A Presentation of Teaching with Primary Sources Across Tennessee ENGAGING STUDENTS WITH ONLINE PRIMARY SOURCES FROM THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS A Presentation of Teaching with Primary Sources Across Tennessee
What is the Library of Congress? Nation’s oldest federal cultural institution Research arm of Congress Houses millions of maps, photographs, recordings, books, etc.
What is Teaching with Primary Sources? A program of the Library of Congress A tool for educators that provides materials and strategies to use in the classroom
In Tennessee, this program is TEACHING WITH PRIMARY SOURCES ACROSS TENNESSEE (TPS-TN) and is administered by the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University.
There are currently 21 TPS programs across 9 states There are currently 21 TPS programs across 9 states. Unlike most of them, the Tennessee program seeks to cover an entire state. We do this through networks of teachers and educational professionals, which now include YOU! To learn more about the nation-wide TPS program, go to this link: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/tps/
Q: What can Teaching with Primary Sources offer you? A: For starters, Educational resources Webcasts & Newsletters on particular topics Web site with Primary source sets, Lesson ideas, and Tools for searching and using primary sources
What else? Professional development opportunities Workshops, presentations, & institutes Professional development credits Stipends for high quality lesson plans that use Library of Congress primary sources to promote student inquiry
Q: What are primary sources? A: Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience.
Examples of primary sources Letters Diaries Photographs Newspapers Maps Oral interviews Folk songs Political cartoons Posters Sheet music Buildings Playbills Acts of legislation Telegrams …and more!
Q: How do you get the most out of primary sources?
INQUIRY METHOD Reference their handout to discuss this slide. The Inquiry Model is a process of active learning. It is non-linear and allows you to empower your students to become detectives and active agents in their own learning. The key to successful utilization of this process is to structure the lesson around an essential question that will allow students to focus their study of the sources they are using.
Goal: Inquiry-Driven Learning Ask questions that will prompt students to draw from their own experiences and knowledge, and to explore and think about what is before them.
From Observation to Wonder Observation of who, what, when, and where leads to wondering why, how, and if. I see… I know… I wonder…
CONTEXT Primary sources are often without context. In this case, context comes from research or your own background knowledge. Placing a primary source in its proper context is like filling in the pieces of the puzzle to get the “big picture.”
Title: This woman worker at the Vultee-Nashville is shown making final adjustments in the wheel well of an inner wing before the installation of the landing gear, Nashville, Tenn. This [is] one of the numerous assembly operations in connection with the mass production of Vultee "Vengeance" dive bombers Date: 1943 February
Higher-Order Thinking Skills: Critical Thinking & Analysis Establishing context, point-of-view Detecting bias, stereotypes Uncovering the author’s purpose, the intended audience Comparing and contrasting different sources Examining change versus continuity
Q: Where can you find primary sources?
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS www.loc.gov Tools and materials for educators, researchers, librarians, visitors, and families also available. Over 15 million (and growing!) digitized primary sources available through the Library’s Web site! Highlight Teacher’s Page (classroom materials and using primary sources) & Digital Collections [American Memory (Today in History & Collection overview) and Prints & Photographs] Conduct sample searches. Highlight bibliographic info, permanent url, how to save images, copyright. Sample searches can include Andrew Jackson, women’s suffrage. Ask for their suggestions.
Teaching with Primary Sources Across Tennessee www.mtsu.edu/tps Lesson ideas & units Tools for educators Newsletters Primary source sets Links Things to highlight: lesson plans, newsletters, upcoming workshops. Show the guide for American Memory and Prints and Photographs.
Other great places to search: Children’s Literature Science Reference Center American Folklife Center Geography and Map Reading Room Rare Books and Special Collections Poetry 180
Even more ideas!! America’s Story Today in History Themed Resources Places in the News Wise Guide
More Tools to Help You! available on the TPS-TN Web Site under Tools for Educators How To Guides Graphic Organizers Primary Analysis Sheets Themed Guides for Helpful Links
More Tools to Help You! continued Tips on how to save primary source images How to download and save files How to save the permanent URL These are all found in the TPS-TN tool, “How To” Links for Using the Library of Congress Web Site.
Q: Where can I find lesson plans online? Lesson plan index on Library Teachers Page Lesson Ideas & Units from TPS-TN Web site Monthly Newsletters from TPS-TN Web site
Dr. Stacey Graham, Project Coordinator (615) 494-8783 sgraham@mtsu.edu Contact information: Dr. Stacey Graham, Project Coordinator (615) 494-8783 sgraham@mtsu.edu Kira Duke, Specialist (615) 898-2605 kduke@mtsu.edu MTSU Box 80 Murfreesboro, TN 37132 (615) 898-2947 Teaching with Primary Sources across Tennessee is a partnership program of the Library of Congress and Middle Tennessee State University, and is administered by MTSU’s Center for Historic Preservation. Remember to mention flyers: Stipend/Lesson Plans, Summer Institute