Evidence: Primary vs. Secondary sources with EL Learners

1. Leaving Evidence
What is a primary source?

2. Time to Think
Think about all the activities you were involved in the past 24
hours.
Where did you go?
What did you do?
Who did you spend time with?
What did you eat? Where?
Get specific!

3. Make a list
On a piece of paper, take two minutes to write.
You can write it in sentence form or make a list.
Be prepared to share with your table.

4. Make a Chart
At your table group, make a chart.
Activities Evidence
Examples of Evidence
text messages
receipts
photos
surveillance cameras

5. Team Discussion
Review your list of activities and evidence chart.
Discuss:
• Which of your daily activities were most likely to leave trace
evidence behind?
Why would this be important?

6. More discussion...
More questions to consider:
What, if any, of that evidence might be preserved for the
future? Why?
• What would a person from the future be able to tell about
your life and your society based on evidence of your daily
activities that might be preserved for the future?
Why would this be important?

7. What does the evidence suggest?
What constitutes a primary source?
Discuss the evidence they have generated as
examples of primary sources.

8. Defining Primary Sources
A primary source can be defined as:
the raw materials of history original documents and objects
that were created under the time of study.
Highlight in yellow on your chart what evidence your team
considers primary sources. Be ready to defend your answer.

9. Secondary Sources
Secondary sources are accounts or interpretations of events
created by someone without firsthand experience. (They
were not there at the time of the event).
Highlight in another color what evidence on your chart would
be secondary sources. Be prepared to defend your answer.

10. Review with a Graphic

11. Definition Chart
 On a graphic organizer
 Define:
 Primary
 Source
 Firsthand
 Secondary
 Secondhand

12. Source Scenarios: Primary or Secondary
Read each scenario and decide with
your team if the source is primary or
secondary. Be prepared to cite evidence
for your reasoning.

13. Primary or Secondary?
 I was watching ESPN and one of the
reporters said he had heard good reviews
about a new sports movie. What he talks
about the movie, what is he?

14. Primary or Secondary?
 I found a letter to one of my friends in the
locker room after school the other day. I
know it is private, but I want to read it! What
is the letter?

15. Primary or Secondary?
 My friends and I found an old wedding dress
in our attic. My father said it belonged to my
grandmother. What is the dress?

16. Primary or Secondary?
 At school we use textbooks to learn about
the history of the United States. When we
use textbooks, what are we using?

17. Primary or Secondary?
 My mom has CDs of my grandparents telling
stories about when they were kids. We love
to listen to these at family gatherings. What
are we listening to?

18. Primary or Secondary?
 I like to read People magazine. I really like
the articles written by others about
Hollywood actors. When I read these stories,
what am I reading?

19. Primary or Secondary?
 My friend Tim said I should read a book that
he really liked. He told me about it, it sounds
really good! When Tim talks about the book,
what is he?

20. Primary or Secondary?
When I was at summer camp a few years
ago, I found an arrowhead; I did research
and fond out it has been made by the
Cherokee Indians. What is my arrowhead?

21. Primary or Secondary?
 I am writing an essay on George Washington
for my U.S. History class. I used articles from
Wikipedia and another encyclopedia. What
am I using?

22. Exit Quiz: A Primary Source is:
 Write your own definition of a primary source.
 What is an example of a primary source that you have used
or you have created?

23. Exit Quiz: A Secondary Source Is..
 Write your own definition of a secondary source
 What is an example of a secondary source that you have
used or you have created?

24. Credits
Library of Congress Teacher Materials
Teaching with Primary Sources
http://www.georgewbushlibrary.smu.edu/Teachers/Classroom-
Resources/~/media/DDB83FE7F55C45B883A4ACCE4C319DB1.ashx
Images
 http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-
54q9FlazDZE/UOsJ6jMyw1I/AAAAAAAACwQ/uDqklYSPFKM/s1600/primary+vs+se
condary+sources.jpg