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=Raw History: Resources to Help You Teach and Learn History Using Primary Source Documents =

= **So just what //is// a "primary source document," and how can they help to improve my teaching? ** = == Primary source documents help to present first-hand testimony and authentic evidence of a topic being investigated. This is simply because, by their nature, they have a direct connection to their content. Primary sources can be documents, photographs, letters, recordings, diary entries, or anything else created by a person //**actually experiencing and providing real-time documentation of a historical event or period.**// The other kind of source documents are //secondary source documents//, and these provide second-hand accounts, usually written from primary source documents, of events and historical periods. Examples of secondary source documents might be books, posters, summaries, or journal articles. While secondary source documents can provide excellent insight into historical issues, primary sources bring a certain sense of "discovery," and sometimes "mystery," into learning history. ==

=Where can I find information and resources pertaining to the use of primary source documents in my classroom? = =The simple answer: = =Anywhere, really. All you have to do is look. This page will provide some resources to begin your search, and tips for implementing primary source work in your teaching. =

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