Primary Sources

Although the sheer amount of information on the Library of Congress website can be overwhelming, there are tools to make it easier for users. Showing students how to access the Primary Source Sets, Online Exhibitions, or America's Story (which has much more kid-friendly text), will offset the vastness of the collection and make it manageable. The Library's staff and affiliate groups within the Teaching with Primary Sources program create lesson plans for teachers at every grade level which provide entry into the collection for those who are new to the website. The Library also offers links to digital content from partner institutions around the world and their staff works constantly to update and improve the site as well as digitizing and adding more content. I'm not sure how I would teach social studies without this site.

This website contains a wealth of knowledge, but even for experienced users can be hard to navigate. Using already curated primary source sets, or links like Chronicling America, are easy for students. I also print out primary sources for students to use. Their "ask a librarian" button is available for teachers and students who are struggling to navigate the site. Additionally, they have regional partners around the country (generally colleges), that will train teachers to use the site and even print resources for schools. There's also an extensive blog and teachers network (TPSNetwork.org) that teachers can join for more support on using the site. Using the primary sources helps me expose my students to multiple historical perspectives. It also promotes Common Core reading skills, and higher level thinking skills as students observe, reflect, and question what they are seeing.

While I love this site and the resources that the website provides, it can be hard to find the information that you are looking for. There is A LOT of information to sift through in order to find what you are looking for. I have used this website multiple times for myself and with my kids. I really like the collections that they highlight and the amount of information that goes with a lot of their primary sources. To use this website effectively you need a lot of time for lesson prep. The kids and I have gotten lost a couple of times in all of the information. While it may take some time to get comfortable with the website, it is a great resource that I will use again and again!