In order to engage students, it is often necessary to make ideas less abstract. They also need to be allowed to explore on their own. A great way to accomplish this is by using original, primary documents. Luckily, the internet has allowed more freedom regarding the availability of primary sources. One no longer has to visit archives or print out tons of papers.
If a doc viewer is present, the whole class can go over a single sheet together. Or, if a few laptops or ipads are available, students can explore different documents on their own. For example, when learning about the Civil War, the Abraham Lincoln Papers available at The Library of Congress can be fun to look at. Students can "get inside" the mind of the President by looking at this collection of papers.
Below is a video regarding the use of primary sources in the classroom.
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