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…

Urges using resources from professional publications, scholastic journalism periodicals, and exchange publications from peer groups as primary teaching tools in the journalism classroom. (AEA)

Presents a secondary lesson for high school students based on a controversial 1892 proposal in Congress to reduce the size of Yosemite National Park. Includes a map and petition signed by John Muir, the first president of the Sierra Club, which was formed to oppose the proposal. The lesson includes class discussion and activity suggestions. (CFR)

This paper is designed to help teachers use historical documents for teaching by employing the strategy developed by Hilda Taba. Evidence that can be used in history instruction includes both records and remains. Records are those items that were produced to insure that information could be preserved, such as hieroglyphics, manuscripts, and oral…

The authors have been working with teachers who are drawing upon various online resources to construct digital documentaries that explore some facet of history, such as Japanese American internment or the liberation of Western Europe during World War II. These activities build on students' interest in digital media, recognizing a fundamental shift…

Presents a copy of a ship's manifest from 1847 and describes five learning activities to help students identify and organize information found in the document. Students answer questions about the ship's passengers based on information given in the manifest, draw conclusions about immigration in mid-nineteenth century, and write a family history…

Advocates the use of primary source materials in the classroom. Describes a lesson based on Thomas Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia" in which students consider Jefferson's ideas on science and technology in the United States and Europe. Explores the links among science, technology, politics and social issues. (RW)

Arguing that students must understand historical methodology in order to fully comprehend and appreciate history, Woodman presents an exercise that provides for a concrete, hands-on writing and evaluation of an historical essay by students. Describes the project in which students use primary sources to write about the Freedmen's Bureau and…

Presents results of a study in which a "Great Issues" format was utilized in a U.S. history survey course. Describes the teaching methods and instructional resources used in the pilot study. Finds that both students and instructors enjoyed the experience, and student discussion and analytical skills improved. (CFR)

Advocates conducting oral history projects as part of elementary school social studies programs. Outlines key steps for incorporating oral history projects including determine a focus; identify local residents to interview; practice interviewing techniques; exchange information; and create booklets. Lists research resources. Stresses the…

A common problem in teaching undergraduate courses in the experimental analysis of behavior (EAB) is that the contemporary research literature is largely not comprehensible to most undergraduates. A suggested solution is the use of research articles from the early days of EAB. These are not only easy to understand but provide additional…

This booklet contains tips to help elementary and secondary teachers teach family history in the classroom. It is suggested that teachers might begin by providing their students with a checklist identifying the kinds of evidence usually available in a home, such as photographs, certificates, yearbooks, diplomas, membership cards, newspaper…

This handbook of historical sources for use in the school includes suggestions, leads, and examples, which serve as springboards to other sources, encouraging the teacher to consider various ways in which original source materials might be used in an instructional setting. The following categories are used as one way of looking at primary sources:…

Provides biographical sketches of two Revolutionary War soldiers from New England, Joseph Plumb Martin and Seth Bullard. Emphasizes methods that explain how the war was fought and make the struggles real rather than mythical. Recommends using local sources and records and discusses recreated Revolutionary War units. Includes excerpts from Martin's…

Explains the utility of city directories as an education resource and suggests ways teachers may use directories in student research projects. Finds original research stimulates student interest and creativity. Provides outlines for suggested study topics. Appendix includes student activity worksheets. (NL)