# data[].attributes.body
https://fpa.org/great-decisions-teacher-training-institute/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome to the “I Am A(n)...” series - a collection of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show whimsically “what society (or my mom) thinks I do” compared with “what I really do.” Check out our full series below! Or, click below to order or download our FREE coloring book!

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1FBvMVoLw6/

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Did you know that August 22-30, 2026, is National Park Week? This year, we’re celebrating the National Park Service’s 110th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary with the nationwide theme “Celebrate America’s Story.” Check out the resources below, and bring founding stories to life for your students!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Growing up in the wild, the triumphs of success, and the struggle for survival: Animal lives are amazing! The National Geographic Kids book series “5-Minute…

# data[].attributes.headline
Smithsonian training Native Knowledge 360

# data[].attributes.subject
Smithsonian training Native Knowledge 360

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
2026 Summer Professional Development Opportunities in Social Studies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Complete Guides
Module Title and Development Goals Target Alignment
Mosquito: How do we ensure health for all from mosquito-borne disease?
9.1 * 9.4 * 11.1 * 11.2 * 11.3 * 11.6 * 11.7 * 11.A

Biodiversity: How do we balance protecting Earth's diverse resources with human needs?Need for diverse plants to respond to changing weather conditions, finding novel medical cures in biodiverse areas, economic impacts for protecting biodiverse-rich areas, farming practices and impacts on biodiversity (e.g., everyone using the same seeds, GMOs), livestock biodiversity, endangered animals

2.5 * 2.A * 14.2 * 15.1 * 15.2 * 15.5 * 15.6 * 15.7 * 15.8 * 15.9

Biotechnology: How can we ethically create a sustainable future using Biotechnology? Food systems, materials, human health, genetic data, the environment, and security

2.3 * 2.5 * 3.2 * 3.3 * 3.4 * 3.7 * 10.3

Guides in Development
Module Title, Potential Subtopics, and Sustainable Development Goals Target Alignment

Energy: How can we ensure sustainable energy for all?Equitable access, appropriate use, economic considerations, implications for increased access, connection to climate change, clean/dirty energy, renewables

1.4 * 7.1 * 7.A * 7.B

Ocean: How can we be a part of healthy ocean systems? How humans interact with the oceans and coastal areas, the effects of those interactions and an analysis of the sustainability, pollution, fisheries

14.1 * 14.2 * 14.3 * 14.4 * 14.5 * 14.A

Humans and the Atmosphere: How can we mitigate human impacts on the atmosphere?
Causes and impacts of climate change, acid rain/ocean acidification, impacts and possible technological (partial) solutions

13.1 * 13.2 * 13.3 * 13.B * 14.3 * 15.2 * 15.3

Tentative Topics
Module Title, Potential Subtopics, and Sustainable Development Goals Target Alignment

6.1 * 6.3 * 6.4 * 6.5 * 6.6 * 6.A * 6.B

15.1 * 15.2 * 15.3 * 15.4 * 15.5 * 15.6 * 15.7 * 15.8 * 15.9

3.9 * 6.2 * 6.3 * 6.6 * 8.4 * 11.6 * 12.4 * 12.5 * 14.1

1.5 * 2.4 * 11.B * 11.C * 13.1 * 13.3 * 13.B * 15.3

2.3 * 2.4 * 2.A * 2.C * 12.3

12.1 * 12.2 * 12.5 * 12.8 * 12.A

4.5 * 5.3 * 5.4 * 5.A * 10.2 * 10.3 * 16.1

4.5 * 4.A * 8.5 * 10.2 * 10.3

*All topics align to targets 4.7 * 16.7 * 17.6 * 17.17 Read More on Target Alignments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Complete Guides Module Title and Development Goals Target Alignment Mosquito: How do we ensure health for all from mosquito-borne disease? 9.1 * 9.4 * 11.1 * 11.2 * 11.3 * 11.6 * 11.7 * 11.A Biodiversity: How do we balance protecting Earth's diverse resources with human needs?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
ERROR: The request could not be satisfied

