In this module, educators will learn 5 different strategies to engage students in reviewing, comprehending, and analyzing primary sources.
What is a Primary Source?
Primary sources are the voices of the past. They are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience. Documents, letters, posters, film, artifacts, photographs, maps, etc. can be primary sources that tell the story of people, places, an events of the past.
Why Use Primary Sources in the Classroom?
Examining primary sources gives students a powerful sense of history and the complexity of the past. Helping students analyze primary sources can also guide them toward higher-order thinking and better critical thinking and analysis skills (from the Library of Congress).
Using Primary Source Analysis Strategies Helps:
Enrich student understanding of content Build historical thinking skills and context Derive conclusions based on evidence Examine bias, perspective, and POV Reinforce the importance of sourcing
1. Zoom-In
This strategy focuses students' attention on one small piece of an image at a time. By doing this, students can describe what they see, make inferences, and draw conclusions.
- View this short PowerPoint demonstrating the Zoom-In strategy
- How to Create a Zoom-In Inquiry Activity
REFLECT:
- How might you incorporate this strategy into your classroom?
- What skills will students demonstrate through a Zoom in Inquiry?