Primary secondary sort 2014

Primary/Secondary Source Sort

Educational Outreach Staff Summer 2014

Participants will: • Discern the difference between primary and

secondary sources

• Apply the definition of a primary source to a selection of sources

Learning Objectives

In small groups:

• Sort the pile of resources into two piles

1. Primary sources

2. Secondary sources

• Be able to justify why an item should be in one pile or the other.

– Record your justifications on sticky notes and attach to each source

Sort

Choose one item from the “uncertain” pile:

• Select a spokesperson;

• Show item; and,

• Tell why that item was difficult to classify.

Discussion

Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study.

They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience.

What are Primary Sources?

Consider the possibility that a source might be primary or secondary,

based on the time or topic under study.

What do you need to know to determine if a source is primary or secondary?

Discussion

Why is it important for you as the teacher to know how to tell the difference between primary and secondary sources?

Why is it important for students?

Discussion