How Does Inquiry Engage Students in Social Studies?

How does using primary sources in the elementary classroom help student reading comprehension?

One of the methods for developing disciplinary literacy is through the use of primary sources.  Primary sources should be used at both the elementary and secondary levels.  Analyzing primary sources provides students with opportunities to build background knowledge and engage with the stories of the past.

Primary source sets for elementary students have been developed and are available here: 

1. Colorado Elementary Primary Source Sets
2. The Library of Congress

Primary source sets for secondary students can be found in several places:

1. The Digital History Reader
2. The Library of Congress
3. Digital Public Library of America

Take a few minutes to peruse these resources.  

• Can you find any primary source sets for the topic you are currently teaching?
• How might you incorporate a primary source set into a unit you are already teaching?
• What strategies might you employ to engage students with the primary sources?