Types of Sources: Primary, Secondary, and Non-historical

Historians use different kinds of sources to study the past, but how can you tell the difference between primary, secondary, and non-historical sources? Designed for middle school learners, this social studies worksheet begins with descriptions and examples of all three types of source materials. After exploring the explanations and examples, students are asked to answer several short-answer questions about how to tell whether a source is primary or secondary, what kind of source historians research and what kind of source they write, why we shouldn't use non-historical sources to study history, and more. For additional practice differentiating between types of sources, check out the Identifying Primary and Secondary Sources worksheet next!