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Welcome one and all to Nancy Knows STEAM, a labor of love for my friends and family...which if you are not a part of, you are now!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Effects of Light Pollution on Firefly Communication | Grades 3-5, 6-8 Science Teaching and Lesson Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Firefly populations are declining all over the world. Filmmaker Emily Driscoll’s documentary Brilliant Darkness highlights the different habits of the species and the conservation efforts being put in place to preserve them. Scientists from the Department of Entomology & Nematology of the University of Florida discuss their methodology that led to the understanding of the impact of artificial light on firefly populations in this clip from SciTech Now.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Starting with Sustainability Lesson Sets are designed to support youth aged 11-18 in initial explorations into topics of sustainability. The lesson sets consist of educator and youth-facing lessons that include reading and literacy components, investigations, hands-on activities, quotes from STEM professionals, and opportunities for creativity. Supporting supplemental materials include slide decks, worksheets, games, and videos. The lesson sets and supplemental materials are inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and draw on content from the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals guide series found at ssec.si.edu/global-goals.

Smithsonian Science for Global Goals uses a Discover, Understand, Act framework to guide youth from ideas about real-world problems to actions. The Discover section contextualizes global issues within local communities by encouraging young people to recognize their existing knowledge. In the Understand section, youth gather data on real-world problems through natural and social science research. Finally, youth apply their learning through self-determined actions to help solve problems for their local and global communities.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Starting with Sustainability Lesson Sets

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Starting with Sustainability Lesson Sets are designed to support youth aged 11-18 in initial explorations into topics of sustainability. The lesson sets consist of educator and youth-facing lessons that include reading and literacy components, investigations, hands-on activities, quotes from STEM professionals, and opportunities for creativity. Supporting supplemental materials include slide decks, worksheets, games, and videos.

# data[].attributes.body
https://smithsonianeducation.swoogo.com/ses2026/

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/lsps07.sci.life.evo.frozenfrogs/frozen-frogs/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paidsocial&utm_content=frozenfrog&utm_campaign=pbslm_january_2026&fbclid=IwdGRjcAPon1tjbGNrA-ifV2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHozydrEn3aCSKO8WvsTKblGzsltj7JSLU3EImfehJGRzWxny5WodYucA95yL_aem_Ob4sjvde-vxJXB20CXtJCA&utm_id=120237025330950250&utm_term=120237025331050250

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.societyforscience.org/stem-outreach-programs/advocate-program/

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.instagram.com/p/DUBRc40kkRji7TP6rs9nFG-0JNu13czgb_uyWM0/?igsh=ZDQ4YmF3NWc0cmJn

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Learning Together Calendar | Teach Your Way | PBS LearningMedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Enjoy the “Learning Together” activity calendar and find meaningful ways to integrate media in creative and developmentally-appropriate ways.
NOTE: The Support Materials are also available in Spanish.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Onsite Workshops | Professional Development | Teachers | Programs | Library of Congress

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Come join us at the Library of Congress for a Teaching with Primary Sources workshop.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Stars, Stripes, and Spies: Teaching the Secret History of America

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Stars, Stripes, and Spies: Teaching the Secret History of America
Sunday, June 28, 2026 — Thursday, July 2, 2026
Step into the shadow world of espionage in this new, immersive, five-day educator professional development workshop at the International…

# data[].attributes.body
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/ocean/corals/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAPKrFJjbGNrA8qsT2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHmCVcNekQlZ7p4IHtTJLaIkSJ9O9BBA5RUeP6sjhK9OCLUI7AySTszZ0tz53_aem_b3FInE2ElaUVr57t9ydxTg

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Using Oral Histories as Tools for Financial Education

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover how Smithsonian educators are using oral histories to bring financial literacy to life in the classroom. At the 2025 National Education Summit, experts shared how We Do Declare: Women’s Voices on Independence connects students to women’s stories of economic power, helping them understand the value of financial independence.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fat Bear Week in the Classroom - Katmai National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)

# data[].attributes.body
https://nationalzoo.si.edu/education/animal-engineers?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=NationalZooEducationNewsletter-September2025&utm_content=version_A&uid=2878757&promo=0

