Analyze first and secondhand accounts of historical events
I can compare and contrast firsthand and secondhand accounts of the same
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General
In this lesson, students will learn how and why they should read multiple accounts of the same events. They will look at types of writing that might be considered firsthand or secondhand accounts. They will also determine the authors' points of views and compare and contrast the accounts.
Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.6
Learning objective
Students will be able to compare and contrast firsthand and secondhand accounts of the same historical event.
Introduction
Have students share about something they did with family or friends over the summer (or the weekend). They will describe their experiences and how they felt. Students will be introduced to first and secondhand accounts.
Instruction
Firsthand accounts are told from the first-person point of view, while secondhand accounts are told from the third-person point of view. Students will discuss and sort the different types of text (e.g., newspapers, emails, speeches) into first and secondhand accounts.
Students will then read three different accounts of Rosa Parks's heroic bus ride. For each account, they will determine whether it was a first or secondhand account, the key topics, and the author's point of view. After reading all three accounts, they will compare and contrast them.
Quiz
Students will review first and secondhand accounts with 6 true/false questions and 3 questions about two different accounts of the Pilgrims on the Mayflower.
Closing
Students will recall what they learned about first and secondhand accounts. They will also read through 5 statements and decide whether each describes a first or secondhand account. Lastly, students will read 2 more accounts: one about Brown v. The Board of Education and another about Ruby Bridges's first day at William Frantz. They will decide whether the accounts are first or secondhand, determine the key topics, and the authors' points of view.
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Gynzy is an online teaching platform for interactive whiteboards and displays in schools.
With a focus on elementary education, Gynzy’s Whiteboard, digital tools, and activities make it easy for teachers to save time building lessons, increase student engagement, and make classroom management more efficient.