Understanding Sources Through Robert H. Jackson

Overview:

Students will learn how to differentiate between primary and secondary sources using the life and career of Robert H. Jackson as a focal point. Through engaging activities, they will practice identifying fact vs. opinion, recognize bias, and reflect on how to determine if a source is reliable.

Learning Goals:

Analyze and interpret evidence from primary and secondary sources.
Explain the difference between primary and secondary sources.
Identify reliable sources of research and information.
Engage in activities that encourage critical thinking and real-world applications of civics.

Learning Standards:

New York State
- Social Studies: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and 5.4
- ELA: Reading Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies: RH1, RH2, RH4, RH6, RH7, and RH9
Pennsylvania
- History: 8.1.6, 8.1.9
- Reading in History and Social Studies: 8.5.6-8A, 8.5.6-8B, 8.5.6-8F, 8.5.6-8H, 8.5.6-8I
- Writing in History and Social Studies: 8.6.6-8B, 8.6.6-8C, 8.6.6-8D, 8.6.6-8F, 8.6.6-8H

Assessment/Evaluation:

Participation in discussions and activities
Completion and accuracy of activity worksheets
Could turn Wrap-Up into an exit ticket

Materials Needed:

For students:
- Primary and Secondary Sources in a format for students
- Source worksheet
- Fact vs. Opinion cards
- Bias in Images worksheet
Teaching Materials for Primary vs. Secondary Sources
Teaching Materials for Fact vs. Opinion and Bias
Teaching Materials for Robert H. Jackson Introduction

Lesson Flow
                          Introduction
                                                
                          5 min
                      
                                          Class discussion (could be a bellringer question):
What is the difference between seeing or hearing something for yourself and hearing about it from someone else?
What is a fact about your school? What is an opinion about your school?

                          Instruction
                                                
                          10 min
                      
                                          Primary vs. Secondary Sources (see Teacher Resource)
Fact vs. Opinion and Bias (see Teacher Resource)
Introduce Robert H. Jackson as a case study (see Teacher Resource)

                          Activities
                                                
                          20 min
                      
                                          Primary and Secondary Source Identification
Students will be given several examples of primary and secondary sources pertaining to Robert H. Jackson. (see resource).
Students should fill out the questions included for each source to help them investigate the source.

Fact or Opinion Identification
Students will be given several statements and must determine if they are facts or opinions (see resource).

Bias Identification
As a class, you will view 5 images (see resource).
Students will write two captions for each of the images.
One caption should be their attempt to find the “positive” bias, and one should be the “negative” bias.
If you know it is appropriate, you can share some of the captions to show how different the students' biases are even within the same classroom, using the same pictures.

                          Wrap-Up
                                                
                          5 min
                      
                                          Discussion Questions:

Why does it matter whether a source is primary or secondary?
How can we tell if a source is reliable?

Understanding Sources Through Robert H. Jackson

Overview:

Learning Goals:

Learning Standards:

Assessment/Evaluation:

Materials Needed:

Lesson Flow

Introduction

Instruction

Activities

Wrap-Up

Lesson Plan Resources

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