Primary and Secondary Sources

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Sources

Lesson 2 - Practicing Source Knowledge

Lesson 1 - Introduction to Sources

To know - source work in history

To be able to - explain the difference between a primary and secondary source

Historical Sources

A source is something that has been created and can be used to gather information about the past

There are many different types of sources which are categorised into two areas;

1. PRIMARY sources

2. SECONDARY sources

Types of sources

(Write three of these)

Objects

Diary Entries

Statistics

Newspapers

Photographs

Posters

Novels

Film

Letters

Primary Sources

Primary sources are sources that existed or were made during the time period of study. They are first hand accounts of the past.

(Write two of the below examples)

Examples of primary sources include:

Letters

Newspaper articles

Photographs

Inscriptions

Artefacts such as weapons, tools, coins and jewellery

Secondary Sources

Secondary sources are interpretations of a time period that are created after the time of study. They attempt to reconstruct the past.

(Write two of the below examples)

Examples of secondary sources include:

Textbooks

Reference books

Documentaries

Summary

Primary = during the time of study, first hand accounts of the past.

Secondary = after the time of study, reconstructions of the past.

In this case, Ancient China is the time of study between 1766BCE-1911CE

Mr Smith’s Trip to the national history museum.pptx

Mini Quiz

My Trip in LA


Your Activities

1 - Complete Primary or Secondary Sources Worksheet in silence (share answers as a class), glue in book when finished. This is a bit of a mini-test.

2 - Education Perfect on Primary and Secondary Sources. This will need to be completed for homework if it is not finished this lesson.


Primary or Secondary Sources.docx

kahoot on primary and secondary sources to finish the lesson

Guess whether the source is primary or secondary.

Lesson 2 - Practicing Source Knowledge

Your Task

In your books, copy the table below. Only complete one row at a time.

I have started the table for you.


You need to complete each heading of the table for every one of the sources below. I have done the first one for you.

So you need to:

1. Find the title of the source

2. Write a description on what the source is

3. Find when it was produced

4. Who made it

5. State whether it is a primary or secondary source

6. Say what it can tell you about the past (you need to think of this yourself)

The source analysis table

The Sources you need to complete the table

(The first one is done for you)

You can use the internet to help you as well.

DIARY ENTRY OF A WW1 FIGHTER PILOT

Written by Charles Wright in 1916-1917.

I've done this one for you as the example.

abu simbel

This source is an Ancient Egyptian temple known as Abu Simbel. The temple is dedicated to pharaoh Ramses II, who ordered the construction of the temple. The temple was built by slaves and finished construction in 1244BC. This source shows us how important Ramses II must have been and how renowned he was to his people.

THE IDENTITY CARD OF ROBERT KNOX

This is the identity card of Robert Knox, an American soldier during WW2.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE WRACK

The Wrack was a Medieval punishment used during the middle ages. The illustration shows how the punishment was used. The illustration was drawn by Dillon Silverton in 2016.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF A KNIGHT'S ARMOUR

This is the type of armour knights wore during the middle ages in the 1400's. The illustration was drawn by Dillon Silverton in 2016.

a russian soldiers helmet during ww2

This source is the helmet of a Russian solider during WW2. The helmet was made in 1492 by the Russian Military. We can can get a glimpse of what battle must have been like for the soldiers because we can see all the gunshot holes.

replica knights armour

This source is a set of replica armour made in 2018 by a company called Sterling Co for a Medieval Knights festival in Europe. This source can show us what knight's armour looked like during the Middle Ages.

Extension - qin dynasty sources

If you are finished, add some sources about the Qin Dynasty to your table. Click the link below to find some sources on the Qin Dynasty.

kahoot on primary and secondary sources to finish the lesson

Guess whether the source is primary or secondary.

BannerSource - Sodacan (Public Domain)