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National American Indian Heritage Month - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): native americans (128)
In the Classroom
Using links in the Library of Congress guide or other primary sources from LOC.gov, assign students to locate and summarize one presidential proclamation or congressional resolution related to Native American Heritage Month. Students create a digital poster using DesignCap Poster Creator, reviewed here or a paper poster that honors Native American Heritage Month, incorporating quotes from proclamations, historical facts from the site, and symbolic imagery. These can be displayed around the school or shared in a class gallery walk. Have students create a timeline using Canva's Timeline Infographic Templates, reviewed here or MyLens, reviewed here showing key milestones from the website, such as legislative acts, presidential proclamations, and name changes (e.g., from "American Indian Week" to "Native American Heritage Month").You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): 1920s (25), 20th century (168), constitution (100), noregistration (81), primary sources (120), womens suffrage (64)
In the Classroom
Engage students with primary documents by creating a HyperDoc or a Choice Board to explore. Within the external links embedded in this site is a framework from the National Archives called DocsTeach and many more links that can be converted into lesson plans. Teachers can also pair this site with the National Historic Site of Women's Rights. Using Storymap JS, reviewed here ask students to create a timeline of Women's Suffrage, to analyze photographs or summarize a subtopic of the 19th Amendment.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): 20th century (168), bill of rights (36), constitution (100), history day (38)
In the Classroom
Engage students with primary documents by examining the 18th Amendment, as well as the links provided for the Volstead Act and the 21st Amendment. Use these resources to teach key content vocabulary words such as ratification, prohibition, amendment, and statute. Use Connections reviewed here to hook students on word games while fostering language skills and background knowledge for American law and government. Students can deepen their knowledge of these topics by creating a picture or photo timeline using ReadWriteThink reviewed here, or MyLens reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Race Relations in the 1930s and 1940s - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (117), black history (126), civil rights (217), segregation (20)
In the Classroom
Have students select a photograph or document from the collection and complete a primary source analysis worksheet, focusing on context, audience, message, and historical significance. Using the primary sources, have students design a 1930s or 1940s-style newspaper front page reporting using templates on Canva Edu, reviewed here on an event or issue related to race relations, incorporating headlines, images, and articles. Ask students to write a fictional first-person account (as a soldier, worker, or community member) based on evidence from the sources, giving voice to underrepresented perspectives of the time.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Walt Whitman: A Resource Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): poetry (192)
In the Classroom
Have students explore the primary sources on the site, such as Whitman's manuscripts and photographs. Assign small groups to analyze one artifact and answer guiding questions: What does this tell us about Whitman's life or themes? Groups can present their findings to the class. Students can get creative and make a podcast using Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here or Buzzsprout, reviewed here to share their information. Introduce Whitman's free verse style using excerpts from Leaves of Grass. Challenge students to write a poem in Whitman's style, focusing on themes like nature, individuality, or democracy. Have students explore the primary sources on the site, such as Whitman's manuscripts and photographs. Assign small groups to analyze one artifact and answer guiding questions: What does this tell us about Whitman's life or themes?Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Felix Mendelssohn - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): art history (102), composers (21), music theory (47)
In the Classroom
Select one of Mendelssohn's compositions, such as The Hebrides Overture or A Midsummer Night's Dream. Play the piece in class and guide students in analyzing its mood, structure, and Romantic-era elements. Use resources from the guide to provide historical and cultural context. Mendelssohn played a significant role in reviving the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Assign students to compare and contrast a piece by Mendelssohn with one by Bach, exploring themes, style, and instrumentation. Encourage students to use the guide's materials to research Mendelssohn's admiration for Bach. Using the letters and manuscripts linked in the guide as inspiration, have students write a fictional letter to or from Mendelssohn. Encourage students to compose a short piece of music inspired by Mendelssohn's Romantic style. They can write lyrics, create a melody, or use digital tools like Audacity, reviewed here. Students can then share their compositions and explain how Mendelssohn influenced their work.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Activists of the 20th Century - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 20th century (168), african american (117), black history (126), civil rights (217), martin luther king (42)
In the Classroom
