Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Strand at NCSS 2025, Washington, DC

Download TPS Strands at NCSS 2025

FRIDAY, December 5

11:20  – 11:45 AM EST, 143B
Teaching Social Studies Using Ikeda Children’s Stories: An Application of Educational Media
Juan Walker, Augusta University, Augusta, GA

We incorporate Daisaku Ikeda’s children’s stories into social studies to foster humanity, using primary source analysis tools developed by the Library of Congress, to provide lesson plans for  K-8th grades.

_____

12:00 – 12:55 PM EST, 143B
Students Make History Transcribing the Library of Congress with By the People
Lauren Algee, Library of Congress, Washington DC

Library of Congress student transcribers have a real-world impact while engaging deeply with history. Session will include hands-on demonstration of crowd.loc.gov, tools for classroom integration, and America250 projects preview.

_____

1:50 – 2:45 PM EST, 143B
Get to Know Your Own Geography: Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Amelia Raines, Library of Congress, Washington, DC

The Library of Congress holds extensive fire insurance map collections. Learn how to find and use these primary source materials for local history research, environmental studies, urban planning, and more.

_____

3:00 – 3:55 PM EST, 143B
Primary Source Teaching with the TPS Teachers Network Mentors
Cheryl Davis, TPS Teachers Network, Orinda, CA; Neme Alperstein, TPS Teachers Network, New York, NY; Ruth Ferris, TPS Teachers Network, Billings, MT; Sherry Galloway, TPS Teachers Network, Mesa, CO; Soline Holmes, Academy of the Sacred Heart, New Orleans, LA; Diana Laufenberg, Inquiry Schools, Merrillan, WI; Margaret Lincoln, TPS Teachers Network, Battle Creek, MI; Wendy Stephens, Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, AL; Carrie Veatch, TPS Teachers Network, Agate, CO

Join the TPS Teachers Network Mentors in active discussion with creative ways to illuminate history, spark inquiry and enrich learning across subjects using Library of Congress resources. 

_____

4:10 – 4:35 PM EST, 143B
Teaching with Primary Sources (TPS) Regional Grant Opportunities
Kathleen Barker, TPS Great Plains Region, Cleveland, OH; Judith Bee, TPS Midwest Region, Normal, IL; Kira Duke, TPS Southern Region, Murfreesboro, TN; Brendan Gillis, TPS Mid-Atlantic & US Territories Region, Washington, DC; Barbara Kirby, TPS Eastern Region, Waynesburg, PA; Keith Patterson, TPS Western Region, Denver, CO

Join TPS Regional Program representatives to learn about granting policies and opportunities promoting widespread, sustained and effective use of Library of Congress primary sources  in a variety of educational settings.

_____

SATURDAY, December 6

8:30 – 9:25 AM EST, 143B
Music and Arts Primary Sources in History and Civics Education  
Anne Richards, audiyo-yo, FableVision Studios, New York, NY; Malini Srinivasan, City Lore, New York, NY; Regan McCarthy, Songmasters LLC, New York, NY; Bert Snow and Julie Schaul, The Music of US/ Snow & Co., Newburyport, MA; Amanda Harris, Dr. Ben Dumbauld and Joshua Zarbo, TeachRock, New York, NY

Interested in creative ways to integrate music and arts primary sources into history, civics, and democracy education? Join Lewis-Houghton Initiative (LHI) grantees to learn about their projects and related opportunities.

_____

9:40 – 10:35 AM EST, 143B
Exploring American Folklife Center and Veterans History Project Resources
Guha Shankar and Owen Rogers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Join staff from the Library of Congress to learn about digital collections from the Library’s American Folklife Center and Veterans History Project freely available for teachers and students.

_____

10:50 – 11:45 AM EST, 143B
Unlocking Potential: Addressing Learning Differences Through Film and Primary Sources
David Olson, Retro Report, New York, NY

Enhance US History and Civics courses with scaffolded writing tools, primary source analysis strategies, and engaging documentaries designed to support all learners, including students with learning differences.

_____

2:10 – 2:35 PM EST, 143B
Create Your Own Primary Source Inquiry Classroom
Mary Johnson, TPS Teachers Network, Colorado Springs, CO

Start with simple inquiry strategies from TPS Teachers Network educators and continue to build your own primary source classroom throughout the school year.

_____

2:50 – 3:45 PM EST, 143B
Documenting Democracy in Chronicling America
Robin Pike, Library of Congress, Washington, DC

Learn how to search digitized newspapers in Chronicling America and use research guides available to assist teachers. Discover how the collection can be used in the classroom.

_____

4:00 – 4:55 PM EST, 143B
National History Day, Teaching with Primary Sources, and You
Lynne O’Hara, National History Day, College Park, MD; Angela Adams, National History Day Arkansas/ University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR; Hailey Hancock, National History Day in Montana/ Montana State University, Bozeman, MT; Graham Warder, Keen State College, Keene, NH; Rich Cairn, Emerging America, Northampton, MA

Explore primary source-based resources and strategies from National History Day project models focused on student research and historical argumentation, rural educators, and topics including Indian education and U.S. disability history.

_____

SUNDAY, December 7

8:30 – 10:15 AM EST, 143B
QFT + TPS: Student-Generated Questions and Inquiry-Driven Primary Source Learning
Katy Connolly, Maame Conduah and Sarah Westbrook, The Right Question Institute (RQI), Boston, MA;
Ann Canning, TPS Eastern Region at Waynesburg University, Pittsburgh, PA

Discover how combining the Question Formulation Technique with Library of Congress primary sources will support student-driven inquiry. Collaborate with other educators using the QFT and experience its potential for yourself.