Grade: Grade 2 Subject: Social Studies Unit: Simple Economics Lesson: 3 of 6 SAT: Information+Ideas ACT: Reading

Primary Source Analysis

Learn

A primary source is something made by people who were there when it happened. It helps us learn about the past.

What Are Primary Sources?

  • Old photographs - Pictures taken long ago showing stores, markets, or people working
  • Letters and diaries - Words written by real people about their lives
  • Old newspapers - News stories from the past about buying and selling
  • Artifacts - Real objects like old coins, tools, or advertisements
  • Posters and signs - Advertisements from stores long ago

Why Do We Study Primary Sources?

Primary sources help us understand how people bought and sold things in the past. We can see:

  • What goods people needed
  • What services were available
  • How much things cost
  • How stores and markets looked different

How to Look at a Primary Source

When you look at a primary source, ask yourself:

  1. What do I see? - Describe what is in the picture or document
  2. What was happening? - Think about what people were doing
  3. What can I learn? - What does this teach me about economics?

Examples

Example 1: An Old Store Photo

Imagine a black and white photo showing a general store from 1920.

What do I see? I see shelves with jars and boxes. There is a man behind a counter. Signs show prices.

What was happening? People came to this store to buy goods like food and supplies.

What can I learn? Long ago, people bought many things at one general store. Today we have different stores for different goods.

Example 2: An Old Advertisement

Imagine a poster advertising "Fresh Milk - 10 cents per bottle"

What do I see? I see words about milk and a price. There is a drawing of a milk bottle.

What was happening? Someone was trying to sell milk to customers.

What can I learn? Prices were different long ago. Milk cost much less, but people also earned less money.

Example 3: A Letter About Work

Imagine a letter from 1900: "Dear Mother, I started my new job at the factory today. I will make shoes."

What do I see? I see a person writing about their job making shoes.

What was happening? This person was a producer who made goods (shoes) at a factory.

What can I learn? People worked in factories to make goods that others would buy.

Practice

Answer these questions about primary sources and economics.

1. What is a primary source?

A) A made-up story about the past
B) Something created by people who were there
C) A textbook about history
D) A movie about old times

2. Which of these is a primary source?

A) A story your teacher wrote about the past
B) An old photograph of a market
C) A cartoon about history
D) A new painting of an old store

3. Look at this description: "An old sign says: Haircuts - 25 cents." What type of primary source is this?

A) A letter
B) A photograph
C) An advertisement
D) A diary

4. An old newspaper says "New Bakery Opens on Main Street!" What does this tell us about?

A) A new producer of goods
B) Someone buying bread
C) A school opening
D) A park being built

5. When looking at a primary source, what question should you ask FIRST?

A) What can I learn?
B) What do I see?
C) Is this old or new?
D) Who made this?

6. A photo shows a woman selling vegetables from a cart. What was her job?

A) Consumer
B) Producer
C) Teacher
D) Builder

7. An old diary says: "I bought new boots today for my job on the farm." Who is the writer?

A) A producer only
B) A consumer only
C) Both a consumer and a worker
D) Neither

8. Why are old price tags helpful primary sources?

A) They show us what colors people liked
B) They show us how much goods cost in the past
C) They show us what people ate for dinner
D) They show us where people lived

9. A poster says "Wanted: Workers for the Shoe Factory." What does this tell us?

A) Nobody wanted to buy shoes
B) The factory needed more producers
C) Shoes were free
D) The factory was closing

10. How can primary sources help us understand economics?

A) They show us how people bought and sold things
B) They teach us to paint pictures
C) They help us learn to write letters
D) They show us how to take photographs

Check Your Understanding

Think about what you learned and answer these questions.

Quick Check 1: Name two types of primary sources that could teach us about economics.

Quick Check 2: If you found an old photo of a market, what three questions would you ask about it?

Quick Check 3: How is looking at a real old photo different from looking at a new drawing of the past?

Next Steps

  • Look for old photos or advertisements at home or in the library
  • Practice asking the three questions when you see old pictures
  • Move on to the next lesson about Maps and Data