Indiana University
The Center on Congress: An Introduction to Primary Sources
Discover the difference between primary and secondary sources, then take a quiz to test your knowledge.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Using Historic Digital Newspapers for National History Day
In this lesson plan, learners will consider "Using Historic Digital Newspapers for National History Day." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
US National Archives
Nara: History in the Raw
Site offers excellent reasons to approach history by using primary documents -- diaries, letters, drawings, and memoirs. Also gives teachers suggestions on where to find great sources.
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: History Facts and Fictions
There are many versions of historical events, people, and places. This PBL offers an opportunity to students to actively explore a disputed event or urban myth to decide which version they will argue in favor of with supporting evidence.
Cynthia J. O'Hora
Mrs. O's House: Mystery Object Challenge
With a brief story and photo of an image, students will do some digging to figure out how old the object pictured is and the history behind it.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
Depaul University: Center for Urban Education: Map a Story or a History [Pdf]
This graphic organizer provides a story map. Students can use this visual resource to help them record major plot events from a story or from a historical event.
Other
George W. Bush Presidential Library: Teaching Primary and Secondary Sources
This comprehensive lesson plan provides a fact sheet, reusable worksheets, source scenarios, and assessments.
Other
Encyber Pedia
An encyclopedia online. Just look for your topic to find information that you need. Provides information on a wide range of topics.
Other
Secondary Lesson Guide for Writing Journalism
Excellent lesson plan page geared towards teachers and students interested in learning how to write feature stories and also learn basic writing tenets. Very practical site.
Other
Yukon College: Reading & Writing Academic Articles [Pdf]
This detailed guide provides background information about the purpose and structure of journal articles, then walks the reader step-by-step through the reading process. Additional resources are included.
Other
University of Idaho: Information Literacy
This learning module focuses on Information Literacy including internet basics, locating, evaluating, sharing, and documenting information.
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Where to Find Information
This page focuses on where to find information needed for writing papers: the library or the internet. It offers tips for using search engines and key words.
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary Resources
Definitions and examples of primary, secondary, and tertiary resources.
Grammarly
Grammarly Handbook: Good or Bad Resource?
This page focuses on how to evaluate resources; it establishes criteria for determining good and bad resources. Primary resources are always good, but secondary and tertiary ones need to be evaluated more closely.
ReadWriteThink
Read Write Think: Power Notes
A printable note-taking format where students create an outline by assigning powers to the main idea and supporting details. Directions on how to use this type of rubric as well as lists of teaching ideas and related resources are also...
Other
Uni Learning: Strategies for Reading Journal Articles
Clear explanation of how journal articles tend to be structured, as well as tips for extracting information from each part. Includes sample, color-coded exercises.
Library and Archives Canada
Nlc: Defining Primary and Secondary Sources
Libraries and archives hold documents and books that can be used for your research projects. Learn how to divide and identify them into primary and secondary sources in this tutorial.
University of California
Uc Berkeley Library: Finding Historical Primary Sources
Got a research project? Read this site from the UC Berkeley Library. A great guide on finding the best primary sources for your research. Defines both narrow and broad ideas of primary source, links to online archives of primary sources,...
Cornell University
Cornell University: Finding Periodicals and Periodical Articles
This resource offers a good look at periodicals as a source of information, and offers help for finding articles in a variety of situations.
National Archives (UK)
National Archives Learning Curve: How to Read a Document
This site is a lesson on Document Analysis using a letter written by Anthony Eden to PM Chamberlain in late 1937.
US National Archives
Docsteach: Documenting Key Presidential Decisions
In this activity, young scholars will identify and analyze documents related to key presidential decisions. Through close examination of the documents, students will determine which president was involved. Young scholars will then...
TES Global
Tes: The Media: Understanding Key Media Areas
[Free Registration/Login Required] During this unit of study, young scholars will analyze several types of advertisements. Students will analyze how authors pay attention to the language and visuals to appeal to their audiences.
Stanford University
Sheg: Document Based History: Reading Like a Historian: World War I & 1920s
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students use primary source documents to investigate historical events. In this instructional activity students analyze historical evidence as they consider eight document-based questions about the...
Pasadena City College
Pasadena City College: Shatford Library: Finding Articles
A step-by-step tutorial walks you through various ways of locating magazine and other periodical articles.