Civics Backstage: Setting the Scene with Primary Sources   

Primary Source Analysis

Active engagement through inquiry can help students drive their own learning through discovery and investigation. An inquiry-based learning approach begins with questions and is expanded by primary sources. There’s a tendency to think of primary sources as only text documents, but they can take many different forms, such as maps, photographs, newspaper articles, motion picture film, videos, audio recordings, and diaries, created during the time period studied.

Primary sources help to engage students with historical events and the people who lived in long-past eras. Thoughtful analysis promotes critical thinking, constructs knowledge, and helps students synthesize information and perspectives.

In Civics! An American Musical, students take on the role of a famous Broadway producer, helping to create a civics-themed musical based on real-life historical events. At every step of the creative process, the player’s expertise is needed to analyze the primary sources that determine the musical’s characters, themes, lyrics, dialogue, set, and costumes. During gameplay, students are prompted to Observe – Reflect – Question as they evaluate primary sources for the following topics:

When you introduce students to primary sources, it is important to select sources that support your learning objectives and are accessible for students. Listen as Lee Ann Potter explains additional considerations for selecting primary sources for your classroom.