primary sources Archives - A Lesson Plan for Teachers

How to Grade Primary Source Analysis in the Interactive Classroom

Posted on September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 by Michele Luck

By now, you may feel confident in assigning lessons with a Primary Source Analysis skillset. However, you may feel less certain about the grading process. When you grade Primary Source Analysis activities, you should focus on skills practice, not right...Read More

5 Strategies for Teaching Primary Sources

Posted on November 7, 2018July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

The Library of Congress appropriately categorizes primary sources as the "raw materials of history," emphasizing the importance of analyzing, studying, and understanding these basic building blocks of any historical fact. By connecting students with firsthand facts and experiences, primary sources...Read More

Top 10 Websites for Teaching with Primary Sources in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on September 26, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Whether you are teaching in a Common Core State, trying to address the NCSS C-3 Framework, or simply hoping to teach students the value of history in their lives, using primary sources is the key to helping students experience a...Read More

How-To Teach Primary Sources in the Secondary Classroom

Posted on July 18, 2016July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

When common core standards first came out, many Social Studies teachers went crazy worrying how they would teach primary sources. After all, for those who had taught out of textbooks, the transition could be a scary one. On the other...Read More

Practice Annotation & Primary Source Analysis Using Family Photos

Posted on August 22, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

Students often have a hard time knowing what to "see" in images we use in the classroom to help them investigate various topics in history. While there are many guides to help us ask the right questions, there are few...Read More

Monday Mapping: Test Prep without the Multiple Choice

Posted on April 27, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

When my district first started forcing Test Prep sessions on us for state testing, we had free reign to design those sessions as we pleased. Knowing my students needed the most practice in analyzing primary sources and in evaluating images,...Read More

Quick Thought Thursday: Scavenger Hunt Bonus

Posted on January 15, 2015July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

I have never been one to offer random bonus points to my students. Assignments were always valuable in my eyes, and I did not want to dismiss any lesson for the sake of a boost. However, I recently had a...Read More

Checking All the Boxes

Posted on December 8, 2014July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

As you near the end of the semester, it's time to check off all the boxes on your list of to-dos for each of your classes. If you are a CCSS or standards-based school, that means making sure you have...Read More

Recognizing Holidays in the Upper Grades Classroom

Posted on October 30, 2014July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

As the Holiday Season approaches, and with Veteran's Day on the doorstep, we are often pressured to take time out in our upper grades classrooms to teach to the event. While this works well with some historic events, as we...Read More

United Nations Day: Studying Historic Events with Documents and Images

Posted on October 23, 2014July 25, 2020 by Michele Luck

On October 24th, 1945, the required number of nations ratified the United Nations Charter, including the United States of America, making the UN the international organization for peace. The charter was encouraged by American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as he...Read More