resources for educators

The Portal to Texas History

Primary Source Set

Teacher's Guides and Analysis Tools

Engage. Inquire. Investigate.

 

Analysis Worksheet for Students

Primary Source Analysis Tool

Primary sources are the raw materials of history — original documents and objects which were created at the time under study. They are different from secondary sources, accounts or interpretations of events created by someone without firsthand experience.

Links to Teachers' Guides

Analyzing Primary Sources

How to Use Primary Sources in the Classroom

Citing Primary Sources

Copyright and Fair Use

Copyright Chart (PDF)

Examining primary sources gives students a powerful sense of history and the complexity of the past. Helping students analyze primary sources can also guide them toward higher-order thinking and better critical thinking and analysis skills.