- Definition
A primary source is information that comes directly from someone who experienced or saw an event, like a diary entry or an original photograph.
A diary entry written by a soldier during the Civil War is a primary source because it is a firsthand account from that time.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A primary source is like looking at a photo you took of your birthday party, not a drawing someone made of it later.
Ask your child: If a historian wanted to know about your life, what could you give them?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a textbook is a primary source because it has facts. A primary source is the raw material from the time period itself, not someone else's summary of it.
Examples
- An original photograph of a historical event, like the March on Washington.
- A letter written by a queen to her advisor.
- An audio recording of an interview with someone who lived through the Great Depression.
Primary Source is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
