Primary Source Strategies
Primary Source Archives
Docsteach:
This archive is beneficial because it categorizes primary source documents into historical events or time periods. It is easy to use and simple to find various documents. Students can also participate in critical thinking activities for documents for various events or historical investigation questions. They can also be organized by a specific historical thinking skill, like chronological thinking and analysis and interpretation.
This archive is beneficial because it categorizes primary source documents into historical events or time periods. It is easy to use and simple to find various documents. Students can also participate in critical thinking activities for documents for various events or historical investigation questions. They can also be organized by a specific historical thinking skill, like chronological thinking and analysis and interpretation.
Library of Congress:
This archive allows students to find primary source documents according to historical theme. While some archives are separated into chronological time, the digital collections in this archive are separated by themes, like: African American History, Presidents, or even Literature. Students can browse for documents or search easily. The American memory portion of this archive is easy for students to browse or they can go back to the main collections page to search for documents.
This archive allows students to find primary source documents according to historical theme. While some archives are separated into chronological time, the digital collections in this archive are separated by themes, like: African American History, Presidents, or even Literature. Students can browse for documents or search easily. The American memory portion of this archive is easy for students to browse or they can go back to the main collections page to search for documents.
National Archives - Digital Vaults:
Digital vaults are an interactive way for students to view a variety of primary source documents. Students can search or browse for sources. Once they select a certain document they will be given a map of other related documents, either by time period or theme. Students can view the documents in the map and add them to their collection if they want to save them for later reference. If they find another document that is relevant to their search, selecting it will place it in the middle of the map and change the sources in the map to those that relate to the new center source. This helps students visualize how sources interact with one another and allows them to find sources they might not otherwise find.
Digital vaults are an interactive way for students to view a variety of primary source documents. Students can search or browse for sources. Once they select a certain document they will be given a map of other related documents, either by time period or theme. Students can view the documents in the map and add them to their collection if they want to save them for later reference. If they find another document that is relevant to their search, selecting it will place it in the middle of the map and change the sources in the map to those that relate to the new center source. This helps students visualize how sources interact with one another and allows them to find sources they might not otherwise find.
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History:
This archive houses a variety of primary source collections. It is focused solely on American history, but contains more than 60,000 primary source documents. Students can search, view featured primary sources, and view reference guides that will aid students in understanding the documents. This archive also has a section that includes new discoveries of primary sources. The overall Lehrman webpage contains historical themes and history that is occurring now that might also help students better understand the primary sources can be found there.
This archive houses a variety of primary source collections. It is focused solely on American history, but contains more than 60,000 primary source documents. Students can search, view featured primary sources, and view reference guides that will aid students in understanding the documents. This archive also has a section that includes new discoveries of primary sources. The overall Lehrman webpage contains historical themes and history that is occurring now that might also help students better understand the primary sources can be found there.
The University of California Calisphere:
Calisphere is an archive collection that includes archives and digital collections from all of California's premier libraries, universities and museums. The collection allows you to search for primary sources or digital collections, but you may also explore by institution, specifically the various University of California school and libraries. The collections include texts, images, recordings and more. This is a useful resource to search for primary sources on multiple platforms comprehensively.
Calisphere is an archive collection that includes archives and digital collections from all of California's premier libraries, universities and museums. The collection allows you to search for primary sources or digital collections, but you may also explore by institution, specifically the various University of California school and libraries. The collections include texts, images, recordings and more. This is a useful resource to search for primary sources on multiple platforms comprehensively.
Primary Source Analysis Tools
Docsteach - Sequencing Activity
Docsteach - Scale Activity
Primary Source Lessons
Lesson Example: Salem Witch Trials
This lesson asks students to answer the historical question: What caused the Salem Witch Crisis of 1692? They will be given historical background and context and will be provided with 4 historical documents that will help them answer the question. Students are also provided with a graphic organizer and guided questions to help them comprehend the documents.
Lesson Example: Structured Academic Controversy - Abraham Lincoln
In this lesson students are asked to read four documents that will help them answer the question: Was Lincoln a racist? They will be provided with a graphic organizer that asks them to find evidence from each document to support or oppose the claim that Lincoln was racist. After completing the graphic organizer, students will split into teams and participate in a debate supporting or opposing the question. Students will then be asked to come to a consensus about the question.