links

=**Check Out These Useful (and Cool!) Links about Teaching with Primary Documents! **= = There are a significant wealth of websites and online resources about this topic, all you really have to do is be able to look for them! If you have a resource you would like me to add to this list, contact me! =

===[|The National Archives' Digital Classroom]: provides information on activities and training for using primary documents in the classroom. Explore some more to find lesson plans corresponding with U.S. history documents, as well as "analysis sheets" for photographs, letters, and other primary documents!===

===[|Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program]: the Library of Congress works with educational institutions from the elementary grades through college, to provide professional development opportunities for educators that help them utilize the wealth of primary documents available through the library. Clicking on the "digital collections" tab on the page will bring you to the LOC's digital collections.===

===[|The Historian's Sources Lesson]: provides materials for a lesson around distinguishing between primary and secondary sources, developed by the Library of Congress. The lesson has been developed for students in grades 8-12 and takes approximately two 45-minute periods to complete.===

===[|Teaching with Primary Sources]: an "eTeach" article presented by Pearson-Prentice Hall that discusses reasons to use primary documents in the classroom, how to pick documents, and how to approach an appropriate document with students. Near the bottom of the page there is a sample lesson plan for comparing and contrasting documents.===

===[|PrimarySourceLearning.org]: Just as the name says, this is an organization of educators trying to build up an online database of digital historical documents. Currently, there is not a lot in the way of documents in their database, but they are actively seeking to change that. It provides some great tips and ideas for teaching with primary documents, though. ===

===[|Smithsonian Source]: provides lesson plans, ideas, and resources for teaching with primary documents. Pre-made graphic organizers, compare/contrast worksheets, and document analysis sheets help to make this resource especially useful, as it can also be a time-saver for the busy educator!===

===[|Google BookSearch]: Google has taken the step to digitize millions upon millions of pages of books! Keep in mind, however, that many of these books are NOT primary sources. You have to be able to differentiate between primary and secondary sources in order for this resource to be helpful. To help you learn about using Google BookSearch here is a [|webquest] I worked on some time ago for this express purpose.===

===[|Maine Memory Network's Digital Classroom]: if you are unfamiliar with what the Maine Memory Network does, please check out this link! The Maine Memory Network and the Maine Community Heritage Project (MCHP) are collaborative efforts between the Maine Historical Society, local historical societies, schools, and libraries, and their purpose is to help create an online presence and database for historical documents about local Maine history. This specific part of the site helps educators get ideas, access to documents, and information regarding professional development opportunities around teaching with primary documents.===

===[|Teaching with Primary Sources from the Center on Congress at Indiana University]: this website, as indicated by its name, focuses primarily on the United States Congress, and the American perception of the government throughout U.S. history. What makes this site so interesting (for students and teachers alike!) is its wealth of information on political cartoons, and their uses as primary source documents. Has some neat interactive online activities, such as a quiz on the differences between primary and secondary source documents.===