Lesson Plan

Evaluating Historical Sources on Juana Briones

Curated and Reviewed by Lesson Planet

Most have never heard of Juana Briones, the incredible woman who came to own property and divorce her husband in 1850s California. Yet, her relatively unknown life reflects the historical dynamics of the American West, particularly those of Mexican descent. Using primary sources and analytical questions, individuals evaluate how primary sources shed light on forgotten pieces of history. 

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CCSS: Adaptable
Instructional Ideas
  • Create a jigsaw discussion using the images and documents to evaluate the reliability of primary sources
Classroom Considerations
  • Lesson suggests using as a follow up to other sourcing activities in the collection
  • Create a free Stanford History Education Group account to use all activities
Pros
  • Activities explore often-neglected subjects, such as women and Latinx people in American history
  • Lesson includes options for extension 
Cons
  • None