Artifacts and Primary Artifacts and Primary SourcesSources

By Amy Peck, Cristy Padden, By Amy Peck, Cristy Padden,

Chris Smith, and Erin JungChris Smith, and Erin Jung

What is An Artifact/Primary What is An Artifact/Primary Source?Source?

Original documents (or copies)Original documents (or copies)Actual or replicas of historical Actual or replicas of historical

objectsobjectsAny firsthand account that was Any firsthand account that was

recorded in some manner by a recorded in some manner by a person taking part in or witnessing person taking part in or witnessing an eventan event

Where can teachers (and/or students) find primary Where can teachers (and/or students) find primary sources and artifacts?sources and artifacts?

• Internet (teacher Internet (teacher should check in should check in advance for validity of advance for validity of source)source)

• Local Government Local Government OfficesOffices

• Newspaper ArchivesNewspaper Archives• SpeechesSpeeches• DiariesDiaries• CemeteriesCemeteries• SchoolsSchools• HospitalsHospitals

• Court HousesCourt Houses• Local BusinessLocal Business• Flea Markets and Flea Markets and

Antique ShopsAntique Shops• LibraryLibrary• MuseumsMuseums• Guest SpeakersGuest Speakers• Videos (Check for Videos (Check for

validity of source)validity of source)• Art, PhotographsArt, Photographs• MusicMusic• Dig em’ up Dig em’ up (word) (word)

Use Primary Sources To…Use Primary Sources To…

• Inspire student interest and promote questioning.Inspire student interest and promote questioning.

• Bring history to life.Bring history to life.

• Reinforce knowledge about important persons, Reinforce knowledge about important persons, events, laws, institutions, and problems.events, laws, institutions, and problems.

• Help students to gain first-hand knowledge of Help students to gain first-hand knowledge of significant documents.significant documents.

• Develop habits of critical reading and thinking.Develop habits of critical reading and thinking.

How should teachers and students process How should teachers and students process primary sources?primary sources?

• Look at primary sources critically, noting that they are Look at primary sources critically, noting that they are biased and written from only one point of view.biased and written from only one point of view.

• Focus students on specific details you wish for them to Focus students on specific details you wish for them to research.research.

• Locate numerous primary sources for a well rounded Locate numerous primary sources for a well rounded interpretation of events.interpretation of events.

• Teach students to summarize to facilitate comparing and Teach students to summarize to facilitate comparing and contrasting information from various sources.contrasting information from various sources.

• Examine object closely, determine use.Examine object closely, determine use.

• Determine whether object is an original or a replica.Determine whether object is an original or a replica.

What are some specific primary What are some specific primary sources/artifacts for each grade levels?sources/artifacts for each grade levels?

• K-2K-2: The Pledge of Allegiance, Songs, Art, : The Pledge of Allegiance, Songs, Art, Neighborhood Maps, and Speeches/presentations Neighborhood Maps, and Speeches/presentations by Community Workersby Community Workers

• 3-43-4: California Maps, Mission Artifacts (Clara : California Maps, Mission Artifacts (Clara Barton’s Doll), Gold Rush DocumentsBarton’s Doll), Gold Rush Documents

• 5-65-6: Government Documents, Maps of world/US, : Government Documents, Maps of world/US, Immigration Documents, Greek Mythology Immigration Documents, Greek Mythology (statues/art), Accounts of War (journals, letters, (statues/art), Accounts of War (journals, letters, poems), Explorer Maps, Flagspoems), Explorer Maps, Flags

Are primary sources/artifacts used differently at Are primary sources/artifacts used differently at

primary grades compared to upper grades?primary grades compared to upper grades?

• Upper grades have the ability to discriminate between Upper grades have the ability to discriminate between sources and compare/contrast different sources. Students sources and compare/contrast different sources. Students in the upper grades are at the developmental level where in the upper grades are at the developmental level where they can begin to understand the difference between they can begin to understand the difference between primary and secondary sources and are able to analyze primary and secondary sources and are able to analyze differences in point of view. The lower grades need more differences in point of view. The lower grades need more guidance and the activities must be abbreviated and include guidance and the activities must be abbreviated and include more hands on experiences. The lower grades are not able more hands on experiences. The lower grades are not able

to read at the level many primary sources require.to read at the level many primary sources require.

How can technology support How can technology support social studies curriculum?social studies curriculum?

• The internet is a valuable tool for finding The internet is a valuable tool for finding primary sources. A webquest can help students primary sources. A webquest can help students focus in on specific sights the teacher has located. focus in on specific sights the teacher has located. Students can view artifacts/documents that are Students can view artifacts/documents that are not otherwise accessible. The internet makes not otherwise accessible. The internet makes many sources accessible if the school’s collection many sources accessible if the school’s collection is lacking or insufficient. Slide shows can be is lacking or insufficient. Slide shows can be viewed to show artifacts. Students can compare viewed to show artifacts. Students can compare and contrast primary sources and display their and contrast primary sources and display their findings in a power point presentation—Just like findings in a power point presentation—Just like us! us!

Advantages and Advantages and Disadvantages to Primary Disadvantages to Primary Sources and ArtifactsSources and Artifacts

• Strengths/Advantages:Strengths/Advantages:• Promotes Critical Promotes Critical

thinkingthinking• Addresses numerous Addresses numerous

learning styleslearning styles• EngagingEngaging• Gives students many Gives students many

perspectives on historical perspectives on historical eventsevents

• Lends itself to cooperative Lends itself to cooperative learninglearning

• Integrates Art, Literature, Integrates Art, Literature, Social Studies, MusicSocial Studies, Music

• Limitations/DisadvantagesLimitations/Disadvantages

• Lots of Lesson Planning Lots of Lesson Planning RequiredRequired

• Need to assess validity of Need to assess validity of sourcesource

• Reading Level is HighReading Level is High

• Takes More Time to Takes More Time to Analyze many sourcesAnalyze many sources

• Artifacts are delicate and Artifacts are delicate and hard to come byhard to come by

• Weight of Artifacts—Weight of Artifacts—Like the Drummer-Lady Like the Drummer-Lady Statue!Statue!