Today’s Walking Classroom podcast talks about firsthand and secondhand accounts. A firsthand account occurs when the person telling a story actually experienced the events they are telling about. A secondhand account is when someone relays a story they have heard from someone else. It’s important to differentiate between firsthand and secondhand accounts as well as primary and secondary sources when trying to determine if information is true or not.
Character Value: Integrity
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Common Core
L–Language | SL–Speaking and Listening | RI–Reading: Informational | RL–Reading: Literature | W–Writing | RH–6-8 Literacy in History/Social Studies | RST–6-8 Literacy in Science & Technical Subjects Elementary School:W.3.7, W.3.8, SL.3.1, SL.3.4
RI.4.6, W.4.7, W4.8, W.4.9, SL.4.1, SL.4.4
RI.5.6, W.5.7, W.5.8, W.6.9, SL.5.1, SL.5.4
Middle School:
RI.6.9, W.6.7, W.6.8, SL.6.1, SL.6.4
RI.7.9, W.7.8, W.7.9, SL.7.1, SL.7.4
RI.8.9, W.8.8, W.8.9, SL.8.1, SL.8.4
Supplemental Resource Links and Downloads
Quiz: (Make sure you're already logged into your Gmail account, then click to copy this Google form to your Google Drive. Quiz keys are here.)
Firsthand vs. Secondhand Accounts Google Quiz
Slide Deck:
Firsthand vs. Secondhand Accounts Slide Deck
Compares firsthand and secondhand accounts, inviting audience participation.
Visit the Library of Congress to explore various sets of primary sources from historical events.
Explore a major event through 1) primary sources and 2) secondary sources in this activity from the Minnesota Literacy Council.
Compare two accounts of the life of Helen Keller with this biglearners.com printable.
Make interactive notebooks to contrast firsthand and secondhand accounts in this teacher-created activity.
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See More Themed Groupings that Contain this Podcast: Writing Skills