Teaching with Primary Sources

Resources

You’ll find additional activities, strategies, and tools that can be used with students to help them learn what primary sources are, why they are important to use when learning and how best to learn with them. Visit About Us to learn more about the Teaching with Primary Sources Program at SIUE! 

Book Kits

Book Kits are teacher-created resources for elementary educators to personalize and use with children ages 5-12 years old. They include a picture book, primary sources, and an engaging activity to extend learning. Book Kits contain simple instructions and instructor guides and can also be used in a variety of learning settings such as an after school or summer learning program.

History Connects 

History Connects are teacher-created resources for elementary educators to personalize and use with their students.

K-12 Activities/Lessons 

• Defining Primary Sources (PDF)
• Mind Walk (PDF)
• Primary Sources Can Tell A Story (PDF)
• Primary Source Strategies and Books- Topic: “Fairness” (Elementary) (PDF)
• Museum Gallery Walk- Topic: Woman Suffrage (Elementary) (PDF)
• Fishbowl Analysis with Primary Sources- Topic: Poetry/Complex Primary Sources (PDF)
• Activity- Elementary/middle version of Analyzing Narratives Activity- Topic: Lincoln's Assassination (PDF)
• 15 Things You Can Do with Narratives in the classroom (PDF)
• Teaching Ideas with Historic Newspapers (PDF)
  
  

Tools/Organizers 

• What are primary sources and why use them? (PDF)
• Elementary Primary Source Analysis: Observe, Reflect, Wonder 
• Elementary Primary Source Analysis: See, Think, Wonder 
• Elementary Primary Source Analysis  See, Think, Wonder w/ prompts
• How to Use the Observe, Reflect, & Question Analysis Tool (PDF)
• Step In, Step Out, Step Back Primary Source Analysis (PDF)
• Gallery Walk Strategy and Variations (PDF)
• Discussion Stems- Connectors for Socratic Seminar
• Discussion Statements- Socratic Seminar Statements- Kipp King Collegiate High School
• Photographer Techniques to Consider (PDF)
  
  

Professional Development Guides & Resources

• Importance of Teacher Inquiry and Introduction to Analysis- Topic: Edward Curtis (PDF)
• Defining Primary Sources (PDF) 
• Gallery Walk with Primary Sources- Topic:  Women's suffrage (PDF)
• Fishbowl Analysis with Primary Sources- Topic: Poetry/Complex Primary Sources (PDF)
• Selecting Primary Sources for Student Analysis (PDF)
• Tips for Facilitating a Primary Source Analysis (PDF)
  
  

Search Help/Other

• Searching LOC.gov for Teachers (PDF)
• Tracking Resources & Strategies Form (PDF) (WORD)
• Search Term Tips (PDF)
• Tracking Resources Form (PDF) (WORD)
• Search Topic: John Brown (PDF)
• General Information About the Library of Congress (PDF)
• Copyright & Fair Use (Diagram included) (PDF)
• Printing Large Primary Sources in Sections (PDF)
  
  

Research, Reports & Articles 

Poster Presentation Document Download- Teaching with Primary Sources Meeting December 2020

Primary Source Learning website - Locate additional teacher resources and learn about effective practices.

Disclaimer: Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS program does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress.

 *Materials and resources created and compiled by the TPS SIUE program, its partners, and teacher colleagues have been shared in various teacher and educator events. Many of the resources shared on this site are in the public domain and can be used for educational, non-profit purposes. We ask that you please give credit where credit is due. Our hope is to share resources that can inspire other educators to utilize primary sources in meaningful ways.