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Introducing primary sources in the classroom is a great way to teach students about history, while also developing their critical thinking skills. Students can examine a primary source, discuss the era in which it was produced, and gain quite a different perspective on history than a textbook provides. For older students, comparing a primary source to text from secondary sources can trigger critical thinking skills as they form conclusions or discuss contradictions.

Not everyone has easy access to libraries and museums though to find and use primary sources. So the World Digital Library, working in conjunction with the Library of Congress of the United States, national libraries and universities from across the globe, UNESCO, and a host of other organizations, is making access to the world's primary resources simple: all that is required is a computer and an Internet connection.

The World Digital Library hosts primary sources such as manuscripts, maps, rare books, musical scores, recordings, films, prints, photographs, and architectural drawing from every region of the world. The website itself is accessible in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, but the resources it offers come in several other languages as well. The website is very user-friendly, and you can search it by selecting a region or different eras. Check out the video below to learn more.

The Library of Congress in the United States and a host of other websites offer teachers more information and ideas about how to incorporate primary sources in the classroom.