This document provides an overview of primary sources and how to use them in teaching. It defines primary sources as original materials created at the time under study that provide first-hand accounts of history. These include written documents like letters and diaries, government documents, printed materials, visual artifacts, physical artifacts, and digital sources from libraries. Using primary sources engages students, develops critical thinking skills, and helps students construct knowledge. Websites from the Library of Congress, National Archives, and other institutions are listed as sources for primary documents.

1. PRIMARY SOURCES
Kathi Hoyt
hoytk@billingsschools.org

2. Why Use Primary Sources
 Common Core
 Engage Students
 Develop Critical Thinking Skills
 Construct Knowledge

4. WRITTEN DOCUMENTS
Letters
Diaries
Manuscripts

5. GOVERNMENT
DOCUMENTS
Census Records
Government Reports
Official Correspondence
Birth Certificates

7. PRINTED DOCUMENTS
Books
Magazine Articles
Newspaper Articles

8. VISUAL ARTIFICATES
Photographs & Film
Illustrations, Cartoons,
Posters
Paintings, Drawings
Maps

9. PHYSICAL ARTIFACTS
Furniture
Tools
Appliances
Toys
Clothing

11. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
 http://www.loc.gov/index.html
 Hint: Icon in the left corner will always take you to the
home page.

12. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 MONTANA HISTORICAL
SOCIETYhttp://mhs.mt.gov/education/educators.asp
 NATIONAL
ARCHIVEShttp://www.archives.gov/index.html
 SMITHSONIAN
http://www.si.edu/
http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/

13. OTHER OPTIONS
 https://www.gilderlehrman.org/
(Under Primary Sources you can search by Era)
 NASA
 Monticello
 Mount Vernon
 Plimoth Plantation
 Colonial Williamsburg

14. TOOLS
 Primary Source Analysis Tool

15. Additional Sources
 Teaching with Primary Sources Wiki
 https://tpsi21.pbworks.com/w/page/45287424/TPSI21
 MSU Denver / TPS
 Symbaloo Webmix – search for:
 Kathi CCPrimary Sources