Exploring Primary Sources

Grades K–12

Ignite a love for social studies with authentic materials like maps, letters, and photos, which offer a deeper understanding of historical events through inquiry-based learning.

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Series Highlights

Authentic source cards help students explore history beyond textbooks.
Lesson plans include historical backgrounds and engaging discussion questions.
Prepare students for document-based assessments with interactive activities.
Digital resources enhance learning with additional primary sources and reproducibles.

SHOP PRODUCTS

Inside Every Kit

8 photo cards and 8 authentically reproduced primary source documents
Digital versions of all photo cards and primary source documents, plus bonus primary sources
Teacher’s Guide with document-based lessons, extension activities, and assessments

Explore the Series

Student Materials
8 Photo Cards
Make social studies content accessible and engaging to students with the photo cards in each Primary Sources kit.

Provide historical background for immediate historical context on the maps, letters, photographs, and political cartoons, photographs, and more.

Include questions and activities designed to help students analyze what they see and learn.

Extend the learning experience through focused writing activities
8 Primary Sources
Primary sources breathe life into history and capture students' curiosity about past events.

Provide students with a deeper and more comprehensive view of historical events through maps, letters, photographs, political cartoons, and more!

Facilitate opportunities for students to compare and contrast information, study multiple perspectives, determine validity of sources, and look at current issues through a historical lens.

Give students the opportunity to participate in the constructive part of history.
Student Engagement
Focuses on inquiry-based learning and increased rigor to prompt students to think critically.

Encourages students to consider and develop multiple points of view to foster tolerance and compassion.

Captures and fuels students' curiosity about the past and the people and events who shaped it. Offers a comprehensive understanding of historical events through authentic primary sources.
Teacher Materials
Teacher's Guide
The Teacher's Guide provides extensive details about each component in the kit making it a comprehensive social studies program.

Well-organized, easy-to-use lessons and document-based assessments lay the foundation for an active learning environment. Includes a lesson plan for each

Primary Source Card and Primary Source Reproduction.

Offers document-based assessments and extension activities for a streamlined curriculum for teacher implementation

Builds social studies content-area literacy by integrating primary sources.
Meets NCSS, WIDA/TESOL, McREL standards and C3 Framework standards.
Digital Resources
Visual Resources
Digital primary sources to promote exploration and independent discovery.

Includes digital copies of all primary source reproductions and primary source cards to bring history to life. Incorporates print and digital versions of student reproducibles for accessible lessons for in-person and distanced learning.

8 Photo Cards

Make social studies content accessible and engaging to students with the photo cards in each Primary Sources kit.

Provide historical background for immediate historical context on the maps, letters, photographs, and political cartoons, photographs, and more.
Include questions and activities designed to help students analyze what they see and learn.
Extend the learning experience through focused writing activities

8 Primary Sources

Primary sources breathe life into history and capture students' curiosity about past events.

Provide students with a deeper and more comprehensive view of historical events through maps, letters, photographs, political cartoons, and more!
Facilitate opportunities for students to compare and contrast information, study multiple perspectives, determine validity of sources, and look at current issues through a historical lens.
Give students the opportunity to participate in the constructive part of history.

Student Engagement

Focuses on inquiry-based learning and increased rigor to prompt students to think critically.

Encourages students to consider and develop multiple points of view to foster tolerance and compassion.
Captures and fuels students' curiosity about the past and the people and events who shaped it. Offers a comprehensive understanding of historical events through authentic primary sources.

Teacher's Guide

The Teacher's Guide provides extensive details about each component in the kit making it a comprehensive social studies program.

Well-organized, easy-to-use lessons and document-based assessments lay the foundation for an active learning environment. Includes a lesson plan for each
Primary Source Card and Primary Source Reproduction.
Offers document-based assessments and extension activities for a streamlined curriculum for teacher implementation
Builds social studies content-area literacy by integrating primary sources.
Meets NCSS, WIDA/TESOL, McREL standards and C3 Framework standards.

Visual Resources

Digital primary sources to promote exploration and independent discovery.

Includes digital copies of all primary source reproductions and primary source cards to bring history to life. Incorporates print and digital versions of student reproducibles for accessible lessons for in-person and distanced learning.

Supporting Resources

Correlations

Search for product alignments or standards correlations.

Quickly and easily find how our products correlate to key Standards.

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Evidence Base and Research

Evidence Base and Research for Exploring Primary Sources

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WIDA Correlations
Primary Sources WIDA Correlations
Additional Resources
Additional Resources

Search for product alignments or standards correlations.

Quickly and easily find how our products correlate to key Standards.

Search Now

Evidence Base and Research for Exploring Primary Sources

Download Now

Primary Sources WIDA Correlations

Additional Resources

…The fourth grade teachers appreciate the rich primary source kits, containing documents to support their teaching of U.S. History. Students are able to get a glimpse into the past beyond what a textbook can provide. This methodology of teaching has developed critical 21st century thinking skills, such as critical thinking and deductive reasoning skills. Additionally, they serve as an effective resource for conducting close reading.

Washington Township, NJ

Students are able to get a glimpse into the past beyond what a textbook can provide. This methodology of teaching has developed critical 21st century thinking… and deductive reasoning skills.

District A, Washington Township, NJ

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Exploring Primary Sources

Grades K–12

Series Highlights

Inside Every Kit

Explore the Series

8 Photo Cards

8 Primary Sources

Student Engagement

Teacher's Guide

Visual Resources

8 Photo Cards

8 Primary Sources

Student Engagement

Teacher's Guide

Visual Resources

Filter Products

Supporting Resources

Correlations

Search for product alignments or standards correlations.

Evidence Base and Research

Evidence Base and Research for Exploring Primary Sources

WIDA Correlations

Primary Sources WIDA Correlations

Additional Resources

Additional Resources

Search for product alignments or standards correlations.

Evidence Base and Research for Exploring Primary Sources

Primary Sources WIDA Correlations

Additional Resources