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Picturing Modern America 1880-1920 - Educational Development Center, Inc.
Grades
6 to 12
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American society experienced a tremendous amount of change and growth during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This site is filled with primary source images from the...more
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American society experienced a tremendous amount of change and growth during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This site is filled with primary source images from the Library of Congress and interactive exercises that bring the era to life. The "Image Detective" activity is especially impressive. After selecting a picture from the collection, students are presented with a critical question and guided through the process of gathering clues, reading background information, and drawing conclusions. The Investigations link challenges students to interact with visual sources to gain perspective and understanding. This is an outstanding resource for strengthening skills in historical research and critical thinking! The Exhibit Builder link apparently no longer functions, but students can copy images under Fair Use (check the collection information) to create a slide show or exhibit using images from the site and their own explanatory text.
tag(s): 1900s (73), 1920s (15), history day (40), immigration (63), industrialization (11), womens suffrage (44), world war 1 (73)
In the Classroom
Use this site as an in class activity for various units in your classroom, including the early 1900's, immigration, the roaring 20's, etc. Have students complete their investigations in pairs, having a class competition to see who can get the most right! A very fun way to review and encourage critical thinking skills.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Dream of Flight - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Highlighting the incredible courage, ingenuity, and determination of Orville and Wilbur Wright, this Library of Congress site traces the importance of flight through history as it chronicles...more
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Highlighting the incredible courage, ingenuity, and determination of Orville and Wilbur Wright, this Library of Congress site traces the importance of flight through history as it chronicles the brothers' amazing achievement in Kitty Hawk, NC. Rich in text, photographs, and primary source documents, this electronic exhibit could form the basis for a teacher-created Web hunt, or serve as a visual supplement for a unit on American history and inventors.
tag(s): air (105), aircraft (16), aviation (38), flight (31), wright brothers (15)
In the Classroom
Within the section entitled "the dream" is a collection of primary resources that reflect society's obsession with flight. Print out or download these images separately on the interactive whiteboard or projector. Once students are in groups, assign each student a resource - with each group analyzing and interpreting the meaning of the pieces of art. After each group has dissected their resource, have a classroom debate as to which is the most reflective of human desire to fly? Which is the most inspirational? Which was the most scientific? Not only will the debate explore each of the sources but it will depend on students background knowledge of the history of flight. Because of this, this activity is probably best served at the end of a unit when it can be used as an informal review.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Voices from the Days of Slavery - Library of Congress
Grades
7 to 12
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This collection of digital sound recordings (in MP3, RealAudio, and wav formats), corresponding transcripts, and photographs provide an authentic experience in the study of slavery...more
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This collection of digital sound recordings (in MP3, RealAudio, and wav formats), corresponding transcripts, and photographs provide an authentic experience in the study of slavery in America. Interviews conducted between 1932 and 1975, reveal how former slaves felt about their owners, their families, and their freedom. All recordings are taken from the American Folklife Collection of the Library of Congress.
tag(s): africa (139), african american (111), civil war (135), oral history (14), slavery (76)
In the Classroom
Introduce this site on the interactive whiteboard during a unit on slavery in the 19th century. Have students explore the site in cooperative learning groups, with the intentions of presenting a summary of the information they've seen. Students can present the information from a particularly perspective or as though they're reteaching it to their peers. Have the groups present with a podcast, using a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dutch Exploration in America - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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This excellent effort by the Library of Congress at narrating the explorations and effects of Dutch exploration in North America is really better suited to post-secondary students....more
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This excellent effort by the Library of Congress at narrating the explorations and effects of Dutch exploration in North America is really better suited to post-secondary students. That said, motivated students will find the basics on the history of Dutch exploration and settlement, and some interesting background on the Dutch place names that persist in the U.S. today. Those interested in digging more deeply can learn more about the extent and influence of eighteenth century Dutch trade and exploration on the emerging American nation.
In the Classroom
Include the images and maps in the website to supplement your lecture. The text is probably too heavy for students to read, but it can easily be included in a class lecture. Save this site as a favorite and refer to it for images and primary sources. (although keep in mind - all the sources are in Dutch)Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Travels in America - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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Observations of foreigners (especially Alexis de Tocqueville) have long been a staple of secondary American history classes. This Library of Congress resource offers a searchable collection...more
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Observations of foreigners (especially Alexis de Tocqueville) have long been a staple of secondary American history classes. This Library of Congress resource offers a searchable collection of reflections by other authors, including Hector St. John de Crevecoeur and Charles Dickens. While their observations are not always flattering, these writings can be a great way to get students to "think outside the box" when discussing American institutions.
