Information Literacy Toolkit: Primary Sources

Asking students to use primary sources in an assignment allows for opportunities in inquiry-based learning. Below are some resources about primary sources that you can share with your students, followed by an in-class activity.

Activity Description

Provide your students with a box that includes several types of primary source artifacts. There should be enough artifacts for each pair/group to examine one. Ideally, each pair/group will analyze a different type of primary artifact. Depending on the size of the class and the amount of time available, have students use either the short version or the long version of the Artifact Analysis Worksheet below. Once the worksheets are completed, each pair/group should share their analysis with the class.

This activity can be used to compare primary source artifacts relevant to any topic/discipline. Feel free to adapt and remix as applicable.