Workshop Two: The Art of Reading Primary Sources

Understanding Goal

How do primary sources challenge and inspire our memory, reason, and imagination?

Knowledge

• Primary sources foster student literacy skills such as the ability to deconstruct different media.
• Analysis tools are used to draw meaning from primary sources.
• American Memory contains multiple collections in a variety of formats that lend themselves to interdisciplinary learning.

Skills

• Interpret primary sources using differentiated analysis tools.
• Recognize differentiated instruction in terms of readiness level and learning profile (interest and learning style).
• Identify literacy strategies to comprehend primary sources in different media.
• Use search strategies to locate items in American Memory and bibliographic records.

Assessment

• Open Lab Checklist
• Complete self-assessment on abilities to choose appropriate Library of Congress search topics and save items.

Investigative Question

How are primary sources both like a puzzle and a puzzle piece?

Click to show or hide an item.

1. Model Activities
   • "When is a Source a Primary Source?"
   • "Primary Source Investigations"

   Performance task: Analyze model activity for:

   • Best Instructional Practices in Workshop Two
   • Learning process using primary sources
   • Knowledge gained about the Library of Congress
   • PrimarySourceLearning.org resources: Browse by Primary Sources used in Lesson Plans from American Memory
2. Search Strategy
   • Use a Researcher's Guide to American Memory
     • Learn more about American Memory
     • A Researcher's Guide to American Memory
     • Synonym List
     • American Memory Search Planner
     • View American Memory Collections by Subject Area
   • Citing Sources

   Performance task:

   • Investigate American Memory and identify useful resources.
3. Patron Actions

   What is your purpose for visiting the Library of Congress today?

   • Visitor - Use the "How Can I Find More" directions from "Primary Source Investigations" to find and save primary sources.
   • Researcher - Search American Memory collection using Subject Links.
   • Docent - Search across a limited selection of collections to find and save primary sources to create a collection for students to examine.  Save results in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel. (locating URLs, inserting URLs, saving images)

   Performance task:

   • Share brainstormed ideas of classroom applications using the model activities
4. Exit Card
   1. What questions do you have about primary sources and/or reading strategies used with primary source analysis?
   2. What is a topic that you would like to research in American Memory: ______________
      List a few possible key words and related synonyms.
   3. What is your Library of Congress research goal for your Lesson Plan? Choose one:
      • locate a unique item,
      • create collection of items on a theme,
      • build collection of collections.

   Download Exit Card PDF File

5. Follow-up Activities
   • Identify skills students need to interpret primary sources and possible classroom applications.
   • Create and implement primary source-based Lesson Plans.

Useful Links

• Media Analysis Tools from History Matters, George Mason University
• Scim- C Strategy by David Hicks, Peter E. Doolittle and E. Thomas Ewing
• National Archives Worksheets
• How to Read a Primary Source, Bowdoin University
• New Workshop 2 Activity