Our Work

Primary Source is guided by a commitment to change the way students learn so that their knowledge base is broader, their thinking more flexible and given to inquiry, and their attitudes about peoples of the world more open and inclusive. By equipping teachers with knowledge and resources, Primary Source prepares students for the challenges and complexities of our diverse nation and world.

In order to bring global perspectives into K-12 classrooms across New England and the United States, Primary Source provides graduate courses, workshops, and study tours for approximately 1800 educators each year. These programs give teachers background knowledge and teaching ideas on Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States. An increasing number of our courses and workshops support globally minded classrooms with an emphasis on themes that encompass multiple world regions. Additionally, our 7,000 piece library and growing online curriculum collection provide a wealth of international education resources for schools.

Our Educational Model
All of Primary Source’s programs for teachers bring together university-based scholars with expert teachers who have already translated scholarly material into classroom lessons. By fostering a climate of intellectual exchange between university scholars and teachers, Primary Source acknowledges the pivotal role teachers play in the creation of a more aware American public. Teachers are able to obtain professional development points after completing all of our programs and graduate credit after completing our full-day school year seminar series and summer institutes. The strategies and educational components of Primary Source's programs are varied and address different needs, including those of elementary, middle and high school teachers and principals as well as superintendents and policy makers.

The organization offers formal partnerships with school districts that are committed to updating their curriculum and to the collegial sharing of best practices.