Tips for Success
Using works of art as a primary source provides a different perspective for understanding history, a primary source in a visual language that prompts new and interesting questions and insights.
Consider the following process before you begin to incorporate using art as a primary source.
Review Getting Started with Primary Sources and the Teacher’s Guide: Analyzing Primary Sources from the Library of Congress. Provide students with a simple handout, such as the Primary Source Analysis Tool from the Library of Congress.
Use the Smithsonian’s example, “How to Read Artwork as a Primary Source,” as a guide for yourself.
- Familiarize yourself with the techniques used in the each lesson.
Choose the theme that is relevant for your students. Each theme and lesson are independent of each other, allowing you to use just one or more.
Read the historical background and decide what information you might want to share with students.
Listen to the short audio interviews where available. Decide if you want to share an excerpt with students.
Read the Lesson Planning Guide and personalize it to your curriculum. The questions are provided as examples of prompts for you and not all questions need to be answered to have a thoughtful experience. Use what is relevant for your curriculum and your students.
Familiarize yourself with the artist and the artwork by clicking the link to the NBMAA e-museum below each image.
- Talk with Students
Explain to students that an original work of art, created at the time it depicts, is a primary source. Create enthusiasm for looking at art as a way to learn history.
Model the process that students will use to explore art as a primary source.
Emphasize the open-ended nature of exploring art so that students are comfortable in expressing their opinion without concern for right or wrong answers.
Enjoy your exploration with art as a primary source.
