Teaching Social Studies with Primary Sources

By Heather Wasemann

What are Primary Sources?

Firsthand Information “Eye Witness”

Printed Materials Artifacts

Media Documents

Types of Primary Sources

People Events Ideas Culture Society

Primary Sources Provide Evidence of the Past

• Provide Background Knowledge• Help with unfamiliar vocabulary• Use Document Analysis Sheets• Ask Scaffolding Questions (leads to objective)

Teaching Primary Resources

Primary Sources as a Hook Activity

Spark Interest or Debate

Have students Investigate

“Why did so Many People in Jamestown Die?”

• Doc A Rainfall

• Doc B Settlers Skills

• Doc C Indian Relations

Primary Sources for Assessment

Document Based Essay Question = DBQ

• 5 paragraph essay• Proves a thesis• Cites evidence from the documents• Produces arguments based on evidence• Shows knowledge, critical thinking and

understanding of a time period or event .

Government Organizations

• National Archives

• Library of Congress

• Smithsonian Education

HistoricalSocieties

• Gilder Lederman

• Colonial Williamsburg

• American Historical Association

ProfessionalOrganizations

• AP Central• PBS Teachers• Discover

Education• NCHE

Lessons and Primary Sources

http://www.diigo.com/list/wasemannh/american-history

References19th-Century Illustration of Native Americans Fishing from a Canoe.

Corbis(2006). Retrieved February 16, 2009, fromDiscovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

A public notice about the Japanese removal.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

An English astrolabe, ca. 1325.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

George Washington at the end of his presidency.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Incomes of working women gave them freedom.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

References pg 2

Leni Riefenstahl at a motion-picture camera.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

"Join or Die," The Constitutional Courant.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Leather-bound Books. Corbis (1996). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

"Migrant Mother," famous Dorothea Lange photo.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Pennsylvania Journal and Weekly Advertiser. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

References pg 3

Segregation Protesters at Jail. Corbis (2009). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

The American flag on the moon's surface.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Title Page from Thomas Paine's Common Sense. Corbis (2006). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

United States Constitution. Jupiterimages Corporation (2006). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Returned Union prisoner from Civil War prison.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

References pg 4

Water Droplet. Jupiterimages Corporation (2006). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Vintage Car (1). Jupiterimages Corporation (2006). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Woman using wheel to spin flax. Paul Fuqua (2004). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/

Warsaw citizens as Germans enter the city.. IRC (2005). Retrieved February 16, 2009, from Discovery Education: http://streaming.discoveryeducation.com/