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Level I – The Fundamentals of Primary Source Instruction

Complete the activities for each lesson below. Submit your finished activity to jbee@ilstu.edu.

Lesson 1: Navigating the Library of Congress

The Library of Congress, the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, is the world's preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Founded in 1800, the Library seeks to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, which bring to bear the world's knowledge in almost all of the world's languages and American's private sector intellectual and cultural creativity in almost all formats.

The Library seeks to spark the public's imagination and celebrate human achievement through its programs and exhibits. In doing so, the Library helps foster the informed and involved citizenry upon which American democracy depends. Today, the Library serves the public, scholars, members of Congress, and their staff—all of whom seek information, understanding, and inspiration. Many of the Library's rich resources and treasures may also be accessed through the Library's award-winning website, www.loc.gov.

Objectives

  • Understand the role/mission of the Library of Congress.
  • Navigate the Library of Congress website.
  • Access primary sources and teaching resources from the Library of Congress website for instructional use.

Activity 1

View the Introduction video

Activity 2

Lesson 1, Activity 2 – PMI

After completing this activity, save the file to your computer. Submit the activity to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

Activity 3

Lesson 1, Activity 3 – Can You Find It?

Click on the Search Guide to help you navigate www.loc.gov. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer. Submit the activity to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

Lesson 2: Exploring Primary Sources

Primary sources are original items or records that have survived from the past. They were part of a direct personal experience of a time or event. The Library of Congress continues to digitize primary source materials and makes them available in online collections, primary source sets, exhibitions, and other educational resources.

Objectives

  • Understand the difference between a primary source and a secondary source.
  • Describe the importance of the use of primary sources in instruction.
  • Explore the TPS Teachers Network.

Activity 1

Teaching with Primary Sources video
There is no submission for this activity.

Activity 2

  1. Read the article History in the Raw on the National Archives website.
  2. When you have finished reading, go to Lesson 2, Activity 2 – Exploring Primary Sources and download the file.
  3. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
  4. Submit the activity to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

Activity 3

The TPS Teachers Network is a professional learning community centered on Library of Congress primary sources.

  • Connect with colleagues in a safe, supportive, and friendly online environment.
  • Share primary source teaching strategies, resources, news, and experiences.
  • Engage with knowledgeable educators from all grade levels and content areas, including your own.
  • Browse, post, comment, ask questions and collaborate—all on your own schedule.
  1. Click the link to register for TPS Teachers Network.
  2. Explore the TPS Teachers Network and join the group, TPS at Illinois State University. Use this group to post comments, ideas, and suggestions about teaching with primary sources.
  3. When you have finished, click on Lesson 2, Activity 3 – Exploring the TPS Teachers Network.
  4. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
  5. Submit the activity to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

Lesson 3: Reviewing the Basics

Once you begin integrating primary sources into your instruction on a regular basis, it will be important to have a means to organize and save your resources so you can find them easily. One way to manage your resources is by creating a table in your word processing program.

As you complete your learning experience, you will be required to correctly cite your sources so that you are in compliance with fair use and copyright laws. You will also be required to submit the permanent URLs to the primary sources used in your learning experience so that others can easily find them. In this lesson, we will review how to make a table, copy and paste a picture into a table, cite a primary source, and find and save a permanent URL.

Objectives

  • Understand the importance of a management system for saving primary sources.
  • Make a table for saving primary sources.
  • Save the permanent URL for a digital primary source.
  • Correctly cite a digital primary source from the Library of Congress website.

Activity 1

Complete the online module about Copyright and Primary Sources.

View a copyright activity you could use with your students.

Activity 2

In this activity, you will be creating a table to manage your primary resources providing thumbnail images, descriptions, citations, and permanent URLs.

Click on Creating a Resource Table or check the course packet. Use these directions to create your resource table. Save the table as a document.

