1. 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

2. What is the Library of Congress?
Nation’s oldest federal cultural institution
Research arm of Congress
Houses millions of maps, photographs, recordings, books, etc.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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:

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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!

10. Q: How do you get the most out of primary sources?

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. From Observation to Wonder
Observation of who, what, when, and where leads to wondering why, how, and if.
I see…
I know…
I wonder…

15. 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.”

16. 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

17. 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

18. Q: Where can you find primary sources?

19. 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.

20. Teaching with Primary Sources Across Tennessee
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.

21. 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

22. Even more ideas!! America’s Story Today in History Themed Resources
Places in the News
Wise Guide

23. 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

24. 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.

25. 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

26. Dr. Stacey Graham, Project Coordinator (615) 494-8783 sgraham@mtsu.edu
Contact information:
Dr. Stacey Graham, Project Coordinator
(615)
Kira Duke, Specialist
(615)
MTSU Box 80
Murfreesboro, TN
(615)
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