National Archives Experience : Digital Vaults

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• Learn more about American history, critical literacy, discovery learning, higher-order thinking, inquiry, and primary sources.

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This site from the United States National Archives contains hundreds of documents, photographs, and other records to be explored in various ways. Each digital item has a brief textual description explaining its importance. All the items are tagged with keywords, so that by viewing one item, you bring up other items with similar tags. This provides a unique way to explore the collection, and allows users to make connections between primary sources that might otherwise have been missed. Users that need more guidance in exploring the collection, can Pathways Challenge use a series of clues to follow connections between photographs, documents, and other records, using tags and filters. Users can create their own pathway by dragging items into a personal tray and adding clues. From this personal collection, users can create posters or movies that incorporate the primary sources selected. A short, free registration is required to use every feature of the site, such as saving and emailing items you create.