Primary and Secondary Sources

Primary vs. Secondary Source Documents

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Identify the Type of Source

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How to Properly Source a Document

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Primary Source 5Ws

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With the help of the activities in this lesson plan, students will create rich and interactive storyboards that demonstrate their understanding of the use of primary and secondary sources throughout history. Students will first learn how to source a document by developing the proper ways of questioning a document in order to see the credibility and reliability of the source. Students will also evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of using a primary and secondary source in their research. Students can identify the differences between a primary and secondary source with a hands-on approach that uses authentic and significant sources throughout history. Finally, students will take the core knowledge they've learned to create a summative work of a major historical primary source that demonstrates their understanding of the chosen document.

Sources Key Vocabulary

• Primary Source
• Secondary Source
• Artifact
• Perspective
• Reliability
• Bias
• Context
• Source
• Document
• Accuracy
• Recreate
• Evaluate

Discussion Questions for Sources

1. What are the differences between a primary and secondary source?
2. How do you source a document?
3. How can primary source documents help us to understand the past?
4. What are the strengths and weaknesses of primary and secondary sources?