1. Primary and Secondary Source Documents Chapter 17
Tips and tools from Mrs. Kauffman
Linglestown Middle Library Media Center

2. Essential Question
What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?

3. Historical Sources A historical source tells us about history.
Historical sources are things such as documents, pictures, sound recordings, books, films, television shows or objects.
There are two main types of historical source: Primary Sources and Secondary Sources

4. Primary Source A Primary Source is
Created by a person or people who saw or participated in an event and recorded that event or their reactions to it immediately after the event.
Items that have survived from the past, such as letters, photographs, articles of clothing.

5. Secondary Source A Secondary Source is
An account of the past created by people writing about events some time after they happened.

6. Examples History textbook = a secondary source
Journal/diary entry = a primary source

7. The Historical Record The historical record is HUGE!
Some historical sources were created and saved by people interested in recording history.
How can the historical record be both huge and limited? What kind of historical records do you leave behind in your daily life?

8. Mind walk through the last 24 hours…
Mind Walk Activity
Mind walk through the last 24 hours…
4x3
16x9

9. Primary or Secondary?
The original Constitution.

10. Primary or Secondary?
Primary!

11. Primary or Secondary?
A book about the writing of the Constitution published in 2005.

12. Primary or Secondary?
Secondary!

13. Primary or Secondary?
Letter from Mathew Brady to President Lincoln.

14. Primary or Secondary?
Primary!

15. Group Activity Each group has a set of index cards at their table.
In your group, examine your cards. Discuss and decide which are primary and which are secondary sources. Be prepared to explain why you have made your decisions. Use the handout to record your answers.