Earthquake Case Study

Students read a detailed case study of a student researching the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and evaluate each source used. They classify the sources-including letters, photographs, textbooks, and documentaries-as primary or secondary and provide reasoning. This activity strengthens understanding of how historians use multiple types of evidence and encourages learners to consider perspectives provided by different materials.

Curriculum Matched Skills

Social Studies – Evaluating Historical Sources

English Language Arts – Interpreting Informational Text

Social Studies – Research and Inquiry Skills

Critical Reasoning – Supporting Claims with Evidence

This worksheet is part of our primary vs. secondary sources worksheets collection.