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We offer free Smithsonian STEM games and simulations online or for download! Our games are designed with clear learning objectives, vetted by our team of curriculum experts, and are used by students around the world!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We offer free Smithsonian STEM games and simulations online or for download! Our games are designed with clear learning objectives, vetted by our team of curriculum experts, and are used by students around the world!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
More than 157 million treasures fill the Smithsonian's vaults, but where public view ends, Sidedoorbegins. With the help of biologists, artists, historians, archaeologists, zookeepers, and astrophysicists, host Lizzie Peabody sneaks listeners through Smithsonian's side door to search for stories that can't be found anywhere else. Follow us at @SidedoorPod for updates and bonus content.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sidedoor: A Podcast from the Smithsonian | Smithsonian Institution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Smithsonian podcast presenting stories that can't be found anywhere else.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
DoW STEM seeks to attract, inspire, and develop exceptional STEM talent across the education continuum and advance the current DoW STEM workforce to meet future defense technological challenges.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
PBS NewsHour Classroom (@newshourextra) on Threads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Teachers: Check out our PBS @newshour Classroom JournalismInAction Science & Technology case study overview video! It walks you through everything you need to know about how to use the case study in your classroom—including how to engage with the interactives and featured primary sources from @LibraryCongress. Grades 6–12. Case Study Link: http://bit.ly/3Gjmo5M

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Smithsonian STARS Program connects rural classrooms to the cosmos by donating Telescopes, ongoing Teacher training, and curricula to inspire the nation’s 9.8 million rural schoolchildren. We’re on a mission to inspire the next generation of explorers by expanding access and understanding of the

# data[].attributes.body
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=Kl6bmOQU_k6Tt4zdX8XRHBrceQSLG9xKp6TX9xMtt91UMFEwVzBZMUFJUldQUjBGWVQwQ1pCUUxBSC4u&route=shorturl

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Thank you to Kathleen Miranda, the Deputy Director from the Office of Naval STEM Research speaking to us DOD STEM Ambassadors today about Naval STEM opportunities for our students, teachers and greater STEM ecosystem! https://navalsteminterns.us/ @USNavyResearch #OfficeofNavalResearch

# data[].attributes.headline
Paths to Math: Math in the Real World and the Library’s Collections

# data[].attributes.subject
Paths to Math: Math in the Real World and the Library’s Collections

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Paths to Math: Math in the Real World and the Library’s Collections | Minerva’s Kaleidoscope

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Your journeys this summer and throughout the year are full of opportunities for mathematical thinking. Follow Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow Ralph Pantozzi on a path to the math all around us in the Library of Congress’s collections, with a special focus on pioneering educator Gloria Ford Gilmer.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Zero Barriers in K-12 STEM Education Sourcebook is a resource guide and collection of first-hand narratives about implementing inclusive practices for all students. The Zero Barriers Sourcebook can be a guide for educators to effect change in their own context. Whether you are looking to take your first steps in exploring accessibility or searching for new resources to strengthen your current initiatives, the Zero Barriers Sourcebook has practical tools, lessons, and motivation to support all learners in STEM.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The unofficial start to summer begins this weekend!🇺🇸 A family-friendly… | Air & Space STEM Outreach

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The unofficial start to summer begins this weekend!🇺🇸 A family-friendly way to include STEM in the festivities can be introducing a game of cards. ⬇️ 🃏Card games keep the mind sharp, encourage practical application of math skills, and provide a fun, competitive environment for you student to grow. Spades, Rummy, Clock Solitaire, and Math Up are some of our favorites. Check them out here 👉🏻https://lnkd.in/gpzmCWNk

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Read the latest research and download PDF reports.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Debra Spielmaker, Administrator and Yasuko Mitsuoka Grow, Designer

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The National Agriculture in the Classroom website provides K-12 educators with engaging resources to increase agricultural literacy among their students.

# data[].attributes.headline
Beulah Henry Finds Invention Inspiration in Everyday Items: Primary Sources in Three-Dimensional Science Learning

# data[].attributes.subject
Beulah Henry Finds Invention Inspiration in Everyday Items: Primary Sources in Three-Dimensional Science Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Beulah Henry Finds Invention Inspiration in Everyday Items: Primary Sources in Three-Dimensional Science Learning | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This blog post illustrates how STEM teachers can use free primary sources related to the famous female inventor, Beulah Henry, to engage students in three-dimensional learning.

