PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Exploration of the Americas
This collection uses primary sources to explain the early exploration of the Americas.
Lumen Learning
Lumen: Finding and Evaluating Research Sources
This lesson focuses on how to find, evaluate, and use primary and secondary sources using printed and online sources. It provides practice writing activities such as examining the same topic through primary and secondary sources and...
Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada: Community Stories: Lest We Forget
This Lest We Forget site is the result of a project conducted by students of Smiths Falls, Ontario. The project had students research fallen soldiers from Smiths Falls using primary sources in hopes to tell the story of each Canadian...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Jamestown Changes
This cross-curricular lesson plan guides students to compare primary documents from Jamestown, Virginia to find the changes in life during the first few years of the settlement. This is an excellent plan that provides a link to an...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Using Historic Digital Newspapers for National History Day
In this lesson plan, students 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.
Other
Sadlier School: Comparing and Contrasting Firsthand & Secondhand Texts
This unit uses first- and second-hand accounts to explore the life of Ruby Bridges and revolves around the book "Through My Eyes" by Ruby Bridges. This detailed lesson includes a full literacy unit, tips for small group and independent...
Library of Congress
Loc: American Treasures: Benjamin Franklin: In His Own Words
Learn about the life and contributions of Benjamin Franklin by examining his letters, books, cartoons, speeches, and manuscripts. An excellent resource for teaching and learning about the history of the United States using primary source...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Carl Sandburg's "Chicago": Bringing a Great City Alive
In this lesson students examine primary source documents including photographs, film, maps, and essays to learn about Chicago at the turn of the 20th century and Carl Sandburg's famous poem. After examining the poem's use of...
Library of Congress
Loc: u.s. Participation in the Great War (World War One)
A comprehensive overview of the Progressive Era to New Era (1900-1929) through the use of primary sources provided by the Library of Congress, with concentration on World War One. Through these documents, the effects of the war on...
Stanford University
Stanford History Education Group: Roman Empire and Christianity
[Free Registration/Login Required] Lesson in which students investigate several sources to determine why the Roman Empire persecuted Christians. Inlcudes downloadable lesson plan, PowerPoint, original documents, teacher and student...
US National Archives
National Archives: Congress's First Declaration of War Under the Constitution
The War of 1812 was the first war in which Congress used its power of declaring war. Using primary sources such as the Constitution and the War Manifesto of June 3, 1812, students will understand why and how Congress decided to declare...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: The Great Debate: Internationalists vs. Isolationists
This great lesson plan from EDSITEment uses primary sources, an interactive timeline, and guiding questions to examine the debate in the United States over the merits of isolationism vs. internationalism after the passage of the...
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Chinese Experience in 19th Century: Exclusion: Chinese Perspectives
This lesson uses primary sources to take a look at the Chinese perspective on the issue of the Exclusion Act and the effects of prejudice and discrimination on the Chinese population in the United States in the late 19th century.
Other
Historical Thinking Matters: Rosa Parks: Intro
Extensive teaching aid to help students understand the Montgomery Bus Boycott using primary sources such as letters, police reports, leaflets, and speeches. Includes many student activities and resources.
Stanford University
Stanford History Education Group: India Partition
[Free Registration/Login Required] Lesson in which young scholars use primary sources to evaluate the plan to partition India in 1947. Lesson plan, PowerPoint and original documents are included.
The Newberry Library
Newberry: Commodities and the Transformation of the American Landscape
Learning resource uses primary source material to explore the ways in which commodities are extracted, produced, and exchanged and how those processes have shaped the physical and cultural landscape of North America.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: Living in British Colonial India, 1750 to 1850
Learning module from Newberry Library uses primary resources to explore British colonialism in India, examining why individual Britons went to India, what they expected to find there, and what experiences did they share.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: The Struggle for Civil Rights in the Urban North
Learning resource using primary sources in which students study de facto segregation in the North following the Civil War and examine how African-Americans responded to segregation and racism compared to the South.
The Newberry Library
Newberry Library: The World of Don Quixote
Learning module using primary resources in which students explore how Cervantes' Don Quixote respond to the social conditions and literary traditions of early modern Spain.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: There Is No Cure for Polio
This collection uses primary sources to explore polio. Set includes an overview, primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Battle of Gettysburg
This collection uses primary sources to explore the Battle of Gettysburg. Set includes an overview, primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Feeding the Hungry With Food Stamp Programs
This collection uses primary sources to explore the Food Stamp Program started in 1939 to assist those living below poverty levels. Set includes an overview, primary sources, links to related resources, and a teaching guide.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: The Panic of 1837
This set uses primary sources to explore the financial practices that contributed to the Panic of 1837 and the impact of the crisis on America's politics, economy, and people.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
This collection uses primary sources to document John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry and the broad range of responses it provoked across the country. Includes a teaching guide.