CommonLit
Common Lit: "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson
A learning module that begins with "The Declaration of Independence" by Thomas Jefferson, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Les. 8: Using Rock as Primary Source Material
I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die-Rag' by Country Joe McDonald has been played with great success in classrooms for over twenty years. While it conveys literary elements such as theme, point of view, and irony, it also functions as an...
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Common Pitfalls of Primary Research
Learn about the common mistakes made when reporting primary research findings.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Ethical Considerations in Primary Research
Learn about the ethical considerations necessary when reporting primary research findings.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Interviewing
Learn about different types of interviews, how to set up an interview, and important tips to remember during an interview.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Surveying
Learn about important things to remember when conducting a survey.
CommonLit
Common Lit: Reports From the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906
A learning module that begins with "Reports from the Ruins of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906," accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned...
CommonLit
Common Lit: A Participant's First Hand Account of the Boston Tea Party
A learning module that begins with "A Participant's First-hand Account of the Boston Tea Party" by George Hewes, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Petition From the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery
A learning module that begins with "Petition from the Pennsylvania Society for the Abolition of Slavery" by Benjamin Franklin, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Henry Adams' Testimony Before Congress
A learning module that begins with "Henry Adams' Testimony Before Congress" by Henry Adams accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online...
CommonLit
Common Lit: General Eisenhower's Order of the Day
A learning module that begins with "General Eisenhower's Order of the Day" by General Dwight D. Eisenhower accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or...
Harp Week
Education at Harp Week: The Civil War Illustrations Activity
A set of three activities where students explore and analyze illustrations and cartoons from Harper's Weekly magazine that showed what life was like in the United States during the Civil War. The first activity looks at why the North won...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Letter From Mary Mallon: On Being "Typhoid Mary"
A learning module that begins with "Letter From Mary Mallon: On Being 'Typhoid Mary'" by Mary Mallon, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: What Should a House Do
Site provides an extensive lesson plan that challenges students to compare early American houses to present day houses. Very comprehensive site with several activities that will assist students in understanding common features of houses....
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...
Other
General George Washington in Massachusetts, 1775 76 [Pdf]
A thematic unit using primary sources to tell the life and military career of George Washington.
Cyberbee
History Investigation: Old Hand Written Letter
Examine this old hand-written letter to discover information about the author, his plans, and the time he lived in. A transcript of the letter is provided, as well as bonus activities and links to sources to complete the activities.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Old Mormon Fort: Birthplace of Las Vegas, Nevada
Basic information about the Old Mormon Fort and an accompanying lesson plan for grades 5-12.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: Primary Research
Learn the difference between primary and secondary research as well as some different types of primary sources that can be used when gathering research.
Online Writing Lab at Purdue University
Purdue University Owl: What Is Primary Research and How Do I Get Started?
Learn the difference types of primary sources and how to use them as a part of your research.
Thinkport Education
Thinkport: Protecting the Rights of the People
Find relationships among primary and secondary sources that identify where information from different sources converges and where it differs.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Wright Stuff
Companion website to the PBS documentary on the Wright Brothers and their contributions to aviation.
University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts: King Phillip's War
This site contains a very brief description of King Phillip's War; however; it also provides some background on Metacom as well as several pictures and drawings related to the War.
EL Education
El Education: Refugee Profiles
Students learn more about African history and culture through research, interviews, movies, books, and work with historians, college professors, and religious leaders. Then student write biographical stories of local refugees in first...