# data[].attributes.body
www.nancypenchev.com

nancypenchev@gmail.com

@nancyknowssteam or @penchevable Instagram, Threads, BlueSky

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Technology is a Tool, Not a Learning Outcome

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Technology is a Tool, Not a Learning Outcome

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hello all! My name is Nancy Penchev and I am the lower school STEM/Design teacher and Instructional Technology Coordinator at Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach, FL.

About me:

20+ years classroom experience in grades K-5

Contributing organizer for Global Maker Day

Social Studies Lab

Maker Space and Robotics instructor

Girls Building STEAM founder

Children's book enthusiast

Passionate sharer of instructional technology

Best daughter, sister, aunt EVER, pretty good wife

And a person NEVER scared to say....Uh I don't know, let's figure it out together
B.S. Elementary Education, M.A. Early Childhood Education, M.A. Instructional Technology, EdS Instructional Technology and Distance Learning

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Technology is a Tool, Not a Learning Outcome

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hello all! My name is Nancy Penchev and I am the lower school STEM/Design teacher and Instructional Technology Coordinator at Scheck Hillel Community School in North Miami Beach, FL. About me: 20+...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Best-remembered for her commitment to Native education, Ruth Muskrat Bronson (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, 1897–1982) was also a poet and public speaker. Her poetry explored her perspective as a Cherokee woman, her spiritual connection to the natural world, and the importance of preserving Native traditions. “And then we’ll go home, my Cherokee Rose, Where the Senecas live in the heart of the hills By the rippling Cowskin, where the Saulchana grows, We’ll go home to the Coyauga hills, To the sheltering Coyauga hills.” —“The Hunter’s Wooing,” 1921 As a college student, Bronson delivered a speech at the White House while visiting with the Committee of One Hundred, an Indigenous advisory group. President Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge invited her to return to the White House for lunch. Six months later, the president signed the 1924 Indian Citizenship Act, which granted dual citizenship to Native people born within the United States. However, discriminatory state laws kept Native voters from the polls until as recently as the 1970s. “We want to become citizens of the United States, and to have our share in the building of this great nation, that we love,” Bronson asserted that day at the White House. “But we want also to preserve the best that is in our own civilization.” Later, Bronson joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where she led the scholarship and loan program. She was also the first leader of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), founded to serve as a unified voice for American Indian and Alaska Native peoples in conversations with the U.S. government. Our National Museum of the American Indian has the records of the NCAI in its collections. #NationalPoetryMonth 📷: Ruth Muskrat, December 13, 1923, Library of Congress Ruth Muskrat presents President Coolidge with a copy of “The Red Man in the United States,” December 13, 1923, Library of Congress Ruth Muskrat Johnson, undated; National Congress of American Indians records; P34213; National Museum of the American Indian Archive Center, Smithsonian Institution.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Harvard Museum of Natural History | Harvard Museum of Natural History

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In this remarkable exhibition, discover why the most massive sharks prey on some of the ocean’s smallest critters. Learn how to decipher dietary clues from jaws preserved in Harvard’s world-class collections. Explore how miniature teeth on shark skin help them move efficiently through water.

# data[].attributes.headline
How to become an inventor, creator, entrepreneur 

# data[].attributes.subject
How to become an inventor, creator, entrepreneur 

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore intellectual property and discover how YOU can be an inventor.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
FireWorks provides students with interactive, hands-on materials to study wildland fire. It is highly interdisciplinary and students learn about properties of matter, chemical and physical processes, ecosystem fluctuations and cycles, habitat and survival, and human interactions with ecosystems. Students using FireWorks ask questions, gather information, analyze and interpret it, and communicate their discoveries.

