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EuroDocs: Primary Historical Documents From Western Europe
Grades
9 to 12
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This site is a collection of links that connect to Western European (mainly primary) historical documents that are transcribed, reproduced in facsimile, or translated. They shed light...more
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This site is a collection of links that connect to Western European (mainly primary) historical documents that are transcribed, reproduced in facsimile, or translated. They shed light on key historical happenings within the respective countries and would be useful to expose students to the use of primary sources in research and history.
tag(s): primary sources (117), Research (83)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite on your desktop and use it as a reference point for finding resources on one of the many European countries. This could be helpful brushing up on your own knowledge or finding materials to supplement a unit. This would be a great resource for a World or European history classroom.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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The Russian Revolution
Grades
9 to 12
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This site from Fordham University offers a college-level treatment of the Russian Revolution and the personalities and factions which contributed to the political turmoil. Using a combination...more
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This site from Fordham University offers a college-level treatment of the Russian Revolution and the personalities and factions which contributed to the political turmoil. Using a combination of on-site and metasite resources, the author's treatment allows users to follow the narrative at varying levels of depth. This site could be useful for teachers preparing a Western Civilization survey, or for AP students working on a research project.
tag(s): russia (33)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a means to search for any and all primary sources needed in a US or World History course. Save this site as a favorite on your desktop to allow for easy access and retrieval.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Documents in the News
Grades
6 to 12
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This site is a well-stocked resource in finding government documents based on a variety of topics. ...more
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This site is a well-stocked resource in finding government documents based on a variety of topics.
tag(s): branches of government (62), congress (39), white house (15)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a tool for students to find primary sources or information that can support a research paper or project. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard to teach students how to use the site before allowing them to explore it on their own. Be sure to include the site address on any project handouts given out!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Around the World in the 1890s - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12
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This is a Library of Congress collection of photos taken for the World Transportation Commission in the 1890s. Teachers, students, or parents could use this online archive to illustrate...more
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This is a Library of Congress collection of photos taken for the World Transportation Commission in the 1890s. Teachers, students, or parents could use this online archive to illustrate both what foreign nations were like a hundred years ago, and also the subjects that Americans were interested in recording during their journeys. This is a nice example of the primary resources which the Library makes available on the web.
tag(s): cultures (132)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a visual discovery activity in your classroom, introducing the topic of evolving transportation. Select 3-5 images from this site, choosing the most powerful and moving images. Placing the images on individual slides, allow students 1-2 minutes to observe each image. During that time period, students should be taking notes based on what they observe, predict and infer about each image. The more powerful and detailed the image is, the more information students can take out. After the class has observed all the chosen images, have a class discussion based on the notes students took. This is a great way to introduce content in a way that gets students thinking, as well as avoiding the typical lecture format.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Trails to Utah and the Pacific
Grades
1 to 12
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Located in the Library of Congress collection is a variety of primary source accounts of pioneers who travelled across the Wild West. ...more
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Located in the Library of Congress collection is a variety of primary source accounts of pioneers who travelled across the Wild West.
tag(s): primary sources (117), westward expansion (38)
In the Classroom
Search this site, or have students search this site, to find primary sources that accurately display what the experience of traveling west was like.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Berlin Airlift - Project Whistlestop
Grades
4 to 12
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This site chronicles the airlift that kept West Berlin alive during the period immediately after World War II. Though written from an American perspective, there is coverage of the...more
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This site chronicles the airlift that kept West Berlin alive during the period immediately after World War II. Though written from an American perspective, there is coverage of the broader European involvement in one of the first cold war crises.
tag(s): cold war (30)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a resource to find primary sources about the Cold War and the end of WWII. 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) 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, have the class vote off the least reliable "survivor style" until you are left with just one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What do YOU see?
Grades
5 to 12
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Students learn to analyze photographs for key information in the course of this unit. From selected Civil War photographs, students must answer questions about what they see, and come...more
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Students learn to analyze photographs for key information in the course of this unit. From selected Civil War photographs, students must answer questions about what they see, and come up with some of their own. More detailed captions are then provided, and students are expected to re-evaluate their original conclusions. Once they have learned to analyze the given pictures, they must find their own, draw conclusions, and present their findings to the class. After studying the pictures and captions in this manner, students will recognize links between the Civil War and American industrialization.
tag(s): civil war (135), primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of this free lesson plan about pictures and interpreting history. This activity could be done on the interactive whiteboard or projector as a class, but could also work having students separated into cooperative learning groups.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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You Be The Historian - Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History.
