UsingPrimarySources




Introduction to Primary Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_source

Good introduction to primary sources: definition, difference with secondary sources, uses, strengths and weaknesses, and other issues.

http://library.ucsc.edu/ref/howto/primarysecondary.html

How to distinguish primary from secondary sources, from the University of California, Santa Cruz University Library.

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Why Use Primary Sources in Teaching

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/robinson-sources.html

Why study history through primary sources. Compelling reasons on the use of primary sources.

http://memory.loc.gov/learn/educators/handouts/prsrc.pdf

A summary of the main reasons for using primary sources.

http://www.loc.gov/ndlpresent/ceca/primary.html

Another set of reasons for using primary sources.

http://web.archive.org/web/20020602001717/http://www.nara.gov/education/teaching/raw.html

Persuasive reasons for using primary sources in teaching history, from the National Archives and Records Administration of the U.S. government (as preserved in the Internet Archive).

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How to Use Primary Sources in Teaching

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/lessonplans/search.asp?id=138

An online lesson which explores the use of primary sources in teaching.

http://www.youthsource.ab.ca/teacher_resources/ps_overview.html

Comprehensive guide on the use of primary resources from the Alberta Online Encyclopedia. Includes sections on using primary sources in the classroom, types of resources, how to read primary and secondary sources, and links to websites on Canadian history primary sources.

http://chnm.gmu.edu/worldhistorysources/index.html

Using primary sources in teaching world history, from the Center for History and New Media of George Mason University. Includes section on finding primary sources, unpacking evidence, analyzing documents, and 16 case studies in teaching world history using primary sources.

http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1999/7/99.07.01.x.html

An article on how to use primary sources in the classroom, including sections for skills to be learned by students: identifying, accessing, and analyzing primary sources.

http://tinyurl.com/2kldol

Tips on using primary sources in primary grades.

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/97/firsthand/main.html

History Firsthand: Primary Source Research in Elementary School

http://www.oah.org/pubs/magazine/greatdepression/musbach.html

Five simple rules on using primary sources in the secondary classroom.

http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/turningpoints/lessonplans/search.asp?id=138
Fourteen ideas on using primary sources in the classroom.

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Worksheets and DBQs

http://www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listdocumentpa.html

Links to websites on document-based questions (DBQs). Includes sections on primary source websites, DBQs, assessments, and constructed response questions.

http://go.hrw.com/resources/go_ss/teacher99/toolkit/TOOLKT01.pdf

Printable worksheet in PDF to aid students in understanding a resource.

http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/worksheets/

Document-analysis worksheets from the National Archives and Records Administration: for written documents, photos, cartoons, posters, maps, artifacts, films, and sound recordings.

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Activities and Resources Specifically for Students

http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/ndlpedu/lessons/psources/pshome.html

A lesson which introduces students to primary sources.

http://www.jerseyhistory.org/howtofind.html

Features four interactive activities to guide students in using primary sources.

http://www.kennesaw.edu/library/resources/LibraryResearchUsingPrimarySources.pdf

Guide to library research using primary sources. Has a howto guide.

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Teaching Using Primary Sources on the Internet

http://www.ericdigests.org/2001-1/history.html

An article on using primary sources found on the Internet to teach and learn history. From ERIC Digest. Includes tips on how to avoid sites unsuitable for children, and a list of exemplary web sites with primary sources.

http://www.lib.washington.edu/subject/History/RUSA/

Using primary sources on the web, written by the Instruction & Research Services Committee of the Reference and User Service Association History Section in the American Library Association. Includes sections on how to find primary sources on the web, how to evaluate primary source web sites, and and how to cite web sites.

http://kathyschrock.net/navigating/index.htm

A three-hour tour on navigating primary sources materials on the Internet. With sections on the use of primary and secondary sources in the classroom, a listing of subject-specific sites, and a listing of primary source "super sites".

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Primary Source Repositories

http://historicaltextarchive.com/

High quality articles, books, essays, documents, historical photos, and links, screened for content, for a broad range of historical subjects. One of the oldest history sites on the Internet.