The FireWorks program consists of a curriculum and a trunk of materials, including laboratory equipment, specimens, and kits of specialized materials for educators. While many of the activities can be used in any ecosystem, many are applicable to specific regions. FireWorks has specialized curricula to learn about:

Many FireWorks lessons have been translated to Spanish. These lessons are available: Curricula traducida al Español

The program has also been adapted to Colorado ecology (implemented by Colorado Project Learning Tree), and we offer a ' generic' version for educators to adapt to their specific ecosystems.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
FireWorks provides students with interactive, hands-on materials to study wildland fire. It is highly interdisciplinary and students learn about properties of matter, chemical and physical processes, ecosystem fluctuations and cycles, habitat and survival, and human interactions with ecosystems. Students using FireWorks ask questions, gather information, analyze and interpret it, and communicate their discoveries.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Future of Nature Collection | PBS LearningMedia

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Collection for grades 6-12 of STEM and interdisciplinary climate science learning about rebalancing Earth’s carbon cycle using nature-based, sustainable solutions and regenerative economic principles.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Explore lesson plans and hands-on activities for use in the classroom.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

# data[].attributes.headline
Americanization Through Song: WWI-Era Songs by Irving Berlin

# data[].attributes.subject
Americanization Through Song: WWI-Era Songs by Irving Berlin

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Americanization Through Song: WWI-Era Songs by Irving Berlin | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This blog offers free primary sources and teaching strategies to help students reflect on how some WWI-era music sought to invoke a singular American identity.

# data[].attributes.body
Resources and ideas supporting starting and sustaining outdoor classrooms at schools while supporting daily outdoor learning across subjects and grade levels.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
TOTAL NM (Teaching Outdoors to ALL Learners) New Mexico

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cold War Newspapers: Primary Sources and Perspective Taking | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Engage students in comparing perspectives in two newspaper articles about the Cold War.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Cold War Era Films: Analyzing Tools of Persuasion by Observing, Reflecting, and Questioning | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The new Cold War Primary Source Set explores aspects of the Cold War era, including the ways in which a fear of nuclear attack was communicated in everyday life. Examine and analyze messaging from two Cold War Era films about nuclear attacks and how people should respond.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Animal Antics for April Fools’ Day | Minerva’s Kaleidoscope

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you celebrate April Fools Day with your family and friends? Learn all about the holiday through the antics of a family of rabbits who graced the pages of newspapers in these children’s stories from over a century ago.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Smithsonian Open Access | Smithsonian Institution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about Smithsonian Open Access

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Results: 1-40 of 194   |   Refined by: Part of: Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress   Remove Available Online   Remove

Classroom Material

Abraham Lincoln: Rise to National Prominence A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring Abraham Lincoln and his national role. This set also includes a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions. Speeches, correspondence, campaign materials...

Date: 1855

Classroom Material

After Reconstruction Students use Library of Congress primary sources to identify problems and issues facing African Americans immediately after Reconstruction.

Classroom Material

Alexander Hamilton Manuscripts, images, and historic newspapers document the life and accomplishments of Alexander Hamilton. This set also includes a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions. Manuscripts, images, and historic newspapers document...

Date: 1757

Classroom Material

America at the Centennial Students use Library of Congress primary sources to examine items and images of the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition of 1876.

Classroom Material

The American Dream Students use Library of Congress primary sources to examine 19th and 20th century social life in the United States in order to formulate ideas about the American Dream.

Classroom Material

Around the World in 1896 Students use Library of Congress primary sources to plan, take, and document a trip around the world in 1896.

Classroom Material

Baseball Across a Changing Nation A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring baseball and the various ways it was experienced by Americans between the close of the Civil War and the beginning of WWII. This...

Date: 1860

Classroom Material

Baseball, Race Relations and Jackie Robinson Students use Library of Congress primary sources to examine race relations in the mid-20th century United States through a close reading of two documents relating to Jackie Robinson's breaking of the racial...

Classroom Material

Billy the Kid: Perspectives on an Outlaw Students use Library of Congress primary sources to examine the role that gunfighters played in the settlement of the West and distinguish between their factual and fictional accounts.

Classroom Material

Charts and Graphs A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring charts and graphs. This set also includes a Teachers Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

Date: 1900

Classroom Material

Child Labor in America Students use Library of Congress primary sources to examine reformer/photographer Lewis Hine's photographs of child labor.

