Last updated: January 22, 2022
Lesson Plan
Primarily Me: Primary Sources from Whitman Mission
- Grade Level:
- Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
- Subject:
- Social Studies
- Lesson Duration:
- 60 Minutes
- Common Core Standards:
- 4.RI.3, 4.RI.4, 4.RI.6, 4.W.1, 4.W.1.b
- State Standards:
- SSS1.4.1 Identify the concepts used in documents and sources.
SSS1.4.2 Evaluate primary and secondary sources. - Thinking Skills:
- Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words.
Essential Question
What value should we place on primary sources of historical events?
Objective
Students will recognize various types of primary sources used by historians
Students will consider differences between types of primary sources and their usefulness
Students will understand primary sources are valuable but incomplete stories of events of the past
Background
Primarily Me is a lesson that focuses on the various sources that combined tell a story of Whitman Mission and the events that occurred here. Primary sources about the site vary from archeological resources to pictures and drawings made when the mission was active to clothing and other objects from the time period. Originally done as a eight week challenge, Primarily Me presents 8 unique challenges to students to think about the various values of primary sources and how they help to understand the events of the past. All eight challenges could be presented to students or some could be handpicked based on your classes individual learning objectives.
Preparation
Teachers should read through each of the eight challenges to know what each of them covers. Teachers should also watch the park's movie before engaging in the lesson as the movie will provide a good understanding of the events here in order to answer student questions. Materials would include writing paper or a notebook for students to record their answers to each of the eight challenges.
Materials
This is the eight challenges for the Primarily Me lesson plan for Whitman Mission NHS. Teachers can elect to do all eight challenges for just do the first few if those align with their learning goals.
Download Primarily Me: Primary Sources of Whitman Mission
Procedure
Each of these eight challenges provides a unique look into primary sources and their value in history telling.
1. Each challenge should be read to the students to have them start thinking about primary sources and what they are
2. Students should then be asked the companion questions to the primary source information to write down in their notebooks
3. Students should share their answers with a partner to see the different perspectives in their classroom about the story each primary source is telling.
4. Students should be asked if anyone wants to share their answers to the entire classroom and then ask does anyone have something different they chose to write about.
5. Move onto the next challenge and repeat the process as desired.
Each of the challenges can be found on the Whitman Mission website: Primarily Me
Vocabulary
Primary Source: A primary source is an original object or document -- the raw material or first-hand information, source material that is closest to what is being studied.
Secondary Source: a secondary source of information is one that was created later by someone who did not experience first-hand or participate in the events or conditions you’re researching
Oral History: An oral history is what you get when you ask someone questions about their own experience to learn more about history or culture.
Symbol: A symbol is something that stands for or represents something else.