need some help establishing the...more
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This site from the University of North Carolina contains full-text documents written by southerners during the course of the Civil War. Students may need some help establishing the context for these writings, but they form an interesting picture of the life and mindset of southerners during this conflict.
tag(s): civil war (135)
In the Classroom
Use this site on a projector or interactive whiteboard to discuss and informally assess prior knowledge as you start your study of life in the Antebellum South through the Civil War. The images and primary sources all show different perspectives of what society was like in our Southern States during this time. Teachers can also use this site as an example of great primary sources or to demonstrate what kind of evidences historians can withdraw from sources such as this by having group-work focused on analyzing a particular source from the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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North American Slave Narratives - Beginnings to 1920 - University of North Carolina
Grades
9 to 12
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A collection from the University of North Carolina's "Documenting the American South" series, this site contains original writings and transcripts of interviews with slaves and former...more
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A collection from the University of North Carolina's "Documenting the American South" series, this site contains original writings and transcripts of interviews with slaves and former slaves collected prior to 1920. As such, they differ from some other accounts which were recorded as part of a depression-era effort to recapture this portion of our history. Interesting as a primary resource for research.
In the Classroom
Use these primary sources to supplement text in teaching about Slavery in the Antebellum South. Divide students into groups, with each group to analyze and interpret a separate source pre-selected from the site. Have groups read their sources with the intentions of presenting their findings to the class. To additionally educate students about the validity of sources, teachers can have students present and then defend their sources to the other groups as to the validity and reliability of the document. Have the class vote off sources Survivor style, with the last source to be the most reliable and valid! By the end of this lesson, students will not only understand slavery as a way of life but also how to interpret primary sources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lesson Unit: Choices and Commitments - National Park Service
Grades
4 to 8
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The National Park Service created this extensive lesson unit to help students understand the Civil War from a soldier's perspective. The unit uses lots of primary sources, and provides...more
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The National Park Service created this extensive lesson unit to help students understand the Civil War from a soldier's perspective. The unit uses lots of primary sources, and provides an opportunity for a creative response to the lesson content.
In the Classroom
There is enough background information that teachers have several different options for presenting the material. This unit could form the basis for several weeks' study of the Civil War.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National American Woman Suffrage Association Collection - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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This collection of original documents and images from the Library of Congress traces the evolution of women's suffrage from the early 19th century through the 1920s. While there are...more
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This collection of original documents and images from the Library of Congress traces the evolution of women's suffrage from the early 19th century through the 1920s. While there are many texts and writings, the images are the most approachable element of this site, which could form the basis for many sorts of research presentation.
tag(s): women (138), womens suffrage (44)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource for students working on research projects or papers about a suffragette or suffragism. Consider having students create a multimedia presentation to showcase what they learned. Enhance learning by using Genially, reviewed here, where they will choices for the format of their presentation. Teachers can also use the primary sources on this site to find images an texts that can supplement your textbook material during a lesson or unit on women's suffrage. American History teachers will find plenty of materials in this site that can be incorporated into their classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Simon Wiesenthal Center
Grades
8 to 12
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The foremost organization for the study and memorialization of the holocaust provides a variety of resources for those researching this topic. ...more
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The foremost organization for the study and memorialization of the holocaust provides a variety of resources for those researching this topic.
tag(s): holocaust (41), world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
If looking for more materials and information about the Holocaust or anti-semitism in general, check out the library and archives section of this website for primary sources, a searchable catalog of materials, and even a "ask a survivor" portion of the site dedicated to providing students with a better understanding of the Holocaust. US & World history teachers will like this one - particularly the "ask a survivor" portion of this site. If your class was doing an in-depth study, it would be a great way to introduce or finish the unit!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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