Objectives
Students will:
- analyze a primary source document from Plimouth Plantation.
- sort ideas using a Venn Diagram.
Description
Students will analyze a primary source that has been provided by Plimouth Plantation. Using a Document Analysis worksheet, students will answer questions about the primary source and complete a graphic organizer.
Duration
One 45-minute class period
Materials/Web Resources
SMARTBoard, projector, internet access, primary source organizer (Venn diagram), Document Analysis worksheet, notes and pens
Procedure
1. Define the terms primary source and secondary source.
- Primary sources are materials that are from the time period in question. Examples of primary sources include journals, diaries, maps, photographs, etc.
- Secondary sources are materials that are analyses or interpretations of the original. Examples of a secondary source include textbooks and articles.
After defining these terms, ask students to identify a major event that happened recently at school or in their town or city. Have students brainstorm any items they think would help historians in the future figure out what happened at this event. How would they record this event? What sources would be most helpful to the historian and why?
2. Together as a whole class, using the SMARTBoard, have students will come up and write their ideas about primary and secondary sources in a Venn Diagram (see "Gallery" in SMART Notes)
3. Share the definition of primary source with the class. Explain that historians, to make sure they are getting the whole story, look for multiple sources when researching people and events from the past.
4. Access the www.plimoth.org site. As a class, go through Investigating the First Thanksgiving. In this section of the website, click on the part that is labeled "Evidence." This will pull up the primary source. This evidence is the only first person account from that time. Have students read it from the SMARTBoard. The ppy glass will also read it to you as you move the piece along the document. Move the viewing glass over the words to translate the letter for the class.
5. The students will complete the Document Analysis Worksheet (available under "Materials") for this document about the first Thanksgiving.
6. Discuss the meaning of the document and what was important about the document.
Assessment
Completion of Worksheet for quiz grade
Support Materials
SMART Board
This instructional content was intended for use with a SMART Board. The .xbk file below can only be opened with SMART Notebook software. To download this free software from the SMART Technologies website, please click here.
Author
Nichole Horler, Enlarged City School District of Middletown