tag(s): dickens (8), history day (40), states (122)
In the Classroom
Use the primary sources in this site in a "survivor" activity that not only teaches the content but teaches students how to analyze primary sources, too. Separate students into groups and assign each group a different primary source to analyze and interpret with the intentions of presenting their findings to the class. Enhance learning by having students use Genially, reviewed here, to choose their type of multimedia for their presentation. With Genially students can insert maps, surveys, video, audio and more. After presentations, have a representative from each group go to the front of the class and present an argument why their source is the most reliable and why it presents the clearest picture of the early US government. Use Dotstorming, reviewed here; with Dotstorming students are allowed to vote and make comments. Have the class vote off the least reliable primary source in rounds until there is just the one left! Students will leave the class understanding the content AND how to analyze sources for future reference.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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American Leaders Speak - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Here is an interactive glimpse of political speeches delivered between 1918 and 1920. These fifty-nine speeches discuss topics such as World War I and the election of 1920. ...more
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Here is an interactive glimpse of political speeches delivered between 1918 and 1920. These fifty-nine speeches discuss topics such as World War I and the election of 1920.
tag(s): 1920s (15), elections (80), politics (113), world war 1 (73)
In the Classroom
Beyond the audio files themselves, there is also a "collections connections" section that provides teachers with helpful advice for integrating the speeches into American History, critical thinking, and humanities lessons. Hearing the actual voices can be a powerful experience for students.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Web Junction - Librarian Resources - Library of Congress
Grades
1 to 12
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Launched in Spring of 2003 by the Library of Congress, this site provides helpful resources for librarians interested in finding the best ways to utilize technology in their libraries....more
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Launched in Spring of 2003 by the Library of Congress, this site provides helpful resources for librarians interested in finding the best ways to utilize technology in their libraries. Committed to raising awareness of public access resources, this site has tips, tools, and practices for updating libraries in the information age. There are even online courses for those who want a full introduction to the range of possibilities the internet holds.
tag(s): resources (88)
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Experiencing War - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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No, it's not blood and gore up close, but rather a collection of audio reminiscences from American veterans about their experiences in wartime. Created by the Library of Congress as...more
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No, it's not blood and gore up close, but rather a collection of audio reminiscences from American veterans about their experiences in wartime. Created by the Library of Congress as part of their American Folklife series, these stories are surprisingly personal and therefore all the more powerful.
tag(s): afghanistan (8), cold war (30), iraq (27), korea (19), memorial day (12), middle east (43), oral history (14), veterans (20), world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
Use the audio interviews (with an image of the speaker) on an interactive whiteboard or projector to show students what the war was like from the perspective of people on the ground, and the difference between the first hand account and the textbook. This is a great way to not only teach the content, but display for students the difference between a primary and secondary source. To further argue a point, use a Venn diagram on the interactive whiteboard to graphically display the differences. Use an online tool such as Interactive Two Circle Venn Diagram, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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The American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress does it again with this survey of the waves of immigration that have swept the American shores. While this site has ...more
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The American Memory Collection at the Library of Congress does it again with this survey of the waves of immigration that have swept the American shores. While this site has a number of incomplete "exhibit" areas, the associated lesson plans are there, and well worth a look for those whose curricula include immigration. It may take some trial and error to find those resources that fit best.
tag(s): africa (139), african american (111), china (62), chinese (44), immigration (63), japan (56), japanese (47), migration (44)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the free lesson plans and classroom activities hosted on this site! Be sure to save this one 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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Women Come to the Front - Library of Congress
Grades
7 to 12
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The Library of Congress does its usually thorough job in this presentation on the roles of female journalists during World War II. These included domestic and foreign assignments. While...more
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The Library of Congress does its usually thorough job in this presentation on the roles of female journalists during World War II. These included domestic and foreign assignments. While we wish more of these images were available on line, there are certainly enough photos in this collection to provide students with a sense of what war meant to America in the 1940s.
tag(s): journalism (72), women (138), world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on the battle front in WWII. The content is still valid, and would be a great center to break up others based on the battles and the men who are normally focused on. A useful resource for a US history classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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When They Were Young - Library of Congress
Grades
1 to 12
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This Library of Congress exhibition showing historic photos of children probably has some academic application. We've included it, however, as an eloquent statement of why children...more
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This Library of Congress exhibition showing historic photos of children probably has some academic application. We've included it, however, as an eloquent statement of why children are important, and why teachers teach. Try showing one of these pictures to your class and asking them to write about what the child in the picture might be thinking or doing.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to inspire some creative writing! Allow students to explore the site on classroom computers, picking one of the images to choose as the subject of a creative writing piece. Have students write an essay, poem, editorial - depending on what's being studied, based on what they see in their image. Attach the images to their pieces, and it could make a great display in your classroom too! A fun site for a Literature or Language classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Prints and Photographs On Line - Library of Congress
Grades
1 to 12
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Welcome to the Library of Congress' photo archive. This site offers a searchable database containing thousands of photos all almost any subject. History and social studies teachers...more
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Welcome to the Library of Congress' photo archive. This site offers a searchable database containing thousands of photos all almost any subject. History and social studies teachers will find this a rich resource for "what was life like then?" images, old maps, and other printed matter. Note that not all of these images are guaranteed "copyright free," but this collection was established largely for educational and research uses, so most images are freely usable in that context.
