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Tools of the Historian: Primary vs. Secondary Sources

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the difference between primary and secondary sources. They discuss the importance of evaluating all sources they might use. They read primary and secondary sources that relate to the colonial period.
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Primary Source? What is That?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the use of primary sources. They read and discuss excerpts from the "Diary of Anne Frank," write journal entries, identify examples of altruism from the book, write an essay, and complete a worksheet.
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Understanding Primary and Secondary Sources

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify legends in Tennessee and U.S. history, and differentiate between primary and secondary sources. They list examples of primary and secondary sources, participate in a field trip to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and...
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Hydraulic Mining

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore reasons for supporting and opposing hydraulic mining. It was the most efficient and used mining method until 1884. A simulated court hearing is held where a decision is made whether to allow the continued use of this...
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The Story Was in the Details

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils explore and analyze primary documents from historical women's diaries. They conduct Internet research, develop conclusions about the primary documents, answer questions, and present their information to the class.
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North Platte Canteen and World War II

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students employ primary resources to investigate the rise and decline of a canteen in World War II. The significance of volunteerism and the use of the railroad for troop transportation are examined.
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The Diary of Col. William Fairfax Gray

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders examine facts and opinions given by William Fairfax Gray in his diary, compare and contrast ideas expressed in his diary, express opinions using correct language arts skills, and calculate answers to given mathematical...
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Visions in the Dust: A Child's Perspective of the Dust Bowl

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine primary source material of the Depression to correlate the fictional text "Out of the Dust" with actual visual, auditory, and manuscript accounts as found in the American Memory collections.
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Documents and Photographs Related to Japanese Relocation During World War II

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers analyze photographs and documents to explore the Japanese Relocation Camps. They complete an analysis worksheet and share with the class. They write a dialogue based on real life examples of families affected and research...
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Using Primary Documents: "Agreeable to His Genius"

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students use primary sources to reconstruct events in the life of John Partidge Bull.
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The Garber Family Letters: Recreating 19th-Century Family

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students interpret primary sources and recreate the story of the Garber family.
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Mine eyes have seen...Union soldiers in the South

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Pupils examine letters written by Union soldiers fighting in the South during the Civil War, and write descriptions of the South using information found in the letters.
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African American Life during Jim Crow

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine Jim Crow laws using primary sources.
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Declaration of Independence

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders interpret and analyze political cartoons. For this primary source analysis lesson, 11th graders examine the implications of Industrialization as they respond to questions regarding selected political cartoons about the...
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What Really Caused This?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students read a copy of the Conscription Act of 1863  and respond to 7 short answer questions about its content. The text of the act is not included.
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Secession Convention Analysis Sheet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this primary source analysis worksheet, students complete a graphic organizer based on the Secession Convention. The primary source documents are not included.
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Television Interviews Group 1

For Teachers 9th - 12th
For this primary source analysis worksheet, students respond examine the linked resources and discuss their significance.
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Television Interviews Group 2

For Teachers 9th - 12th
For this primary source analysis worksheet, students respond examine the linked resources and discuss their significance.
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Television Interviews Group 3

For Teachers 9th - 12th
In this primary source analysis worksheet, young scholars respond examine the linked resources and discuss their significance.
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Sources of Information

For Teachers 7th - 11th
For this sources of information study guide worksheet, students read a brief overview pertaining primary and secondary sources and then respond to a reflection question.
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The Wrights' Flight: History Through Primary Sources

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students read primary source material about the Wrights' first flight such as a journal and a telegram. In this The Wrights' Flight lesson, students select the most reliable primary source and compare the pros and cons of using primary...
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Activity 10: Primary and Secondary Sources

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed
Students sort documents into primary and secondary sources and analyze their reliability. In this history research lesson, the teacher gathers a selection of document images, then discusses primary and secondary sources and their benefits.
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Powerful Signatures

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students experience famous historical documents that were initiated and propelled by signatures such as Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution. They create a school amendment using the information gathered.
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This Just In: Exploreer Neets Wabanaki Indians

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners engage in a research of the Wabanaki Indians using a Social Studies textbook. Then the teacher reviews the information with the students. Then they work in groups to decipher the meaning of a primary source document and write a...