Primary source sets are curated resources around one theme or question. Meaningful inquiry through primary source sets supports the development of essential historical thinking skills and connects students directly to history. The primary source sets developed by the New Hampshire Historical Society complement the range of topics covered in the “Moose on the Loose.” Each set of photographs, documents, maps, and objects offers multiple entry points for investigating a piece of New Hampshire’s past. See the Analyze It! section on this website for investigation frameworks for each type of primary source.
Here are several suggestions for using primary source sets:
Category Sort
A category sort is a simple way to introduce all the items in a set at once. Students examine the items for differences, similarities, and themes. What categories can they create? How many categories can they create? Which items go in which categories?
Compare/Contrast
Students focus on two items selected from the set to consider different perspectives on the topic of the set.
Focus Question
Teachers and students can work together to develop a question about the topic that prompts inquiry into multiples sources from the set. How do different sources help answer the question? How do additional sources enrich the answer?
Timeline
Students use details gathered during analysis to put the sources in chronological order as best they are able. Once the order is determined, students can look for change in how the topic is represented over time, new issues that arose about the topic during certain time periods, or connect specific items to other events that occurred at that time in the state, the country, or in other parts of the world.
Museum Exhibits
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Full exhibit: Educators hang up images in the hallway or in the classroom with blank paper under each one. Students examine the sources and write one word per source on the paper that relates to how they interpret the source. Once the class has all contributed, students and teachers discuss the words and themes, patterns, or discoveries made.
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Micro exhibit: Students select three items from the set for close analysis. After analyzing the items, the students use them to curate a micro exhibit about the topic.
Illustrated Guides
Select items from the primary source set to illustrate the student guide and prepare a presentation, either an online slideshow or a printed book.