Break into the vaults at the National Archive Experience
April 9, 2009
Have you always longed to be like Nicholas Cage in National Treasure, a treasure hunter on the trail of a priceless fortune — as well as a cute librarian — in the National Archives? Okay, maybe you’re just looking for an interesting activity to introduce your students to primary sources (without having to steal them like Nicholas Cage’s character does). Look no further, your quest is done. The National Archives Experience invites you to “unlock the digital vaults” and explore 1,200 out of the more than 10 billion (!) records on file. These include photos, and other documents (like records from Brown v. Board of Education, and documents from Rosa Park’s trial). It’s not the whole shebang, but it’ll keep you busy.
The documents focus on a variety of topics from presidents to African Americans to Einstein. Not only can you “collect” documents with descriptions and other helpful information, you also have a choice of three activities to do with the images. You can make a movie (similar to the interface on National Geographic Wildlife Film Maker), a poster, or what they call a pathway — sort of a treasure hunt through documents that are related in one way or another. It’s all fascinating, and a really great way to introduce kids to primary documents. At the National Archives Experience, you and your students can find your own national treasure. -ALICE MERCER
Related stuff:
Be your own curator with Museum Box
Instructifeature: Now museum, now you don’t
Visit the Library of Congress online
Photo credit: marttj on Flickr.
