When researching for Social Studies class, you may find and use some primary and secondary sources. Its important to understand the difference.
Primary Source: Evidence created at the time an event occurred or created by a person with first hand knowledge of an event.
Examples: Diary
Letter
Document or record
Photograph
Interview
Speech
Autobiography
Relic or artifact
Music, art, poetry
Secondary Source: Explains, discusses, and provides a summary of information about the primary source material. Authors and creators of secondary sources were not present for the historical event.
Examples: Textbook
Book about one particular historical event
Magazine or newspaper article
Encyclopedia
Biography
Documentary
Website