Understanding Primary Sources
A Grade 5 Social Studies worksheet focused on identifying and analyzing primary sources.
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Understanding Primary Sources
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Read each question carefully and answer to the best of your ability. This worksheet will help you understand what primary sources are and how they are used in history.
1. What is a primary source?
A book written by a historian about ancient Rome.
An object or document created during the time period being studied.
A movie made last year about the American Civil War.
A newspaper article written yesterday about a historical event.
2. Which of the following is an example of a primary source?
A textbook chapter about World War II.
A diary entry written by a soldier during World War II.
A documentary film about World War II made in 2020.
A website listing facts about World War II.
3. A primary source is created by someone who was an to an event or lived during that time.
4. Letters, photographs, and speeches are all examples of sources.
5. A biography of Abraham Lincoln written last year is a primary source.
True
False
6. A photograph taken during a historical event is a primary source.
True
False
7. Why are primary sources important to historians?
Read the descriptions below and determine if the source is a Primary Source (P) or a Secondary Source (S). Write P or S in the box.
A letter written by George Washington to his wife.
An encyclopedia entry about the American Revolution.
A video of a historical speech recorded as it was happening.
A historical fiction novel about a pioneer family.
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