Classroom Material

Children's Lives at the Turn of the Twentieth Century A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring Children's Lives at the Turn of the Twentieth Century. This set also includes a Teachers Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

Date: 1890

Classroom Material

Civil War Music A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring historical perspectives about the American Civil War. This set also includes a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

Date: 1861

Classroom Material

The Civil War: The Nation Moves Towards War, 1850-61 Conflict between abolition and slavery marked the 1850s, preceding the election of 1860 and the attack on Fort Sumter that started the Civil War. The Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott, Harriet Beecher Stowe,...

Date: 1850

Classroom Material

The Constitution A selection of Library of Congress primary sources exploring the United States Constitution. This set also includes a Teacher's Guide with historical context and teaching suggestions.

Date: 1785

Additional Navigation

Teachers Home
The Library of Congress offers classroom materials and professional development to help teachers effectively use primary sources from the Library's vast digital collections in their teaching.

Analysis Tool & Guide
To help your students analyze these primary sources, get a graphic organizer and guides.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Search results from Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress, Available Online

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
U.S. Constitution, Federalist Papers, Bill of Rights, and 1774-1875 documents and debates

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Discover the rich heritage of “the People’s House” and its central role in U.S. history since 1789. Explore its unique story and the men and women who have shaped it. Browse its collections. Access historical data and other research resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
In Custodia Legis | Law Librarians of Congress

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In Custodia Legis: Law Librarians of Congress. A blog from the Library of Congress.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Created by teachers for teachers, these ready-to-use materials provide easy ways to incorporate the Library's unparalleled primary sources into instruction.

Lesson Plans Teacher-created lesson plans using Library of Congress primary sources.

Presentations Media-rich historical context and opportunities for both teachers and students to explore.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Classroom Materials | Teachers | Programs | Library of Congress

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Created by teachers for teachers, these ready-to-use materials provide easy ways to incorporate the Library's unparalleled primary sources into instruction.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
UNUM Ken Burns (@kenburnspbs) on Threads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
UNUM on the Road continued in Yorktown, VA, where @kenlburns stood on the very field where the British surrendered to George Washington in 1781. It marked the beginning of the end of the war, and the start of something entirely new.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
After being drafted in 1969, Tom Geerdes served as an Army medic in the 11th Armored Cavalry in Vietnam and Cambodia. Like many veterans, he returned home a changed man. He opens up to his daughter about his long journey toward healing. Listen to his story, part of our Military Voices Initiative, in honor of NationalVietnamWarVeteransDay.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Hold on to your butt because we got an incredible new image from JWST! 🤯 This is an Einstein ring, formed by the gravity of a massive elliptical galaxy (center) warping space and distorting the light coming from objects behind it. When a background galaxy is perfectly aligned, its light can get smeared out in the shape of a ring! Here the background galaxy is a spiral, and you can see in the ring structures like spiral arms and star clusters and the like. 🤩 📸: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, G. Mahler

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Want to learn about how the House works? Looking for a step-by-step description of how Congress makes laws? Want to book a school tour of the Capitol? The resources in this section contain a wealth of information for educators and students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Research Guides: U.S. Congress: Finding Images in the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division: Introduction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This overview of collections in the Prints & Photographs Division that feature images of members of U.S. Congress and congressional activity, 1800s to the present, includes sample images, search tips and related resources at the Library and elsewhere.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
House Chamber | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The House Chamber is where Members of Congress debate and pass laws. The House of Representatives first met here in 1857, and the room has continued to evolve. New technology, changing decorative tastes, and a growing nation fed this stream of innovation. Discover what changed and what stayed the same.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Statuary Hall | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The House met in historic Statuary Hall for 50 turbulent years. Until 1857, Representatives debated the most important issues in American history here: slavery, trade, statehood, and more. After the House moved to its new quarters, the room became National Statuary Hall, a grand gallery of sculpture that honors exemplary citizens from every state. Travel back in time to when Statuary Hall operated as the Old House Chamber, then jump ahead to the present to view the rich collection of state statues that surround the room today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What’s in the Capitol? | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Capitol is a symbol of democracy, the meeting place of Congress, and a historic building more than 200 years old. Here, learn more about how the House of Representatives’ most significant spaces, art and historic artifacts have grown, moved and evolved with the Congress’s many changes.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Oral History of the House | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Welcome to Smithsonian Open Access, where you can download, share, and reuse millions of the Smithsonian's images-right now, without asking. With new platforms and tools, you have easier access to more than 4.5 million 2D and 3D digital items from our collections-with many more to come. This includes images and data from across the Smithsonian's 21 museums, nine research centers, libraries, archives, and the National Zoo.

