1. Getting Started with Primary Sources
Note to teachers: This PowerPoint presentation may be used by teachers as a classroom instructional resource. Young students can gain an awareness and understanding of primary sources when this is related to their own personal histories.
The Social Sciences NGSSS call for beginning instruction with primary sources in kindergarten. In order to help students understand what primary sources are, it is good to begin with their personal history and family history.
In kindergarten, students should develop an awareness of primary sources.
In Grade 1, students should Develop an understanding of primary sources.

2. What are Primary Sources?
Primary sources are things that were made long ago. Some primary sources are:
Students should understand that there are different types of primary sources and that these were created during a particular time in history. (the time under study and are first had accounts of events)
Videos
Photos
Letters

3. What are Primary Sources?
Here are more kinds of primary sources. Look at them carefully. What can you tell about them?
Discuss what makes these items primary sources.
They were made during a particular time in history
They are originals…not copies made to look older than they actually are.

4. We Can Learn from Primary Sources
They help us learn about history. History is what happened in the past.
Discuss each source. What makes it a primary source?
Coins: they were made many years ago during a particular time in history.
Journal: the journal was written by a person with first had account of the events taking place during a particular time.
Photo: the photograph was taken during the time under study.

5. We Can Learn from Primary Sources
We can learn about primary sources with our own things. Look at your own photos and family photos.
Our own family’s photos tell a story of the past and serve as a record of an event. Discuss each photo and have students talk (What do they notice? What thoughts do they have? What can they tell from each picture? What do they wonder? )

6. We Can Learn from Primary Sources
Listen to stories from your family members.
Also discuss “oral histories” from adults in their family. These provide information from relatives who have “first hand accounts” of the past.

7. Your Primary Sources
What can you learn from your own and your family’s primary sources?
Discuss how the different items pictured on the slide can help one learn about family history.

8. You can learn about history through primary sources!
Discuss with students how different primary sources can help them understand about the past. Items that can be primary sources include:
Photos, maps, letters, journals, documents, recorded sounds, videos, artifacts from the time under study (many items to include, uniforms, tools, coins and bills, toys, furniture, flags, etc.)