Harry S. Truman Presidential Library & Museum

Analyzing Primary Sources

Grade Levels: E, MS, S

The National Archives in Washington DC has established mini lessons on understanding and using primary sources. They have provided worksheets on line that show how to analyze documents, photographs, cartoons, posters, maps, artifacts, sound recordings and motion pictures. The list here will give you the links to these resources.

Supporting materials for using primary sources in the classroom

Introductory Exercise

Introductory Exercise: Introduction to Documents
Summary: This NARA exercise introduces students to historical documents found in their daily lives

Document Analysis Worksheets

These worksheets guide students to analyze the following types of primary sources:

• /psource.htm