Stanford University
Historical Thinking Chart
Narrow down your questions about author perspective, historical context, and veracity of claims in a document with the help of a historical reading chart. Learners track the basics of the document along with advanced evaluation skills...
Mr. Roughton
The Geste of Robin Hood
This isn't your traditional Robin Hood tale! Explore a Middle English ballad with your young historians, and examine the underlying structure and purpose of historical texts.
Mr. Roughton
The Travels of Marco Polo
Were the stories of Marco Polo's travels and interactions with the Mongols actually true? Using an excerpt from the book The Travels of Marco Polo, your young historians will answer guiding questions to discuss the accuracy and...
Historical Thinking Matters
Rosa Parks: 3 Day Lesson
How can evidence and perspective challenge even the most well-known of stories? Through primary and secondary source analysis, think-alouds, and discussion, young historians evaluate the historical narrative of Rosa Parks across multiple...
Mr. Roughton
Roman Empire
Does the United States parallel the Roman Empire in any way? Young historians work with four documents in order to answer this query as part of a structured DBQ assignment.
Curated OER
Document Analysis Sheet
Sometimes all kids need is a little guided practice and then they can be on their way. They can use an analysis worksheet to help them analyze a primary or secondary source document. They answer several questions describing the type of...
Curated OER
Can History Be Rewritten?
Can history be rewritten? Or, more precisely, is history documented accurately? High school juniors and seniors compare primary source material with secondary sources. For example, they compare President Roosevelt's December 29, 1940...
iCivics
DBQuest: The Nashville Sit-In Movement
What was it like to be a part of the sit-ins during the Civil Rights Movement? Learners consider the question and whether the protests were effective using an online documents-based investigation. The program allows for virtual...
Curated OER
Adapting Documents for the Classroom: Equity and Access
Students examine primary sources to gain historical perspectives. For this historical analysis lesson, students analyze documents that their instructors have adapted to make more user-friendly. Example adapted primary documents are...
Curated OER
The Declaration of Independence: From Rough Draft to Proclamation
Students discover how the Declaration of Independence transformed from a draft to a treasured historical document. In this Declaration of Independence lesson, students discuss the context in which Jefferson wrote the document and analyze...
Curated OER
Signature History
Students review the meaning and application of primary and secondary sources in research. They determine how researchers locate primary source documents before looking at signatures as a validating factor on many primary sources....
Curated OER
Hydraulic Mining
Students explore reasons for supporting and opposing hydraulic mining. It was the most efficient and used mining method until 1884. A simulated court hearing is held where a decision is made whether to allow the continued use of this...
Curated OER
Powerful Signatures
Students experience famous historical documents that were initiated and propelled by signatures such as Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution. They create a school amendment using the information gathered.
Curated OER
Photographs as Documents
Students analyze photographs of Maine's history. They discuss the character of Maine and read a photograph. They analyze photos in pairs and complete an analysis sheet for each one. They evaluate their photos and rank them for qualities...
Curated OER
If a Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...
Students examine the debate between the preservation of and access to historical artifacts. They explore the notion of ownership and commodification of historical artifacts and come up with a plan for compromise.
Curated OER
Constitutional Convention, 1875: Photographs as Historical Documents
Eleventh graders compare and contrast the two photographs.
University of Groningen
American History: Documents: Documents
Browse U.S. historical documents according to historical period or search documents via search engine.W.11-12.9b US Doc Analysis
Library of Congress
Loc: Indian Land Cessions in the United States 1784 1894
This site from the Library of Congress provides links to the original land cession deals between Indians and the Federal Government are provided. Search for documents can be accomplished by searching for Indian tribe, state/territory, or...
Brigham Young University
Euro Docs: Online Sources for European History
Connect to primary source documents (facsimiles. transcriptions, translations) that trace the history of Europe.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Antietam: The Emancipation Proclamation (Full Text)
Read a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Abraham Lincoln in September, 1862, and put into law on January 1, 1863.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Education: Art to Zoo Playing Historical Detective
Students become detectives, reading and analyzing documents and artifacts as clues to the life of a nineteenth century woman, Annie Steel. The students then use various materials to create a series of collages.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964)
Offers a summary of this resolution which supported President Johnson's actions in Vietnam and also provides an easy to read version of the complete text.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Test Ban Treaty (1963)
Contains all the text and images of the original document. Also includes a summary of the history behind the signing of this treaty.
US National Archives
Our Documents: Desegregation of the Armed Forces(1948)
Read a brief overview of the history behind this executive order that integrated the segregated military and then read a copy of the complete original text.