What will you create?

#SmithsonianOpenAccess

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Smithsonian Open Access | Smithsonian Institution

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about Smithsonian Open Access

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Resources You Might Like...

Looking for fun, hands-on activities to do with your kids during the school closures? We're here for you! Sign up for our weekly newsletter and discover resources designed to easily engage kids through birds. Each week, we'll focus on a science theme and deliver great content straight to your inbox. Use the adult-led sections launch kids' learning, then encourage them to explore independently through engaging slide shows that include embedded videos, reading, online interactives, outdoor explorations, and creative activities. Also be sure to join the community conversation at our Science & Nature Ideas for Cooped Up Kids Facebook group.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
K-12 Home Page - K-12 Education Resources for Educators

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Looking for fun, hands-on activities to do with your kids during the school closures? We're here for you! Sign up for our weekly newsletter and discover resources designed to easily engage kids through birds. Each week, we'll focus on a science theme and deliver great content straight to your inbox.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are you a high school student looking for cybersecurity information and resources to be successful? Do you have what it takes to combat cybercrime?

Almost everything we do connects to the internet, but our line of defense against possible cyber threats is limited due to a lack of cybersecurity professionals. Are you ready to protect our nation's infrastructure? Get started today!

Cybersecurity (definition): the practice of protecting networks, systems, programs, and data from criminal or unauthorized use.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you a high school student looking for cybersecurity information and resources to be successful?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find fun learning opportunities to do at home, in the classroom or during your next visit to the Zoo.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Take your professional development to the wild side! The current cohort is full, but the Zoo is seeking new members to serve on its Teacher Advisory Council, beginning fall 2025. The 2025-2026 council term will include educators nationwide for grades pre-K to 5. The council accepts teachers from all over the United States, including US territories. Three spots are reserved each for educators in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. No more than two teachers per school.

Commitments and Benefits

Council members serve for a period of one year and will:

Participate in four virtual council meetings (tentatively November, February, May, and August)

Serve in an advisory role to assist with the development of new education programs and resources

Share feedback about activities and materials with Zoo educators

Act as a Zoo ambassador in their schools by disseminating information to colleagues and providing teacher feedback to Zoo educators

Have the opportunity to work with Zoo educators and to be an integral part of conservation education programming

Receive professional development contact hours toward license recertification (dependent upon state requirements)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Take your professional development to the wild side! Join the Zoo's Teacher Advisory Council.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Protecting Whales is a freely available elementary STEM+CT instructional unit developed by the Smithsonian Science Education Center with funding from the US Department of Defense STEM office. As part of the Smithsonian Science for Computational Thinking series, it is designed to address a bundle of science, engineering, and computational thinking standards from from the Next Generation Science Standards, the Computer Science Teachers Association Standards, and the ISTE Student Standards.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Hypersonics STEM Curriculum from JHTO — AFOSR STEM

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Pi: In the Sky, on Earth and at the Library of Congress | Minerva’s Kaleidoscope

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
What’s Pi Day? Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow Ralph Pantozzi explores circles all around us in the Library of Congress’s collection.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An activity to learn the parts of an airplane and their functions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
A Close Look at Caterpillars: Maria Merian’s Metamorphosis Meets Modern Science | Guardians of Memory