  1. Click on Lesson 3, Activity 2 – Creating a Resource Table. Download and save the file to your computer.
  2. After completing this activity, save your file to your desktop.
  3. Submit your completed Lesson 3, Activity 2 – Completed Table to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

*Go to Lesson 4.
If you need help with this activity, please contact Judy Bee (jbee@illinoisstate.edu).

Lesson 4: Searching the Library of Congress Digital Collections

The collection of primary resources depicting the history of the United States is so large that it requires some search strategies to successfully find the desired primary source materials you are looking for. In this lesson, you will review a number of search strategies for locating and accessing primary sources from the digital collections. Along with using search strategies, you will explore different interactive apps that focus on primary source instruction.

Objectives

  • Explore interactive apps that focus on primary sources.
  • Practice search strategies within the Library of Congress website (topic, time, place, etc.).
  • Complete a search for various types of primary sources using the same subject.
  • Perform an Advanced Google Search to locate primary source materials from the Library of Congress.

Activity 1

Click the link below to explore the interactive apps using primary sources to engage learners. Choose one of the apps to explore. Once you have finished exploring the app complete the Activity below.

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/civics-interactives/

Click on Lesson 4, Activity 1 – Exploring Interactive Apps, PMI Form.

  1. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
  2. Submit your completed Lesson 4, Activity 1 – Exploring Interactive Apps to jbee@ilstu.edu as an attachment.

Activity 2

Conducting an Advanced Google Search

There are times when the previous search strategies just don't work to find the items you are looking for. The Library of Congress holds many primary resources outside the Digital Collections. An advanced search using the Google Search Engine will allow you to easily search the entire Library of Congress.

  1. Open the Google search engine at www.google.com.
  2. Type in "school house" in the search box and press return.
  3. Click on the Settings icon in the upper right corner of the page. Click on Advanced Search in the menu.
  4. In the drop-down menu, find the option to Search within site or domain and type "loc.gov." Your search term should be in the top box.
  5. Click the Advanced Search button.

Activity 3

  1. Click on Lesson 4, Activity 3 – Searching for Primary Sources. Save this file to your computer.
  2. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
  3. Submit your completed Lesson 4, Activity 3 – Searching for Primary Sources to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

*Go to Lesson 5.
If you need help with this activity, please contact Judy Bee at jbee@illinoisstate.edu

Lesson 5: Using The Teachers Page at the Library of Congress

Using primary sources in a historical context to prompt student inquiry builds critical thinking, analysis skills, and content knowledge in students of all grades. Many states recognize the unique value of primary sources in education and have mandated their use in their education standards.

The Teachers Page is designed with many resources especially for educators to use in their classroom. The Teachers Page provides a tool to search classroom materials by standards to help teachers effectively use primary sources in their teaching. Bookmark this site so that you can come back to it often. The URL for the Teachers Page is https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/.

Take some time to explore this site. It has a wealth of information and resources ranging from detailed explanations about how to install and use web-based applications to engaging learning experiences that integrate primary source materials.

Objectives

  • Access teaching tools and primary sources from https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/.
  • Explore the Primary Source Sets section of the Teachers Page.
  • Identify key considerations for selecting primary sources for instructional use.
  • Search for lessons and activities that meet Common Core standards.

Activity 1

  • Click on the link below to access the Teachers Page at https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/.
  • Click on Classroom Materials.
    Explore at least 3 classroom materials that are of interest to you.

    Activity 2

    1. Click on the Classroom Materials on the Teachers Page at https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/classroom-materials/.
    2. Be sure to look at all the sections: Primary Source Sets, Lesson Plans, Exhibitions and Presentations, Collection Connections, Search Terms, and For Students.
    3. When you have finished, click on Lesson 5, Activity 2 – Primary Source Sets to download the file.
    4. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
    5. Submit your completed Lesson 5, Activity 2 – Primary Source Set to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

    Lesson 6: Primary Sources, Inquiry, and Common Core State Standards

    Now that you know how to access and manage primary source materials, it is time to look at how to integrate them into instruction. Using primary resources engages students in active learning, develops critical thinking skills, and constructs knowledge.

