DocsTeach is a free app from the
National Archives that provides access
to thousands of primary source documents.
They are divided by topic and era and
include letters, diaries, drawings, maps,
Using primary resources and the included lesson seeds,
students in my fifth grade class studied the meaning of
the Declaration of Independence, questioned whether it
was treasonous for the colonies to break away from British
rule, examined the contributions of Benjamin Franklin, and
scrutinized the relationships between the Native American
nations and the settlers.
Teachers can sign up for a free account on the Docs Teach
website ( DocsTeach.org) and create lesson plans that they
can access on the app, or they can use the app without
setting up an account.
Platform: iOS
Cost: Free
Bring History Alive with Primary Source Documents!
Got an app for that? Email a description of your favorite app to dfingal@iste.org.
Here are a few more apps our members recommend for exploring museums and historical institutions.
Art Authority: View more than 65,000 paintings
and sculptures by the western world’s greatest artists.
iOS; $9.99
MoMA Art Lab: Try nine activities based on the
work of artists in the New York Museum of Modern Art.
iOS; $2.99
Montpelier: Visit the home and grounds of President
James Madison, father of the U.S. Constitution.
Android, iOS; free
Louvre HD: View the best paintings from the Louvre
Museum in Paris.
iOS; free
CultureNOW: Explore art, historical buildings,
and cultural institutions in more than 70 U.S. cities.
iOS; $1.99
Medina Historical: Learn about the people and places
in Medina County, Ohio, from this student-created app.
Android, iOS; free
Smithsonian Mobile: See highlights and exhibitions,
search collections, access tours, and find podcasts.
Android, iOS; free
Today’s Front Pages: Peruse the front pages
of hundreds of newspapers.
iOS; free
History Hero: Learn about the world’s museums,
churches, and historical sites in this video game.
Android, iOS; free
Explorer: The American Museum of Natural
History: Create a custom museum tour.
iOS; free
Museums of the World: Get up-to-date information
about museums, exhibitions, and other cultural events.
Android, iOS; free.
Playscape at the Children’s Museum of
Indianapolis: Discover art activities for kids
5 and under. Android, iOS; free
—Christine Hurley has been an elementary school media
specialist in Hagerstown, Maryland, for six years. She lives
and breathes technology in a 1: 1 iPad environment at
Emma K. Doub School for Integrated Arts and Technology.
