6-8 Resources

Pre-1865

Prologue to Studying the Emancipation Proclamation

An 8th-grade class analyzes letters about the Emancipation Proclamation.


[...] »
Civil War's Causes: Historians Largely United on Slavery, But Public Divided
Albumen print on carte-de-visite, Civil War Union officers in tent, 1862, Flickr

Major historic events are always shrouded in controversy. Check out this[...] »

Post-1865

African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets from 1818-1907
Wood engraving, American Sketches:..., Nov. 18, 1876, Illustrated London News.

Pamphlets and documents from 1875 to 1900 highlight African American leaders[...] »

The Thomas Jefferson Building: Secret Messages
Detail, The Thomas Jefferson Building homepage

What messages are hidden in art and architecture? Explore the Library of[...] »

Classroom Tools

Historical Thinking & Literacy

Reading in the History Classroom
Photography, Huge Stack of Books at University of Illinois, 2 June 2006, Benjami

Do students need reading skills specific to the history classroom? Click[...] »

Using Technology

DocsTeach

Find primary sources and the tools to present them to students—in one place[...] »