"Difficult" or "challenging" topics to teach include racism, violence, genocide, bullying, gangs, abuse (physical, emotional, and substance), slavery, suffering, hatred, terrorism, war, disease, loss, addiction, and more. But by confronting them with students, in the safety of a classroom through thoughtfully constructed lessons (ones that take into consideration students' ages and levels of maturity, as well as their experiences and abilities), teachers may minimize the discomfort and fear that they prompt. Such lessons can also provide students with the tools and skills they will need to address other difficulties they encounter throughout their lives. In order to construct lessons thoughtfully, teachers need to include multiple methods and materials. Primary sources, in a variety of media, can serve as useful starting points and rich components of such lessons. In this article, the author lists the benefits of primary sources.