Library of Congress   The Library of Congress > Teachers > Using
Primary Sources  Using Primary Sources   Examining primary
sources gives students a powerful sense of history and the
complexity of the past. Helping students analyze primary sources
can also guide them toward higher-order thinking and better
critical thinking and analysis skills.  Before you begin:    •
Choose at least two or three primary sources that support the
learning objectives and are accessible to students.   • Consider
how students can compare these items to other primary and
secondary sources.   • Identify an analysis tool or guiding
questions that students will use to analyze the primary sources
1. Engage students with primary sources.  Draw on students’
prior knowledge of the topic.  Ask students to closely observe
each primary source.    • Who created this primary source?   •
When was it created?   • Where does your eye go first?  Help
students see key details.    • What do you see that you didn’t
expect?   • What powerful words a