Page 5 - Civil War Curriculum Book
P. 5
Primary Document Lesson Plan
The following lesson plan is meant to be used as an introduction for teachers and
students using primary source documents for the first time.
Objectives:
The learners will:
1. Examine copies of primary source documents.
2. Determine the document's value to a researcher.
3. Analyze and evaluate the document for bias or contradiction.
4. Know the difference between a primary and secondary source.
Definitions:
Primary source - source created by people who actually saw or participated in an
event and recorded that event or their reactions to it immediately after the event.
Secondary source - source created by someone either not present when the
event took place or removed by time from the event.
Materials needed:
Primary source document-Abraham Lincoln correspondence included in this
curriculum packet
Directions:
1. Have students examine primary source documents from the Internet.
2. Have students examine the document and answer the following questions:
o What type of document is it?
o What is the date of the document?
o Who created the document?
o Why was the document created?
o Any distinguishing marks or features on the document (date stamps,
someone else's notes in the margin...)?
3. Consider the following questions:
o What does the existence of this document say about
whoever created it?
o What does this document say about American (Ohioan)
life in this era?
