America250KY Teacher Resource Hub

Resources for teachers, students, and parents related to the 250th.

Access our digital collections to find primary source artifacts, documents, and images.

Visual Thinking Strategies

These PowerPoints help students visualize the past. Analyzing an image to identify evidence that supports a student’s observation is an essential skill for students.

Chinese American Families in Louisville Visual Thinking Strategies

• Chinese American Families in Louisville VTS PowerPoint
• Chinese American Families in Louisville VTS Teacher's Guide

Frontier Nursing Service Visual Thinking Strategies

• Frontier Nursing Service VTS PowerPoint
• Frontier Nursing Service VTS PowerPoint Teacher's Guide

International Military Tribunal for the Far East Visual Thinking Strategies

• International Military Tribunal for the Far East VTS PowerPoint
• International Military Tribunal for the Far East VTS PowerPoint Teacher's Guide

Pine Mountain Settlement School Visual Thinking Strategies

• Pine Mountain Settlement School VTS PowerPoint
• Pine Mountain Settlement School VTS Teacher's Guide

Spanish-American War Visual Thinking Strategies

• Spanish-American War VTS PowerPoint
• Spanish-American War VTS PowerPoint Teacher's Guide

Wendell Family Visual Thinking Strategies

• Wendell Family VTS PowerPoint
• Wendell Family VTS PowerPoint Teacher's Guide

Educator's Guide to VTS PowerPoints

Primary Source Packets

Packets of primary sources that meet Kentucky Academic Standards for Social Studies.

Irish Immigration Primary Source Packet - These five letters trace the experiences of the Masterson family as they navigate the hardships of the Irish Famine, separation, and the uncertainties of immigration between 1850 and 1852. Together, they reveal the difficult conditions in Ireland, the challenges and opportunities encountered in the United States, and the emotional bonds that shaped decisions about leaving home.

Kenneth G. Maddox Primary Source Packet - this collection contains the World War II letters of Louisville U.S. Army Lieutenant Kenneth G. Maddox to his family.

Kentucky Suffragists Primary Source Packet - this collection contains correspondence to and from Laura White, an Ashland suffragist.

War of 1812 Primary Source Packet - This collection documents Kentucky’s involvement in the War of 1812, highlighting diplomatic tensions with Europe, major battles, the sacrifices of Kentucky soldiers, and personal accounts of loss and imprisonment.

Watson and Robinson Family Letters Primary Source Packet - a collection of letters between the Watson and Robinson families, and includes correspondence from individuals enslaved in Kentucky.

James Wilkinson Primary Source Packet - this collection of letters traces James Wilkinson’s shifting concerns—from leading militia attacks on Native American settlements and planning military operations in the early 1790s, to defending himself against accusations of Spanish espionage and later seeking evidence for his own trial.

Kentucky Studies

Discover the rich culture of Kentucky through the stories of people, places, and events in this Kentucky Studies collection. The Kentucky Studies collection features Kentuckians who made their mark on history not only in Kentucky but the world. Learn about the places and events that made Kentucky what it is today.

Ken Burns in the Classroom

Ken Burns and his collaborators have been creating historical documentary films for more than forty years. Known for a signature style that brings primary source documents, images, and archival video footage to life on screen, these films present the opportunity to pose thought-provoking questions for students, and introduce new ideas, perspectives, and primary sources.