Social Studies Workshop

Explore and Design Workshop

Developing Student Understanding Using Library of Congress Resources

Investigative Question

How can primary sources be used to deepen student understanding?

Understanding Goal

Primary Sources foster student understanding of the curriculum through the processes of explanation, application, interpretation, empathy, perspective, and self-knowledge.

As a result of this workshop,

participants will know

• Primary sources can be used to widen students' understanding.
• Primary sources that are available at the Library of Congress.

participants will be able to

• Navigate the Library of Congress Web site.
• Draw meaning from primary sources.

Performance tasks

• Identify evidence in a primary source to support an opinion.
• Investigate the Library of Congress Web site for useful resources
• Share brainstormed ideas of classroom applications using the model activities

Agenda

Welcome and Introduction Survey

Model Activity Using Primary Sources

• Presidents Activity
• Library of Congress Scavenger Hunts

Selected American Memory Collections related to American History Themes

• Teaching American History
• Revolutionary War
• Reconstruction
• The Depression
• Citizenship
• Civil Rights

Searching for Library of Congress Teaching Treasures Using Primary Source Learning Search Guides

• Library of Congress Search Guide
• American Memory Search Guide
• Prints and Photographs Search Guide
• Map Collections

Saving Library of Congress Resources

• Saving a Permanent URL
• Movie and directions from the Library of Congress on saving a permanent URL

Share Resources with Educators in Northern Virginia

• Participate using My Primary Source Learning Portfolio

Closing and Evaluation

• Evaluation