    Objectives

    • Identify the essential parts of a standards-based inquiry lesson plan.
    • Understand the importance of using primary sources in a standards-based inquiry lesson plan.
    • Analyze a primary source using Library of Congress analysis tools.
    • Understand how to create an Album in the TPS Teachers Network.

    Activity 1

    During this activity, you will view lesson plans that integrate primary source materials. As you review one of these lesson plans, check to see that it contains the essential components that the Library of Congress considers to be important for a lesson framework.

    1. Search for a lesson plan that integrates primary source materials at http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/.
    2. Click on Lesson 6, Activity 1 – Reviewing a Lesson Plan to download the file. Save the file to your computer.
    3. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
    4. Submit your completed Lesson 6, Activity 1 – Review a Lesson Plan to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

    Activity 2

    1. Click on the link to view a video about analyzing primary sources.
    2. Next, choose one of the primary sources from Lesson 4, Activity 3 to complete the analysis sheet activity below.
    3. Use the following link https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/getting-started-with-primary-sources/guides/ to access the analysis tools. Click on the Primary Source Analysis Tool link under Analysis Tools for Students. Use the drop-down menu under Select format of your primary source to find the format of your primary source. Click on the small question mark in each square to see hints to guide you in analyzing your primary source.
    4. Click on the email link at the lower right corner of the page and send the completed analysis guide to jbee@illinoisstate.edu

    Activity 3

    1. Click on the link No, Low, and High Access to Technology: Internet, Device, Support at the TPS Teachers Network.
    2. Explore these Albums in the TPS Teachers Network.
    3. When you have finished exploring the Albums, click on Lesson 6, Activity 3 – Explore the TPS Journal, PMI to download the file. Save the file to your computer.
    4. After completing this activity, save the file to your computer.
    5. Submit your completed Lesson 6, Activity 3 – Explore the TPS Journal to jbee@illinoisstate.edu as an attachment.

    Lesson 7: Putting It All Together

    By now you should know how to navigate the Library of Congress website, access primary sources, manage your sources with a resource table, and understand the importance of standards. It's time to put it all together into meaningful, standards-based lesson plans for your students.

    Objectives

    • Develop a lesson plan that integrates primary source materials found at the Library of Congress website.
    • Complete the lesson in the TPS Teachers Network using the Albums feature.
    • Share your lesson plan with your colleagues.

    Activity 1

    The questions below will help guide you through the process of developing a standards-based lesson plan that integrates primary source materials found on the Library of Congress website.

    • Can this lesson be successful without the use of primary resources?
    • What standards does this lesson facilitate?
    • What primary sources will I integrate from the Library of Congress website?
    • Does this lesson engage students in active learning, develop critical thinking skills, and construct knowledge?
    • What do I want my students to know?
    • What is the essential question?
    • How will they demonstrate their understanding of the material?
    • What skills will they need to accomplish the tasks?
    • What activities will be used to guide students to be successful on the assessment?
    • Will you be collaborating with a colleague? What is the role of that colleague?

    If your answer to the first question is yes, STOP and rethink this lesson plan. It is imperative that you generate a lesson plan that integrates primary resources in a meaningful way. If you can take away the primary resources and successfully complete the lesson plan, please rethink the lesson.

    1. After reflecting on these questions and exploring the Library of Congress website, click on Album Instructions to download the file. Save the file to your computer. The Album Instructions will help you to create your Album.
    2. Before you begin your lesson, review the resources for Creating an Album. Click on Getting Started. Use these guidelines to help you develop a standards-based lesson that integrates primary sources in a meaningful way.
    3. After completing your Album, send the link to jbee@illinoisstate.edu for review.

    If you need help with this activity, please contact Judy Bee at jbee@illinoisstate.edu
    *If you don't want your lesson plan to go public, please send us an email stating so.