In the Classroom
Use the images on this site to create a "picture walk" in your classroom, introducing any number of the topics hosted. 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 historical events. 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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Library of Congress 9/11 Acquisitions - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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This page offers an entry point to the various images and materials about the 9/11 attacks which the Library of Congress has acquired. The collection includes photos, newspaper accounts,...more
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This page offers an entry point to the various images and materials about the 9/11 attacks which the Library of Congress has acquired. The collection includes photos, newspaper accounts, books, and works of art inspired by the attacks. While there is likely no single definitive collection of this material, this one is an extensive resource.
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a unit on September 11th, focusing mainly on the images and posters available. The images could be used for a picture walk or to accompany a lecture.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Federalist Papers - Library of Congress
Grades
9 to 12
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The Library of Congress presentation of one of the key American political dialogues will be useful for AP history students, as a research tool for term papers, or for those ...more
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The Library of Congress presentation of one of the key American political dialogues will be useful for AP history students, as a research tool for term papers, or for those who simply want an on-line look at these important documents.
tag(s): jefferson (18)
In the Classroom
Use this site on the interactive whiteboard or projector as a way to supplement the textbook with the Federalist Papers. Share this site on the interactive whiteboard while studying a unit on the Founding Fathers or on the documents of the Revolutionary Period. This would be a great way to highlight some of the major arguments of the Federalist papers, particularly Federalist 10.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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This online exhibition site offers a glimpse of some of the many documents associated with the Lewis and Clark expedition, ranging from maps drawn by the explorers to Thomas Jefferson's...more
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This online exhibition site offers a glimpse of some of the many documents associated with the Lewis and Clark expedition, ranging from maps drawn by the explorers to Thomas Jefferson's secret cipher for sending coded messages. The text includes excerpts from the journals the explorers kept.
tag(s): jefferson (18), lewis and clark (14)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a learning center or station during a lesson on Lewis and Clark and their travels. Introduce the site on the interactive whiteboard before allowing students to explore the site in cooperative learning groups on classroom computers. Have cooperative learning groups create podcasts demonstrating their understanding of one of the concepts. Use a site such as PodOmatic (reviewed here).Students can summarize their entire journey, or focus on one specific aspect, such as the explorers interactions with Native Americans. American history teachers will definitely be able to incorporate this one into their classroom.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Day After Pearl Harbor
Grades
6 to 12
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Here's a collection of audio recordings of interviews with "ordinary Americans" conducted by the Library of Congress on December 8, 1941. Users can hear how people reacted to the Japanese...more
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Here's a collection of audio recordings of interviews with "ordinary Americans" conducted by the Library of Congress on December 8, 1941. Users can hear how people reacted to the Japanese attack, and the thoughts that were foremost in their minds as America went to war. This one could be an interesting sidebar to the study of World War II.
tag(s): pearl harbor (9), world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
Use this site as a way to discuss how life may have been for families on the home front and how they were affected by more than rationing. Some of the letters are touching, so be aware if you have quite a few sensitive girls in your class when to stop. But the letters show a different side of the war than normally discussed in class. Teachers can also have students use this as a writing prompt - have students write a letter from the perspective of a soldier on different fronts. Letters can be used to detail the different experiences of soldiers or even how varying locations were subject to more or less warfare. A touching side to war - who would have thought?!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Poetry 180 - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Poet Laureate Billy Collins has created a collection of 180 poems - a poem a day - for the school year. This Library of Congress site offers the poems themselves, ...more
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Poet Laureate Billy Collins has created a collection of 180 poems - a poem a day - for the school year. This Library of Congress site offers the poems themselves, tips on reading poetry aloud, and information on poetry sources and permissions. It's an interesting collection that could add variety to any middle or high school poetry study.
tag(s): poetry (190)
In the Classroom
Use these poems as a warm up to start class. Have kids analyze the poem to find symbolism, meter, rhyme, etc.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Japanese Americans at Manzanar - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12
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Ansel Adams' images of the Manzanar Japanese internment camp are haunting for both their subject matter and their artistic qualities. This collection from the Library of Congress includes...more
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Ansel Adams' images of the Manzanar Japanese internment camp are haunting for both their subject matter and their artistic qualities. This collection from the Library of Congress includes both scenic photographs and images of the camp's occupants during the war.
tag(s): japan (56), japanese (47), world war 2 (151)
In the Classroom
Teachers will need to supply the context for these images, but they are an important historical resource.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Zaire - Country Studies - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12
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This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations,...more
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This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations, and the material will be challenging for some students.
In the Classroom
Teachers will find these summaries useful for their comprehensive scope, which frequently includes historical and cultural background information. Much of the content is 5 or more years old, so these pages are best used for historical or background information.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Yugoslavia - Country Studies - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12
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This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations,...more
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This site is part of a set of detailed cultural, political, and historical summaries created by the Library's Federal Research Service. The emphasis is on less commonly studied nations, and the material will be challenging for some students.
tag(s): europe (75), yugoslavia (2)
In the Classroom
Teachers will find these summaries useful for their comprehensive scope, which frequently includes historical and cultural background information. Much of the content is 5 or more years old, so these pages are best used for historical or background information.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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