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Historica Canada Education Portal

Primary Source Pyramid

  • Research and Writing
  • Intermediate – Middle School

This Learning Tool appears in 2 Collections

3D Pyramid: 5 Steps to Analyze Primary Sources

THE 5WS: Question the source. Who created it? When and where was it created? What is the source about? Why was the source created?
CONTEXT: Situate the source in space and time, placing it in the wider picture of history. What else was happening at the time?
EXPLORING: Examine the details of the source. What is it about? What words, images or symbols are used? What was its purpose?
REACHING CONCLUSIONS: Use context, evidence and observations to develop conclusions. What can the source reveal?
FINDING PROOF: Compare your conclusions with other primary and secondary sources to corroborate your findings. Do other sources confirm or challenge your conclusions? 

Supporting documents for this Learning Tool

File type File size Action
Primary_Source_Pyramid.pdf PDF 2.23 MB Download

Supporting documents for this Learning Tool