A National Archives Foundation educational resource using primary sources from the National Archives

ATTENTION: Due to routine maintenance, some features of DocsTeach will be unavailable from 12pm ET on Friday, May 1 until 6pm ET on Sunday, May 3. Please do not create, edit, or add any activities or primary sources during this time. Students should not submit responses during this time. Any work drafted or submitted during this time may be lost. You will still be able to access saved activities and primary sources. We appreciate your patience.

Teaching Tools

Teaching Tools

Educator Support

When we ask students to work with and learn from primary sources, we transform them into historians. 

Helping Engage Students

Rather than passively receiving information from a teacher or textbook, students engage in the activities of historians — making sense of the stories, events and ideas of the past through document analysis.

We are here to help you give your students hands-on access to primary sources and analysis techniques that will form a connection to historical evidence and deepen their understanding of the past.

Go to Activity Tool Instructions

Activity Tool Instructions

Learn how to create your own Activity using the online activity-creation tool. 

Go to Guides and Resources

Guides and Resources

Explore topics such as document analysis and how to manage assignments.

Go to Professional Development

Professional Development

Register for a custom webinar or explore presentation materials for educators in your school or district to learn more about DocsTeach.