Benefits of Incorporating Primary Sources in the Secondary History Classroom

In many history classes, students encounter the past through assigned textbooks. The emphasis is on memorizing details and not building critical thinking skills. With the new common core standards, there is an emphasis on building students’ content literacy. Incorporating primary sources in the secondary history classroom has shown to be an effective way to get students engaged in history while also fostering their critical thinking. Within this study, I incorporated primary sources into a secondary history classroom. These primary sources offered alternative perspectives on historical events, and students were encouraged to analyze the sources and form their own perspectives. This study was completed in an American History class and included the collection of data through field notes and student work. The findings suggest primary sources are a beneficial addition to the history classroom, encourage critical thinking, and align with the Common Core State Standards