This document discusses why historians study the past and defines primary and secondary sources. It begins with asking students to think about why historians study the past and discuss their answers with a partner. It then defines a source as something used to learn about the past and lists examples of primary and secondary sources. Primary sources are direct evidence from the time period like documents, artifacts, and eyewitness accounts. Secondary sources are later analyses like history books, biographies, and documentaries. It concludes by providing questions historians should ask to evaluate sources.