Here is a tool that I have been exploring and showing teachers how to use for a while now and it’s high time I shared it with you, my readers.

Google news provides you with the ability to search their archives going all the way back to the late 1800s.  This is a great tool to let your students do some historical research.

Searching the Google News Archive

Let’s say you want to search for articles on Clara Barton from the late 1800’s through the early 1900’s.

First, go to: http://news.google.com/archivesearch and enter in your search requirements.

 

 

Be sure to be specific to narrow the results.  You should be presented with a nice selection of news articles related to your search. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that you have entered your search criteria, click search and you can view the results.

Notice the dates of the results, the are all within our search range.  Next, let’s say you want to read the article about Clara writing to Mr. Roosevelt.  Simply click on the link and you can view a copy of the newspaper article.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a great way for your students to do research and interact with primary sources.