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

Primary Source Analysis

Learn

A primary source is something made or written by people who were there when an event happened. Primary sources help us learn what life was really like long ago.

Types of Primary Sources

  • Old photographs - Pictures taken during that time
  • Letters and diaries - Words written by people who lived then
  • Objects and artifacts - Things people used, like tools or toys
  • Maps - Drawings of places from that time
  • Newspapers - News stories written when events happened

How to Look at a Primary Source

When you find a primary source, ask yourself these questions:

  1. What do I see? - Describe what you notice
  2. Who made this? - Think about the person who created it
  3. When was it made? - Figure out how old it is
  4. Why was it made? - Think about its purpose
  5. What can I learn? - What does it tell us about the past?

Primary vs. Secondary Sources

A secondary source is made by someone who was NOT there. A textbook about the past is a secondary source. Primary sources are special because they come directly from that time period.

Examples

Example 1: An Old Family Photo

Imagine looking at a photograph of your great-grandparents from 100 years ago.

  • What do I see? Two people wearing fancy clothes, standing very still
  • Who made this? A photographer long ago
  • When was it made? About 100 years ago
  • Why was it made? To remember a special day
  • What can I learn? People dressed differently then; photos were a big deal

Example 2: A Child's Diary from 1920

A page from a diary reads: "Today I walked two miles to school. We had no bus."

  • What do I see? Handwritten words on old paper
  • Who made this? A child who lived in 1920
  • When was it made? About 100 years ago
  • Why was it made? To write about daily life
  • What can I learn? Schools were far away; there were no school buses

Example 3: An Old Wooden Toy

A simple wooden horse on wheels from long ago.

  • What do I see? A toy carved from wood with wheels
  • Who made this? Someone who made toys by hand
  • When was it made? Before plastic toys existed
  • Why was it made? For a child to play with
  • What can I learn? Toys were handmade from wood; children played differently

Practice

Answer each question about primary sources.

1. What is a primary source?

Think: Who made it - someone who was there, or someone who learned about it later?

2. Which is a primary source: an old letter written by Abraham Lincoln, or a book about Abraham Lincoln written today?

Think: Which one was made by the actual person?

3. You find an old coin from 1850. Is this a primary source? Why or why not?

Think: Was the coin made during that time period?

4. Name two types of primary sources.

Think: Photos, letters, objects, maps, newspapers...

5. Why are primary sources important for learning about history?

Think: What makes them special compared to other sources?

6. You see an old photograph of children playing. What is the first question you should ask about it?

Remember the five questions we use to study primary sources.

7. A museum shows you a 200-year-old cooking pot. What can this primary source teach us?

Think: How did people cook? What did they eat?

8. Your grandmother shows you a postcard she received when she was your age. Is this a primary source? Explain.

Think: Did the postcard come from that time?

9. Which is a secondary source: a diary from 1900, or a website article about life in 1900?

Think: Which was made by someone who was NOT there?

10. You want to learn about schools 50 years ago. Name one primary source you could look for.

Think: What objects or writings would come from a school in that time?

Check Your Understanding

Can you answer these questions about primary sources?

  • Can you explain what a primary source is in your own words?
  • Can you name at least three types of primary sources?
  • Do you know the five questions to ask when looking at a primary source?
  • Can you tell the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?

Next Steps

  • Look for primary sources in your own home (old photos, letters, or objects)
  • Practice asking the five questions about sources you find
  • Continue to the next lesson: Maps and Data