book backdrops: connecting literature and primary sources

Book Backdrops:Book Backdrops:Connecting LiteratureConnecting Literatureand Primary Sourcesand Primary Sources

A presentation ofA presentation ofTeaching with Primary Sources Across Teaching with Primary Sources Across

TennesseeTennessee

What is ?What is ?

• Educational Outreach program of the Library Educational Outreach program of the Library of Congressof Congress

• Mission: to provide educators withMission: to provide educators with– Skills to use the Library of Congress Web site Skills to use the Library of Congress Web site

most effectivelymost effectively– Strategies and materials to engage students with Strategies and materials to engage students with

primary sources for increasing higher order primary sources for increasing higher order thinking skillsthinking skills

What can Teaching with Primary What can Teaching with Primary Sources do for you?Sources do for you?

• WorkshopsWorkshops• Educator materialsEducator materials• Professional development / Professional development /

in-service creditin-service credit• Stipends for lesson plansStipends for lesson plans

Book BackdropsBook Backdrops

• Activity incorporating literacy skills with Activity incorporating literacy skills with English/Language Arts and Social StudiesEnglish/Language Arts and Social Studies

• Professional development plan (online) from Professional development plan (online) from TPS Direct: TPS Direct: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/professionaldevelopment/tpsdirect/pdplanbuilder/exports/fullexport/Book-Backdrops.pdf

Book BackdropsBook Backdrops

• Connecting books (fiction and non-fiction) Connecting books (fiction and non-fiction) to primary sourcesto primary sources

• For example…For example…

BOOK: BOOK: Mr. Lincoln’s WhiskersMr. Lincoln’s Whiskers by Karen Winnick by Karen Winnick (1999)(1999)

PRIMARY SOURCE:PRIMARY SOURCE:

BOOK: BOOK: The Importance of Being EarnestThe Importance of Being Earnestby Oscar Wilde by Oscar Wilde (1895)(1895)

PRIMARY SOURCE:PRIMARY SOURCE:

To Kill a MockingbirdTo Kill a Mockingbirdby Harper Lee (1960)by Harper Lee (1960)

Handout:Handout:Creating Book BackdropsCreating Book BackdropsUsing the Inquiry MethodUsing the Inquiry Method

• Build vocabularyBuild vocabulary• Connect to people, dates, eventsConnect to people, dates, events• Search for primary sourcesSearch for primary sources• Use primary sources as basis for discussionUse primary sources as basis for discussion

PAGE PAGE ##

VOCABULAVOCABULARYRY CONTEXT IN BOOKCONTEXT IN BOOK

PAGE PAGE ##

PERSONPERSONDATEDATEEVENTEVENTPLACEPLACE

CONTEXT IN BOOK / CONTEXT IN BOOK / HISTORYHISTORY

Children of turpentine worker near Cordele, Children of turpentine worker near Cordele, Alabama. The father earns one dollar a dayAlabama. The father earns one dollar a day

The farmers’ exchange, Enterprise, Alabama, where many of The farmers’ exchange, Enterprise, Alabama, where many of the Coffee County FSA (Farm Security Administration) the Coffee County FSA (Farm Security Administration)

borrowers purchase their supplies. Coffee County, Alabama borrowers purchase their supplies. Coffee County, Alabama

Street scene, Greensboro, Alabama Street scene, Greensboro, Alabama

Farm folk spend a day in town. Eden, Alabama Farm folk spend a day in town. Eden, Alabama

WPA life WPA life historyhistory

Folk song recording:Folk song recording:Come up, Horsey, Hey, HeyCome up, Horsey, Hey, Hey

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/lomaxbib:@field(DOCID+@lit(l2680a3))

Lesson plan from Library of Congress Teachers Page:

To Kill a Mockingbird:A Historical Perspective

http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/mockingbird/

CONTACT ME!CONTACT ME!

Stacey GrahamStacey GrahamProject Coordinator, Teaching with Project Coordinator, Teaching with Primary Sources Across TennesseePrimary Sources Across TennesseeCenter for Historic PreservationCenter for Historic PreservationMTSU Box 80MTSU Box 80Murfreesboro, TN 37132Murfreesboro, TN 37132(615) 494-8783(615) 494-8783Stacey.Graham@mtsu.edu Stacey.Graham@mtsu.edu