Sources from the past — History, 7–10 years
Historians learn about the past from clues left behind, such as objects, letters, buildings and photographs. Each source tells part of the story, not everything.
What a source is
A historical source is something that gives us evidence about people or events in the past. It might be a tool, a house, a photograph, a spoken memory or a written record. We ask it questions instead of treating it as the whole story.
Why sources matter
No one today can watch the past happen again. Sources solve that problem by leaving clues we can examine and compare. Historians use several sources because one person may forget, choose only certain details or see events from one side.
Questioning a source
Imagine finding a 1920 photograph of a busy street. First, observe: there are bicycles, a tram and no cars in view. Next, ask when and where it was made, who took it and what is outside the frame. You can suggest the street had public transport, but you cannot claim nobody owned a car.
The common mistake
A source can look official and still show only one viewpoint. It is reasonable to trust a neat document because school instructions and signs often give reliable information. But a newspaper may support one side, and a photograph shows only what the photographer chose to include.
Sources around us
When a family tells its story, old toys, recipes, messages and photographs can help. A local museum may collect tools or ticket stubs to explain daily life. These clues are useful, but asking who made them and why keeps our picture of the past careful.
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