Primary Source Analysis
Learn to look at old pictures and objects to understand how our neighborhood looked long ago.
Learn
A primary source is something that was made a long time ago. It helps us learn about the past. Primary sources can be:
- Old photographs - Pictures taken many years ago
- Old maps - Maps drawn before you were born
- Letters - Notes people wrote to each other
- Objects - Things people used, like old toys or tools
Why Primary Sources Matter
Primary sources help us answer questions like:
- What did this place look like before?
- How did people live here long ago?
- What has changed over time?
How to Look at a Primary Source
When you look at an old picture or object, ask yourself:
- What do I see? - Look carefully at all the details.
- What was it used for? - Think about how people used it.
- How is it different from today? - Compare it to what we have now.
Examples
Example 1: Old Photograph of a Street
Imagine looking at an old black-and-white photo of your town's main street from 100 years ago.
What we might see:
- Horses pulling carts instead of cars
- People wearing different clothes
- Smaller buildings
- Dirt roads instead of paved streets
What this tells us: Life was very different. People traveled differently and the town was smaller.
Example 2: An Old Map
Imagine looking at a map of your neighborhood from 50 years ago.
What we might notice:
- Fewer houses
- More farms or empty land
- A stream that is now covered up
- Missing streets that exist today
What this tells us: Our neighborhood has grown and changed over time.
Practice
Answer these questions about primary sources:
1. Which of these is a primary source?
- A) A new book about history
- B) An old photograph from 1920
- C) A movie about the past
- D) A story your teacher tells
2. You find an old letter from your great-grandmother. What makes it a primary source?
- A) It is written on paper
- B) It was written a long time ago by someone who was there
- C) It has nice handwriting
- D) It is in an envelope
3. When looking at an old photo, what is the FIRST thing you should do?
- A) Throw it away
- B) Look carefully at what you see
- C) Draw on it
- D) Close your eyes
4. An old map from 1950 shows farms where your school is now. What does this tell us?
- A) Maps are always wrong
- B) The neighborhood has changed over time
- C) Farms are better than schools
- D) Nothing at all
5. Which question would help you learn from a primary source?
- A) "What is my favorite color?"
- B) "What does this picture show us about the past?"
- C) "What did I eat for breakfast?"
- D) "Where are my shoes?"
6. You see an old photo with horses on the street. What might you compare this to today?
- A) Bicycles on sidewalks
- B) Cars on the road
- C) Fish in water
- D) Birds in trees
7. Why do we look at old photographs of our neighborhood?
- A) To see pretty colors
- B) To learn how our neighborhood has changed
- C) Because they are fun to break
- D) To find hidden treasure
8. An old toy from 100 years ago is made of wood. Toys today are often made of plastic. What does this comparison show?
- A) Wood is always better
- B) Things people make have changed over time
- C) Toys are not important
- D) Plastic did not exist 100 years ago
9. Which is NOT a primary source?
- A) A letter written in 1900
- B) A photograph taken in 1950
- C) A history textbook published last year
- D) An old map from 1800
10. You are comparing two maps: one from today and one from 50 years ago. The old map shows a river but the new map does not. What might have happened?
- A) The mapmaker made a mistake
- B) Rivers cannot disappear
- C) The river was covered up or moved when the town grew
- D) Rivers only exist in old maps
Check Your Understanding
Think about these questions:
- Can you explain what a primary source is in your own words?
- Can you name three types of primary sources?
- What three questions should you ask when looking at a primary source?
- Why is it helpful to compare old pictures to how things look today?
Next Steps
- Ask a family member if they have any old photographs or objects from long ago
- Practice looking at pictures and describing what you see
- Move on to the next lesson: Maps and Data