Grades
4 to 8
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Play the role of a historian using objects to figure out what life was like in another time. Look at historic objects from New Castle, Delaware and think about how ...more
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Play the role of a historian using objects to figure out what life was like in another time. Look at historic objects from New Castle, Delaware and think about how objects from today might be viewed by future historians looking back at our times. The 'what about you?' sections of the activity encourage you to think about the study of history at a personal level. What can future historians learn about your school, your class, etc. What evidence are you leaving behind? This site provides questions to think about, especially if you are interested in careers that use History.
tag(s): careers (139), local history (14), museums (44)
In the Classroom
You Be the Historian can be an excellent springboard for class discussion about primary and secondary sources and the historical process. The activity can also be used as an introduction (or supplemental material) when studying life in the late 1700s. Special Features include a teacher's guide to using this web site in the classroom on or offline.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Learning About Immigration Through Oral History
Grades
6 to 8
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Designed as a year-long project, this unit can be adapted for a short-term lesson. The goal is to give students a realistic experience of oral history and its place in ...more
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Designed as a year-long project, this unit can be adapted for a short-term lesson. The goal is to give students a realistic experience of oral history and its place in our history, focusing on American immigrants. Students will use visual and information literacy exercises to gain an understanding of how to identify and interpret primary historical sources. There are a total of six activities; each one can serve as a "stand-alone" unit. The activities cover topics such as "Oral history methodology" and "Making meaning out of an archive," and students get to work alone and in groups.
tag(s): immigrants (33), immigration (63), migration (44)
In the Classroom
The library of Congress has put together an excellent lesson plan that simultaneously addresses the standards teachers need to focus on and one of the most important elements of history - oral evidence. Take advantage of this free lesson plan.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U.S. Senate - U. S. Senate
Grades
9 to 12
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Use this well-organized, comprehensive resource to explore the structure, function, history, and art of the Senate. Students can connect with their state senators and learn about legislative...more
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Use this well-organized, comprehensive resource to explore the structure, function, history, and art of the Senate. Students can connect with their state senators and learn about legislative leadership; research and track bills, votes, or nominations; explore related art and exhibits; and discover books, documents, and other resources about Congress and the U.S. government. There is quite a bit to investigate on this site, and it is definitely worth a few class periods in the computer lab.
In the Classroom
Within the section on the Oral History Project are clips on various subjects. Most importantly for a Modern US history course is a clip on de facto segregation that could be played for students over a projector and speaker system. This would be a great supplement to a textbook, as well primary sources and oral history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Within These Walls - Smithsonian Institution
Grades
6 to 12
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The Smithsonian Museum of American History created this site to document the history of life in a 250+ year old Massachusetts house. Owned by six families through the centuries, the...more
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The Smithsonian Museum of American History created this site to document the history of life in a 250+ year old Massachusetts house. Owned by six families through the centuries, the site shows how life in the house, and the people who lived there, have changed over the years. This site could be a great starting point for a "What's different? What's the same?" discussion about history.
tag(s): family (52), massachusetts (8)
In the Classroom
The "Go Back in time" activity would be a quick and interesting way for students to review primary evidences and determine what time period they would be from. This can be done as a class on the interactive whiteboard. Complete the activity, and afterwards let it lead into a class discussion of what sources are and how historians determine validity. This would be a great way to review the information before a big research project or paper, when students will be collecting their own sources.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Religion and the Founding of the American Republic
Grades
6 to 12
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This site from the Library of Congress traces the role of religion in the founding of both individual colonies and the American federal government using primary sources and documents....more
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This site from the Library of Congress traces the role of religion in the founding of both individual colonies and the American federal government using primary sources and documents. It would be useful for introducing students to primary research, or for any exploration of the different purposes for which Europeans came to America.
tag(s): colonial america (95), primary sources (117), religions (77)
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom, introducing the topic of religion in US politics and government. Select 10-15 of the more powerful and diverse images, hanging them up in different locations around your classroom. Have students rotate around the classroom every 30-45 seconds, jotting down what they observe and infer about each image until the entire class has completed the circuit. After the class is back in their seats, have a class discussion based on what they observed and what this says about the people's desire for an establishment clause. A great way to get students thinking about the content in a way that's more personal and lecture-less!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Democracy in America - C-SPAN
Grades
9 to 12
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This site is devoted to the work of Alexis DeToqueville, whose extensive accounts of American life and character in the 1840's remains a staple for the study of American history. ...more
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This site is devoted to the work of Alexis DeToqueville, whose extensive accounts of American life and character in the 1840's remains a staple for the study of American history. This site offers text, images, background, and additional references. An accompanying set of lesson modules, developed by C-Span, can be found in the TeachersFirst American History lessons.
