Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources: For Beginners

Overview:

This resource for younger aged students (approximately ages 10-13 years) provides a solid foundation for studying history by engaging students with a variety of source material which outlines why we study history, what historians do on a day to day basis and how to identify primary and secondary source material.

About the resource:

This resource includes over thirty pages of content including:

• Detailed lesson plans that follow the GANAG instructional model with embedded HITS & Historical Thinking concepts,

• Additional ‘teacher note pages’ which outline the pedagogical choices made for each activity,

• APK (introductory activities) that can be projected onto a whiteboard or printed,

• A 3 page detailed worksheet that explains the reason we study history, what historians do on a day to day basis and which examines how to identify primary and secondary source material (with examples), this includes clear definitions and embedded activities that gradually increase in complexity,

• A brainstorm activity in printable or projected format which will allow you to quickly identify student knowledge, including any misconceptions they may hold about sources,

• A game which asks students to identify a variety of sources as either primary or secondary: 30 task cards included with detailed instructions on how to play the game, also includes modified versions of the game,

• A formative writing task to be given to students after the two lessons which assesses their understanding of the content,

• Information sheets for Historical Thinking concepts, HITS & GANAG.

On Curriculum:

Each resource I design directly links to a variety of curriculum contexts including: Common Core standards (USA), Key Stages (UK), Victorian curriculum (AUS) and the Australian curriculum (see disclaimer[link]). This resource in particular links to the following standards:

Common Core Standards: [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1] [CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.4]:

Australian Curriculum Standards: [ACHHS206] [ACHHS149] [ACHHS208] [ACHHS152]

Victorian Curriculum Standards: [VCHHC083]

Key Stages (based on The Historical Association guidelines - non statutory): KS2 - Develop the appropriate use of historical terms & Understand how knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources.

Embedded Historical Thinking Concepts & High Impact Teaching Strategies (HITS):

Collaborative Learning
Explicit Teaching
Setting Goals
Questioning
Structuring Lessons
Use Historical Sources as Evidence
For more detail on the above elements please read my Historical Thinking guide & High Impact Teaching Strategies guide found on my website.

Be sure to follow The Teacher’s Squire on Pinterest. Also sign up to my newsletter from my website to view new product releases, classroom tips, summaries of new research and more!