Updating search results...

National Archives

The resources in this collection come from the National Archives. The resources focus on helping students utilize primary sources and documents to research and understand history, government, civic literacy and other similar topics.

54 affiliated resources

Search Resources

View
Selected filters:
1860 Slavery Map of the United States
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students will analyze a historical map showing percentages of enslaved people by county following the 1860 Census. Students will form an understanding of the distribution of slavery in the southern United States prior to the Civil War.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Analyzing Jackie Robinson's White House Letter
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

Students analyze a letter written by Jackie Robinson to the White House in 1972. Students are guided to understand that racial equality still had not been achieved during this time. Students analyze tone, audience and context and draw conclusions. Background about Jackie Robinson's role in the Civil Rights movement should be provided to students.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Analyzing a Child Labor Photograph
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

Students analyze a photograph of child laborers and make inferences about the impact of the photograph on the photographer based on the message he was trying to convey. Background information about child workers during the Progressive Era included.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Assimilation and the Native People of Metlakahtla, Alaska
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity, students examine photographs from an Alaskan Native Tribe who converted to the Anglican faith; they look for evidence of cultural assimilation and provide an opinion as to whether or not this type of cultural assimilation is beneficial or harmful to the tribe.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Assimilation of American Indians
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

Prerequisite: Students need to have studied the Dawes Act of 1887 and the breaking up of reservations. In this activity, students analyze primary resources to determine how the federal government tried to assimilate Native Americans. Online activity. Focus: Compare and contrast.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
The Big Ideas of the U.S. Constitution
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity students will identify and define seven key ideas contained in the U.S. Constitution by making matches from the grid. They will then analyze documents that demonstrate each big idea in action.

This activity is designed to prepare students for the Constitution-in-Action Learning Lab at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It is a part of a package of pre-visit activities associated with the lab experience.

Subject:
History
U.S. History
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives and Records Administration
Provider Set:
DocsTeach
Date Added:
05/21/2024
The Bill of Rights
Restricted Use
Copyright Restricted
Rating
0.0 stars

The Constitution might never have been ratified if the framers hadn't promised to add a Bill of Rights. The first ten amendments to the Constitution gave citizens more confidence in the new government and contain many of today's Americans' most valued freedoms.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Celebrating Constitution Day
Restricted Use
Copyright Restricted
Rating
0.0 stars

Particularly applicable when teaching first semester government classes, discuss with students Constitution Day and the importance of recognizing and celebrating it. Students can virtually sign a Constitution and the page also links to various resources, including a playlist of videos on different aspects of the Constitution and Constitution Day. Students and teachers can find a transcript of the Constitution, as well as a great overview of the document through "America's Founding Documents: Constitution." In addition, teachers will find a variety of teaching resources, all of which are free.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Lesson
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Checks and Balances in Action
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

Prerequisite: Students need to know the function of each of the branches of government. In this activity, students examine documents from U.S. history to examples of specific "checks and balances."

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Checks and Balances in Action: Seeing the Big Picture
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity students will analyze documents that span the course of American history to see examples of "checks and balances" between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches in action. Students will then match the documents they have examined with an appropriate description of the branches of government involved in the action.

Subject:
History
U.S. History
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Provider:
National Archives and Records Administration
Provider Set:
DocsTeach
Date Added:
05/21/2024
Comparing WWI Food Conservation Posters
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

Using primary resources, students analyze WW1 era posters and infer the audience, purpose, and effectiveness of trying to get Americans to conserve food during this time. Online resource. Offers discussion questions.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Comparing and Contrasting the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment and General Order No. 3
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

In small groups, students analyze the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th amendment, and General Order #3 in terms of tone, audience, and message, focusing on similarities and differences.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024
Congress in Article I of the Constitution
Unrestricted Use
Public Domain
Rating
0.0 stars

In this activity (which is appropriate for introducing the Constitution) students match primary source documents to clauses from Article 1 of the Constitution. Students find six pairs, which reveal the powers of Congress. Online resource.

Subject:
Social Science
Material Type:
Primary Source
Provider:
National Archives
Date Added:
07/22/2024