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
Let students explore the best of the Library of Congress National Book Festival by watching author talks from past festivals. You might ask students to find a topic in the talk that they can invite later using the Library’s collections, or invite students to join together and exchange ideas during a chat-based watch party.
Visit Online Office Hours
Learn more about powerful historical moments and unique collections with these brief talks from Library experts. Recordings from past sessions are available on our Online Office Hours page.
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.