Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on telling primary from secondary sources about the founding, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.9.3-5. It prints 3 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.
Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Sort: The Constitution as it was signed in 1787, James Madison's notes taken during the Constitutional Convention, An encyclopedia article about Thomas Jefferson, A museum sign explaining what happened at Yorktown
PrimarySecondary
2.Sort each one: Primary or Secondary?
Sort: A modern atlas map showing where the battles were fought, A magazine article in which a historian explains the Stamp Act, Paul Revere's 1770 engraving of the Boston Massacre, A British officer's 1775 report on the Battle of Bunker Hill
PrimarySecondary
3.Sort each one: Primary or Secondary?
Sort: The Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, A biography of George Washington written in 2005, A fifth-grade textbook chapter on the Revolution, A letter George Washington wrote to Congress during the war
PrimarySecondary
LessonPrint · D2.His.9.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. A museum sign explaining what happened at Yorktown — Secondary 2. An encyclopedia article about Thomas Jefferson — Secondary 3. James Madison's notes taken during the Constitutional Convention — Primary 4. The Constitution as it was signed in 1787 — Primary
2.1. A British officer's 1775 report on the Battle of Bunker Hill — Primary 2. A magazine article in which a historian explains the Stamp Act — Secondary 3. A modern atlas map showing where the battles were fought — Secondary 4. Paul Revere's 1770 engraving of the Boston Massacre — Primary
3.1. A biography of George Washington written in 2005 — Secondary 2. A fifth-grade textbook chapter on the Revolution — Secondary 3. A letter George Washington wrote to Congress during the war — Primary 4. The Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776 — Primary
Questions about Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era
What does the Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era worksheet cover?
It practices telling primary from secondary sources about the founding — 3 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on C3 Framework D2.His.9.3-5: Summarize how different kinds of source get used to explain the past. The instruction to students is “Sort each source: primary or secondary?”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which C3 Framework indicator does Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era practice?
D2.His.9.3-5, under History for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published indicator reads: “Summarize how different kinds of historical sources are used to explain events in the past.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.His.9.3-5, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era come with an answer key?
Yes. All 3 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Primary or Secondary? The Founding Era, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for D2.His.9.3-5
Summarize how different kinds of source get used to explain the past.