Distance Learning and Primary Sources

If you’re teaching remotely, the Library of Congress is here for you, with rich primary sources and effective online teacher resources. Here are a few good ways to start teaching with the Library of Congress online.

Analyze a Primary Source Online

Primary source analysis helps students engage with historical artifacts and build critical thinking, and it’s easy to do online, whether you’re teaching live or asynchronously.

• Select a primary source from one of the Library of Congress Primary Source Sets.
• Share the online Primary Source Analysis Tool.
• Guide students with prompts from the pull-down menus as they—or you—fill in the Observe, Reflect, and Question columns.
• Identify questions for further investigation and brainstorm possible approaches for discovering answers.

For more ideas, visit our round-up of tips on using the Primary Source Analysis Tool

Find Ideas in the Library’s Blogs

Explore the Teaching with the Library of Congress blog for brief, easy-to-use learning activities built around Library of Congress primary sources. You can also find great ideas in the Library’s Minerva’s Kaleidoscope blog for kids and families and in the Teacher’s Corner of The Catbird Seat.

Watch an Author Talk from the National Book Festival

Engage with the Library

The Library also offers countless programs and resources for kids, families, and lifelong learners. Visit the Library’s Engage page for the latest.