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Pioneering 17th century natural scientist, artist, and engraver Maria Sibylla Merian traveled to Suriname to observe and collect insect specimens. In 1705, she published a book, Metamorphosis Insectorum Surinamensium (Metamorphosis of Surinamese Insects) with large, vibrantly colored illustrations of exotic species that captivated natural history enthusiasts. Read about how a trans-disciplinary team from Preservation Research and Testing, Rare Books and Manuscripts and an Einstein Fellow worked together to examine the book and discuss research questions and goals.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teaching Resources for Women’s History Month | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Blog posts, classroom materials, and resources from the Library offer ideas that can support teaching and learning about Women’s History Month in different subjects (Science/STEM, Social Studies, English Language Arts) and across grade levels.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
We’re proud to share this art collection by Corps of Exploration member and science communication fellow alum, Karen Romano Young.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DC Public Library (@dcpubliclibrary) on Threads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Introducing Hiveclass—an e-learning platform with high-quality, skill-based videos across 18+ sports & wellness activities! 🏀🏊‍♂️⚽ Available in English & Spanish, it’s fun, easy, and FREE with your library card! https://bit.ly/43wRUWX ht

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Students trace the Mississippi River and its major tributaries on a map of the United States. They use an interactive map or atlases to locate other major rivers and identify the major U.S. watersheds.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
USPTO empowers innovation among Black inventors and entrepreneurs by increasing the number of Patent and Trademark Resource Centers at HBCUs

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PTRCs are part of a national network of public, state, and academic libraries designated by the USPTO to offer trademark and patent assistance to the public.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
International Spy Museum (@spymuseum) on Threads

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Today in SpyHistory - On January 31, 1606, Guy Fawkes was executed for treason in the “Gunpowder Plot” against Parliament and King James, 1606. His image as the iconic V mask lives on in modern political culture.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
National Museum of African American History and Culture

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrating Black people’s often invisible labor of all kinds — across time, industry, and community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Get to Know Library of Congress Research Guides | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn more about the Library’s research guides.

# data[].attributes.headline
Self paced PD copyright and primary sources

# data[].attributes.subject
Self paced PD copyright and primary sources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
“Copyright and Primary Sources” Self-Paced Professional Development Module Now Available | Teaching with the Library

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
This post is by Michael Apfeldorf of the Library of Congress. The Library of Congress has launched a new self-paced professional development module designed to provide educators with an overview of how copyright relates to their use of primary sources.

# data[].attributes.body
From Jorge

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Check out our latest knowledge articles that share NASA STEM content including activities, games, videos, educator guides, teacher toolkits, and much more.

# data[].attributes.body
Excellent teacher crowd sourcing group. You can sign up and become part of the team!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Gold EDU transforms education and helps educators use technology with pedagogy in powerful ways. Gold EDU is excited to be named YouTube's Education Channel of the Year by Teachers on Fire!

Check out the Make & Take Series for live YouTube sessions.

Subscribe to the Gold EDU YouTube Channel

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
GO FOR THE GOLD! Gold EDU transforms education and helps educators use technology with pedagogy in powerful ways. Gold EDU is excited to be named YouTube's Education Channel of the Year by Teachers on Fire! Check out the Make & Take Series for live YouTube sessions.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How To Design a Zoo Exhibit In Four Steps

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Imagine you are asked to design a zoo exhibit for your local zoo. I know, this is a stretch but “bear” with me! Let’s break it down into the steps you might take if this were an engineering project. As with any engineering problem, the first thing you need to know are the requirements. Requirements are made up of criteria and constraints. Step 1: Understand the criteria and constraints You need to decide how you are going to measure the success of your zoo exhibit design: the criteria. Will it be the number of visitors that stop at your exhibit or how long they stop? Do you want criteria that show visitors have learned something? Do you want to know if you motivated people to do something about conservation? Do you want a way of measuring how satisfied visitors are with their experience? No one wants to see an empty exhibit space at a zoo, so you may want to decide on a percentage of time that animals are visible as a measure of visitor satisfaction. You will want your exhibit to give visitors a positive impression of the zoo. How will you measure this? Mark Van Bergh, Smithsonian’s National Zoo

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The ORISE Featurecast is a podcast about all things ORISE. Host Michael Holtz interviews ORISE experts about STEM workforce development, scientific and technical reviews, and the evaluation of radiation exposure and environmental contamination.