Great Smoky Mountain National Park DBQ Primary Source Analysis

Great Smoky Mountain DBQ Primary Source Analysis provides an opportunity for students to learn how to and in turn, perfect their investigation of primary sources.  Studying primary sources adds to students’ understanding of history and society, making the past more real. Pairing primary resource study with not only personal histories, but also the National Parks adds elements of science and conservation to your learning space.

Included in the resource are three original photos from Great Smoky Mountain National Park as well as a personal history selection from the early 1980s National Park Service Handbook 112 which served as the visitor's guidebook to the park.  Each of the four primary sources is accompanied by analysis questions designed to highlight the background and meaning of each source. Additionally, an included SOAPSTONE and OPTIC graphic organizer tool adds opportunity for further discovery. Finally, an initial introduction to the National Park provides an overview of Great Smoky Mountain National Park.

The ZIP file is packed with JPEGS of the three original photos, a PDF of the entire original document, a PDF of the resource packet (which includes the three photos, document passage and SOAPSTONE & OPTIC tools) and a PPTX of the resource packet (which includes the three photos, document passage and SOAPSTONE & OPTIC tools) with locked background and type-in response boxes.  Additionally, the information page provides a Tiny URL linked to the online PDF original document.

The printable and shareable PDF, in addition to the notebook background, includes a plain white background for simpler reproduction. The PPTX digital packet can be shared with students for an instant, digital response option. Students select "Double click to type." on their device and enter their response.  After completing, students save and share digitally. Locked background adds simplicity for students while blank response page can be duplicated if longer responses are desired.

Additionally an EASEL version is included. All options - DIGITAL, PAPER, EASEL - serve diverse grades at home and school.

Primary sources are information items, such as documents and images, created in the past. Looking at artifacts from a time period, made in that time period, by someone from that time period, provides a deeper sense of understanding, while offering insight into what history was like when history itself was happening.

SOAPSTONE (Speaker Occasion Audience Purpose Subject TONE) text analysis is a six-part method to examine written pieces.  Used to plan writing as well, SOAPSTONE functions to perform a critical evaluation of diverse texts.  OPTIC (Overview Parts Title Interrelationship Claim) visual analysis is a five-part method to examine visual images. OPTIC serves as a tool for the evaluation of diverse visuals including art, photographs, graphics and mixed media.  Both methods are helpful to understand, gain information about and discover the meaning of diverse media, including primary sources.

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Want to learn more about Great Smoky Mountain National Park? For history, flora, fauna and geology complete with a graphic organizer, crossword, word search and writing prompt, check out Great Smoky Mountain National Park NO PREP.

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