Primary and Secondary Sources
Aligned to C3.D3.1 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
A primary source is made by someone who was there, like a diary, photograph, or old letter. A secondary source is made later by someone who studied the event, like a textbook or an article. Good researchers use both and check the evidence.
Worked example
A letter written by a pioneer during her journey west is a primary source. A textbook chapter about pioneers, written today, is a secondary source that explains many people's journeys.
Practice questions
- What is the difference between a primary source and a secondary source?
- Explain why a primary source can give a special kind of evidence a textbook cannot.
- You find an old photograph and a website about the same event. Explain how each one could help you, and what questions you should still ask.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Fuentes Primarias y Secundarias
Una fuente primaria la hace alguien que estuvo presente, como un diario, una fotografía o una carta antigua. Una fuente secundaria la hace después alguien que estudió el suceso, como un libro de texto o un artículo. Los buenos investigadores usan ambas y revisan la evidencia.
Ejemplo: Una carta escrita por una pionera durante su viaje al oeste es una fuente primaria. Un capítulo de libro de texto sobre los pioneros, escrito hoy, es una fuente secundaria que explica los viajes de muchas personas.
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