Walk-In Take out notebook, folder, pencil box. Put away backpack. Copy the question at the BACK and answer in sentences. What does Paleolithic mean, and why is it a good name for that period of prehistoric humans?

Answer Paleolithic means “old stone”, so it is a good name for the Old Stone Age. In this time, humans used stones as tools. It also was the oldest (longest ago) of that time period.

The Work of Historians

Fact or fiction? Historians must distinguish between fact and fiction! What are facts? What is fiction? Why would a historian possibly record FICTION??!!?

How do historians know things about the past? One source is fossils and artifacts of humans and animals. Try this activity, to distinguish between different ways historians work!

Sorting Activity You are going to view some images of things historians work with. Imagine you are sorting the things into two piles, Pile A and Pile B. Decide which pile each goes into, by looking for common features of the items.

#1 Is this vase pile A or pile B? It is Pile A.

#2 Pile A or Pile B? Pile A!

#3 Pile B

#4 Pile A

#5 Pile A

#6 Pile B

#7 Pile B

#8 Pile A

#9 Pile A

#10 Pile B

#11 Pile B

What are the differences between Pile A and Pile B? Think of what they had in common! Is there a “rule” for how they were separated?

Pile A – Primary Sources Pile B – Secondary Sources

Primary Sources A primary source is a document or object that was written or created during the actual time period being studied. Examples include: Documents, speeches, pottery, dances, songs, diaries.

Secondary Sources A secondary source was written or created by someone about what was found in primary sources. These sources are about the event or time, but were not created at that time. Examples: textbooks, magazine articles, encyclopedias, websites

Reflection questions… Write your answer in your notebook: What is a main difference between primary and secondary sources? Why are primary sources important in the study of history?