tag(s): primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
Use the journal entries portion of this site to help students not only learn the content, but to learn to retrieve information from primary sources. Divide students into groups, and assign them each one of the states Tocqueville wrote about. Have students analyze and interpret what was written, with the intentions of presenting their findings to the class. To connect it to the content being studied at the time, have a discussion with students about whether Congress was also concerned or if we see some of the issues he talked about still prevalent today.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Papers of George Washington - University of Virginia
Grades
8 to 12
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This site includes letters written both to and from George Washington. Important papers and letters are singled out, as well as an entire section of selected Revolutionary War documents....more
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This site includes letters written both to and from George Washington. Important papers and letters are singled out, as well as an entire section of selected Revolutionary War documents. This site would be of value to students serious about completing in depth research on the man or his major historical events in his life.
tag(s): presidents (122), primary sources (117), washington (25)
In the Classroom
In a discussion of the Revolutionary War or the Founding Fathers, use the pictures and images to supplement your lecture. Very rarely do students get to see time-period appropriate maps, and those provided on the site can be used to show and diagram major battles. The site also provides some excellent primary sources that complement such a unit. An excellent one to look at is his famed "Farewell Address," which can be used for both a revolutionary unit and any on American Diplomacy. Have students read the address as a class, following it with a discussion on how this speech impacted American foreign relations for the next 200 years. A great site for any resources on Washington!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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U. S. Historical Documents
Grades
7 to 12
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A more extensive collection, helpfully organized. From the University of Oklahoma. ...more
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A more extensive collection, helpfully organized. From the University of Oklahoma.
tag(s): primary sources (117)
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) 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, have the class vote off the least reliable "survivor style" until you are left with just one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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National Archives: Educator Resources - National Archives
Grades
4 to 8
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This site is meant to assist teachers in their use of archival documents when teaching. Choose "Teaching with Documents" and "Docs Teach" for documents and analysis instructions. Also...more
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This site is meant to assist teachers in their use of archival documents when teaching. Choose "Teaching with Documents" and "Docs Teach" for documents and analysis instructions. Also find reproducible primary documents, photographs, and lesson plans correlated to the National History Standards, and cross-curricular connections. The site includes interesting activities for use in studying events in U.S. History.
tag(s): media literacy (103), primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
This is an excellent site for any history, art history, or civics teacher attempting to put forth something more tangible for students to grasp. Click on "Images of the American Revolution," and open up the pictures on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Question students as to the meaning and context of the illustrations, to help them understand how images were used to convey certain meanings. Ask the students to create their own cartoons about something controversial in their town, or about the unit being studied, and encourage them to use some of the same subtle concepts the original illustrators did.
This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.
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Colonial Charters - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12
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This collection from the Avalon Project at Yale University offers a collection of primary documents dealing with all the American colonies except Virginia and Vermont. The page includes...more
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This collection from the Avalon Project at Yale University offers a collection of primary documents dealing with all the American colonies except Virginia and Vermont. The page includes a search engine as well as links to specific documents. Good resource for exploring the various motives in colonizing the new world.
tag(s): colonial america (95)
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) 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, have the class vote off the least reliable "survivor style" until you are left with just one!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Avalon Project - Yale University
Grades
6 to 12
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Developed by the Law School at Yale University, the Avalon Project is a compilation of primary source documents of American History from the 15th century onward. The resources are available...more
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Developed by the Law School at Yale University, the Avalon Project is a compilation of primary source documents of American History from the 15th century onward. The resources are available by time period, and there is also a search feature. Users searching for a more linear presentation may want to use the Project's American History Timeline. The collection is a great research for research projects or any study of American history.
tag(s): primary sources (117)
In the Classroom
Save this site as a favorite and reference it for primary sources for history units. The timespan covered spans virtually all that would be covered in any US history course, and also offers many documents that would also apply to World or European history courses. Teachers can also refer students to this site for research projects or papers.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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First Grade Backpack - Arithmetic - Privately Published
Grades
1 to 2
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Here's a selection of simple math sites compiled expressly for primary students. They provide quick access to a group of games, puzzles, and other math resources for first or second...more
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Here's a selection of simple math sites compiled expressly for primary students. They provide quick access to a group of games, puzzles, and other math resources for first or second grade. Some can be used by students directly; others may require some help from the parent or teacher. This site also contains geography and reading sections.
tag(s): addition (128), subtraction (109)
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Waste Management Lesson Plans - Texas Natural Resoure Conservation Commission
Grades
1 to 12
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This collection of lesson plans from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission includes content for primary through middle school students. Most lessons are straightforward,...more
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This collection of lesson plans from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission includes content for primary through middle school students. Most lessons are straightforward, requiring limited use of outside resources.
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans shared on this site for use with Earth Day activities, recycling, or conservation units. Challenge students to keep a daily or weekly journal. Replace paper journals using a blog tool and sharing their learning and understanding. Use Weebly, reviewed here. If you are teaching younger students and looking for an easy way to integrate technology and check for understanding, challenge your students to create a blog using Edublog, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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