Grade 5 · Social studies
Distinguish firsthand and later accounts practice
Classify a source by how and when it was created while keeping source type separate from accuracy.
Opening your practice adventure…
Try a sample
A witness writes an enthusiastic letter about a parade. Does being a firsthand source guarantee every statement is accurate?
- Yes; witnesses cannot make mistakes.
- No; firsthand sources never contain evidence.
- Yes; enthusiasm proves accuracy.
- No; its details still need evaluation.
See the answer & why
No; its details still need evaluation.
Access to an event can provide evidence without eliminating error or perspective.
A little hint: Ask whether the creator witnessed the event or interpreted earlier records; either kind still needs checking.
A teaching tip
Ask whether the creator witnessed the event or interpreted earlier records; either kind still needs checking.