Have students select an activist from the website, research their life and achievements, and create an interactive digital timeline using tools like Canva, reviewed here or Class Tools, reviewed here. Have students choose an activist and prepare a short presentation or monologue in character, sharing their achievements and struggles. Turn the classroom into a "living museum," with students acting as historical figures. Using the website images as inspiration, students can create hand-drawn or collaged posters highlighting an activist's achievements, including key facts, quotes, and visuals. Ask students to select an activist, research their contributions, and create a short podcast episode using Acast, reviewed here or Podbean, reviewed here explaining their importance.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jewish American Heritage Month - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Students can explore primary sources from the Library of Congress or the National Archives on Jewish American contributions. In pairs, they can analyze an artifact (ex., a historical photo, letter, or newspaper article) and present their findings. Assign students a prominent Jewish American figure (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Albert Einstein, Emma Lazarus). They can research their impact using resources from the site and create a short podcast using Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here or video using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here. Students can also interview other students, as if they were that historical figure. Students can explore Jewish contributions to literature, science, politics, and civil rights and create digital slides with Visme, reviewed here or Genially, reviewed here highlighting key figures, inventions, or cultural traditions.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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14th Amenendment to the US Constitution - Library of Congress
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): civil rights (217), constitution (100), states (127)
In the Classroom
Print out copies of historical documents from the Library of Congress (ex., drafts of the amendment, letters, or court decisions). Divide students into groups and have them analyze the documents, answering guided questions about their significance, language, and historical context. Students can script and record a short podcast episode using tools like Adobe Podcast, reviewed here or Acast, reviewed here, discussing how the 14th Amendment relates to a specific historical or modern civil rights issue. Assign students landmark Supreme Court cases involving the 14th Amendment, such as Brown v. Board of Education or Roe v. Wade. Using tools like Padlet, reviewed here or Google Slides, reviewed here, students can collaboratively research and present the facts, rulings, and their implications for civil rights today.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Alaska Purchase Treaty: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): alaska (21), gold rush (18), noregistration (81), primary sources (120)
In the Classroom
You can use this resource to teach and engage students about American History and the acquisition of Alaska through primary documents. This resource includes historical documents, newspaper articles, photographs, congressional publications, books, manuscripts, and more. Enhance critical thinking and reading skills by embedding this resource into visual literacy lessons and extending learning by analyzing primary documents and historical evidence. Utilize think-alouds, photo, and image analysis questions, or word clouds such as AhaSlides, reviewed here or Mentimeter, reviewed here to have students create their own images based on their understanding of the document.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Solar Eclipses: A Reference Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
1 to 12tag(s): space (234)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the links on the Library of Congress's website. Students can compare and contrast the various solar eclipses that have happened around the world. Compare using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram. Students can also create a 3D version of what will happen during a solar eclipse.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Snowflakes - Library of Congress
Grades
K to 12tag(s): snow (22)
In the Classroom
Students can create a 3D snowflake. Students can track snow throughout the United States for a certain period and use Google Drawings, reviewed here to create a graph of the amount of snow per region. Finally, students can make their snow and create a step-by-step how-to book in Book Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Bill of Rights: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): bill of rights (36), constitution (100), primary sources (120), Research (79)
In the Classroom
Share this link with your students when studying the Bill of Rights. During Constitution Day activities, have pairs of students create captions that could be used with the documents using a tool such as Boxie reviewed here. Another option for younger students would be to use Padlet reviewed here to share reactions to some of the images at the site. With Padlet, students can reply using audio or video, so even the youngest students can participate. Students could use this to research how the Bill of Rights was developed and which individual rights were hot topics in 1891.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Dwight D. Eisenhower: A Resource Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): 20th century (168), cold war (38), presidents (150), world war 1 (84)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the links on the Library of Congress's website. Students can create a timeline using Timeline Infographic Templates reviewed here of important milestones of President Eisenhower. Students can create a living museum in which they research and then reenact a part of Eisenhower's life. Dive deeper into primary source analysis by having students read excerpts from Eisenhower's speeches or presidential papers. Students can compare his farewell address (especially the "military-industrial complex" warning) with modern political concerns, promoting critical thinking and historical connections.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Emancipation Proclamation: Primary Documents in American History - Library of Congress
