Primary Sources for Social Studies

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Primary sources have become a popular topic of discussion and interest among social studies teachers and students. Teachers have seen the positive impact they can have on the curriculum and the students. As for students, they have seen history come alive through primary sources. Additionally, these sources have become easier and easier to find as the Internet resources continue to grow.

According to Yale (2008) a primary source is an item or document that can “provide first-hand testimony or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation.” While typically these sources are created at the time of the event or occurrences, Yale states that included items created later by people who experienced the event, as long as they still give first hand insight into what occurred. While teachers typically think of documents when considering the use of primary sources, a primary source can also be an item from the event, a work of art inspired by the event, or any other item that directly relates to the event. Documents seem to be the most frequently used, likely due to the accessibility of historical documents.

While primary sources can be used in a variety of disciplines, they are most commonly associated with social studies. Social studies often include topics that could benefit from the use of primary sources. As the Alabama Course of Standards (2010) states, “Primary sources enrich the social studies program and enable students to visualize and empathize with people of other times and places.” (p. 7) By using items from the time period, event, or topic being studied primary sources can contribute to an engaging classroom that allows students to discover the content in a unique way. They allow insight that the typical textbook can...

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Milman, N. B., & Bondie, R. (2012). An examination of teachers’ ratings of lesson plans using digital primary sources. Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education, 12(4), 391-407. Retrieved from ERIC.

National Council for the Social Studies. (2008). A vision of powerful teaching and learning in the social studies: Building social understanding and civic efficacy. Retrieved from http://www.socialstudies.org/positions/powerful.

Percoco, J. A. (1998). Passion for the past. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

University of Alabama College of Education. (2014). Conceptual framework. Retrieved from http://education.ua.edu/about/conceptual-framework/.

University of Alabama College of Education. (2014). Secondary education social science. Retrieved from http://education.ua.edu/academics/ci/ssse/.

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