Primary Sources Banner 2011

October 2011

Five NEW Lesson Plans Using Primary Sources from Alabama
Using primary sources as a foundation for a lesson provides a unique opportunity for student engagement in the classroom.  As Steven Mintz stated in his article, "Using Primary Source Documents,"
Nothing brings the past to life quite like primary sources.  Letters, diaries, trial transcripts, and other original documents allow us to hear the living voices of the past (OAH Magazine of History, April 2003). 
 
This month, we introduce five new lessons that illustrate various human conflicts--American Indians and settlers, slavery, sharecropping, and the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s.  These lessons are designed to help your students think about the points of view of those who lived in the past in Alabama.  Remember to preview all of the lessons to make sure that they are age and grade appropriate for your students. The lessons for this month are all written for high school students.
 
We would like to get your comments and suggestions about the lesson plans.  A Feedback button is located at the bottom of the lesson plan index for your convenience.

 
 
History at Home Activity for October
Day of the Dead Clip Art
Each month, we post new activities for children to use at home or in school.  This month, students can explore the Day of the Dead that is celebrated in Mexico on the first two days of November.  This is a time in Mexico to celebrate and remember ancestors who have died.   A mask and a skeleton whirlygig are just two of the crafts that are available.
 
 
Professional Development Opportunities
The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
Applications for weeklong intensive summer seminars on 38 different topics conducted by renowned historians will be available on November 1, 2011 and the deadline is February 1, 2012.  For more information visit the Gilder Lehrman web site here. 
James Madison's Montpelier
A free, online course on the Constitution has been created by the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier.  To enroll, or to find out more about the seminars offered, you may visit the web site by clicking here.
 
Resources 
Presidential libraries offer some wonderful resources for teachers and students.  Check out the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum web site for newly posted videos and primary source documents from the Roosevelt administration.  The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum  and the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum each have extensive digital archives that are easily searched.
 About Us

 We tell the story of the people of Alabama by preserving records and artifacts of historical value and promoting a better understanding of Alabama history.

 

Alabama Department of Archives and History
624 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130-0100
334-242-4435
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