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): emancipation proclamation (14), lincoln (66)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the links on the Library of Congress's website. Students can create a timeline using Timeline Infographic Templates reviewed here from the start to the finish of the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. Students can compare and contrast three pivotal documents to understand the progression of emancipation in the United States. Compare using a tool such as ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. You can click on the right side to choose between a two or three-circle Venn diagram. Students can creatively express their understanding of the Emancipation Proclamation through art. After studying the Emancipation Proclamation, students can create a visual representation (ex., a poster, comic strip, or illustration) that captures the essence and impact of the document. These items may be completed online using resources such as Canva Edu reviewed here or Free Comic Strip Maker reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Library of Congress's 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Primary Documents in American - Library of Congress's 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): constitution (100), primary sources (120), senate (12)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the links that are on the Library of Congress's website. Students can create a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here from start to finish of the passage of the 15th Amendment. Students can also examine artistic representations related to the 15th Amendment, such as political cartoons or commemorative posters. They can discuss the messages conveyed through these artworks and their historical context.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Innovation, Invention, and Entrepreneurship in the Manuscript Division - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (117), agriculture (47), photography (124), STEM (330), transportation (31)
In the Classroom
Students can explore the website to identify an African American inventor and their creation. They can create a mini-poster or trading card featuring the inventor, their invention, and its impact on society. Students can also research African American inventors and their challenges, including a lack of patents, racial discrimination, and funding barriers. They can write a persuasive speech or essay arguing the importance of diverse representation in STEM. Students can create a physical or digital timeline using Sutori, reviewed here or Turbo Timeline Generator, reviewed here of African American innovations, organizing inventions chronologically and highlighting technological advancements.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American History Online: A Resource Guide - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (117), civil rights (217), maps (214), multimedia (57), photography (124)
In the Classroom
Have students select a historical letter or document and write a response as if they were living in that time, incorporating historical context and personal reflection. Students can listen to oral history recordings from the collection and take notes on key themes, emotions, and historical details. Then, they can summarize or create a first-person monologue based on what they learned. Students can choose a historical primary source (ex., a protest sign, newspaper article, or speech) and compare it to a modern event or movement with a similar theme, such as voting rights, racial justice, or activism. Have students curate a virtual museum exhibit using primary sources from the collection. They can organize sources around themes like civil rights, African American inventors, or cultural contributions and write exhibit captions. Categorize the sources in Google Slides, reviewed here or Sway, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Communities in America's Cities: Photographs by Camilo J. Vergara - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): african american (117), communities (36), photography (124)
In the Classroom
Have students select a set of Vergara's time-lapse photographs of a specific location and analyze the changes over time. They can discuss possible reasons for these transformations (ex., economic shifts, policy changes, gentrification). Students can research factors contributing to urban decay and revitalization, using Vergara's photos as a case study. They can create a cause-and-effect diagram using MindMup, reviewed here showing how policies, economics, and social movements shape communities. Students can take photos of a specific location in their neighborhood over time (or find historical photos to compare to modern ones). They can create collages using PhotoCollage, reviewed here or Photo Joiner, reviewed here to analyze how and why changes have occurred.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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African American Civil Rights Events of the 20th Century: Selected Pictures - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): 1920s (25), 1930s (40), 1940s (68), 1950s (32), 1960s (54), 20th century (168), african american (117), civil rights (217), photography (124)
In the Classroom
Print or digitally display a selection of images around the room. Students can walk around, write observations on sticky notes, and discuss the significance of each image in small groups. Students can choose a photograph and write a found poem, free verse, or persona poem (from the perspective of someone in the image). Encourage the use of simile, metaphor, and personification when writing. Have students select a historical image and compare it to a modern photo of a similar issue (ex., protests, voting rights, racial justice). They can create a mini research project connecting past and present using a template in Canva Edu, reviewed here or Visme, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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