Examining the Evidence ─ Seven Strategies for Teaching With Primary Sources

Austin, who works in visual history and educational development and is a photo researcher, writer, and editor, and Thompson, a writer, playwright, and children's book author, demonstrate seven strategies for teaching with primary sources in K-8 classrooms. The strategies teach students how to decide what is being examined and whether it is a primary source; determine the purpose and audience; look for bias; examine the source closely; find more information; consider one's role in the interaction and the impact of experience, cultural conditioning, opinions, and biases; and compare a variety of sources. The authors suggest related questions to consider and activities for each strategy, offer examples of sources, and address Common Core State Standards met by them. They include more intense activities to use with students and advice and links to websites for finding primary sources. They also discuss types of primary and secondary sources and primary sources in specific subject areas. Annotation c2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)