Engaging students with primary sources fosters inquiry, critical thinking, and deductive reasoning skills, all of which are vitally important to success in school and beyond. Simply inserting primary sources into the classroom is not enough. This resource uses the best of emerging Internet applications (Web 2.0) to capture the interest of today's…

To learn about the history of psychology, college students presented past research papers in psychology as if they were the original author, and the audience was confined, in raising questions, to their understanding of the prevailing state of knowledge and social outlook at the time of the paper's original publication. (RM)

This activities booklet focuses on the story of Alaska's state flag. The booklet is for use in teaching middle school students. Each activity contains: background information, a summary and time estimate, Alaska state standards, a step-by-step technique for classroom implementation of the activity, assessment tips, materials and resources needed,…

Maintains that the definitions of what constitute primary and secondary sources in historical studies are arbitrary and oversimplified. Proposes three major categories and provides examples of each. Stresses the importance of these classifications in teaching students to be discriminating in their search for historical truths. (RW)

Relates the positive effects of using an historical document as a stimulus for class projects in the English classroom. (RL)

Traces the history of the Plessy v. Ferguson case. Includes copies of the U.S. Supreme Court mandate to the Louisiana Supreme Court denying Plessy's request to overturn the Jim Crow law and ordering him to bear the court costs. Provides teaching suggestions for interpreting the document and highlights related topics and questions for research and…

This activities booklet focuses on the story of Alaska's flag. The booklet is intended for teachers to use with primary-grade children. Each activity in the booklet contains background information, a summary and time estimate, Alaska state standards, a step-by-step technique for implementing the activity, assessment tips, materials and resource…

This activities booklet focuses on the story of Alaska's flag. The booklet is intended for teachers to use with students in the intermediate grades. Each activity in the booklet contains: background information, a summary and time estimate, state standards, a step-by-step technique for implementation of the activity, assessment tips, materials and…

Presents a framework developed for the Library of Congress staff of the Social Science Education Consortium for using primary sources with students. Offers a brief rationale for using primary sources in the classroom, gives suggestions for using such sources in various phases of instruction, and provides a list of Web sites containing primary…

This teaching unit, one of a series of eight, provides a view of the impact of war on everyday life and commerce during the Civil War. The unit will supplement teaching the Civil War in U.S. history, economics, or business classes. The unit includes an overview, objectives, class activities, vocabulary, student handouts, and ways to use economic…

This booklet describes the theme for National History Day 1997-1998, "Migration in History." The supplement provides teachers with classroom materials to help students begin thinking about the theme, analyze and think critically about the topic's significance in history in relation to the theme, and to help students conduct research on…

This document presents part 4 of a five part project in which students of the Tasmanian region of Australia are invited to explore the history of Port Arthur, a 19th century penal colony located in Tasmania. The project is based on three ideas: (1) studying history can be educational and enjoyable; (2) imagination is an essential part of studying…

Maintains that most history students realize that primary sources are the cornerstone of written history. Contends that, when students understand that written history reflects the historian's personal insights, biases, and limitations, they discover both the pleasure and peril of studying history. (CFR)

One of the key episodes in the history of the region of Australia called Tasmania is an incident known as the Risdon Massacre. In 1804 near the Risdon Settlement, a large number of aborigines were killed by settlement officials. This document invites students to investigate what really happened on the day of the Risdon massacre and in so doing,…

Asserts that every report on the status of history/social studies instruction mentions how teachers rely too much on the basal textbook. Maintains that quotations can be used to provide a human dimension to history and social studies teaching. Includes suggestions and illustrations for integrating quotations in history instruction. (CFR)