Primary Sources & QFT: How to Design a Primary Source QFocus Guide

Primary source item record: https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2004665381/

Primary sources are a natural choice for a QFocus. As artifacts plucked out of their original context, they are full of mystery and ripe for exploration. By the same token, they can be particularly information-dense and context-dependent: each detail becomes significant, a clue to understanding the circumstances in which they were created. So, what does work as a strong QFocus that will work well for your students and your objectives? Here are some basic guiding principles we’ve learned from teachers: An effective QFocus is:

1. Directly tied to the main idea or teaching and learning objectives of the lesson
2. Simple…but not too simple
3. Interesting or provocative to the people in the room…but not heavy-handed or leading
4. Open for many possible avenues of questioning

See more like this:

• More QFT primary source resources

Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program. Content created and featured in partnership with the TPS program does not indicate an endorsement by the Library of Congress.