Teaching with Primary Sources

Teaching with Primary Sources Wikispace Participant survey Overview of project Expectations  Agenda  Norms

How can primary sources motivate and engage learners? In what ways do primary sources support inquiry? To what extent can the Library of Congress support teaching and learning?

Choose 1 or 2 artifacts What do these artifacts tell us about you? In small group create a definition of primary sources.

What’s in Lincoln’s Pockets?

Manuscripts Maps American Memory Veteran’s History Film Historic Papers Sound Recordings Performing Arts Prints and Photographs

San Francisco Film (1906)Film Observe, Reflect, Question

Task: Find something in the library that you could use in your educational setting. What questions would you use as prompts? How could you extend the activity? How might you assess student learning? Use Primary Source Analysis note taking sheet on wiki.

How can analysis activities promote inquiry with your students (wiki discussion area)?

Read “Thinking Like an Historian” by Sam Wineburg What is historical thinking? Why is it important to do? What is one question you would like to ask Dr. Wineburg?

“In history courses I took in school we read about history, talked about history, and wrote about history; we never actually did history. If I had learned basketball in this way, I would have spent years reading interpretations and viewpoints of great players, watching them play games, and analyzing the results of various techniques and strategies.” Levesque, Stephane Thinking Historically: Educating Students for the Twenty- First Century. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.

What is historical thinking? Why is it important to do? What is one question you would like to ask Dr. Wineburg? High school example

Inquiry question(s)  Does the question represent an important issue?  Is it debatable?  Does the question represent a reasonable amount of content?  Will it hold student interest?  Is the question challenging?  What concepts will be emphasized? Backwards design  Identify targets  Plan assessments  Create learning activity

How do we assess understanding? Bubbl.us

Task: Develop a lesson you could use that incorporates the use of primary sources. Use the lesson plan format to guide your work. The form can be found on the wikispace.

12:00 – 12:30 Lunch 12:30 – 1:00Continue working on lesson 1:00 – 1:30 Sharing of lessons in small groups 1:30 – 2:00Lesson Revision and Posting 2:00 – 2:10 Break 2:10 – 2:50Primary Source Sets Activity 2:50 – 3:20Exploring American Treasures 3:20 – 4:00Wrap Up

“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.” LOC Definition

Examine set of materials Individually fill out analysis sheets Name your set of materials – what do they all have in common? Share materials and process with group Discussion: When examining these materials how were you thinking like an historian?

Overview Exploration Task: Using the artifacts from one Gallery answer the questions on the Exhibitions Questions handout (found on the wikispace). Be prepared to share your answers with a partner.

How did these questions help you make personal connections to the past? How did choice engage you as a learner? How did different perspectives and experiences play a role in the activity?

Reflection: What is one goal you have after taking this workshop? (see wiki discussion page) Next Steps: Now what? Post-session survey on wikispace Workshop Evaluation: Posted on wiki