Introduction to Primary Sources

Define “primary sources” and analyze one contemporary and one historic source.

This lesson is part of our Upper Elementary Unit Plan.

Overview

Students start this lesson by looking at contemporary primary sources and discover how they tell a story.  They apply these skills to the Confino family’s 1913 Ship Manifest to start to put together the story of Victoria Confino, a young immigrant from Greece.

Theme

Arrival

Important Information

What will students understand through this lesson?

• Immigrants were processed at Ellis Island through a series of inspections which brought fear and uncertainty to immigrants. Today, when immigrants come across a border, whether on an airplane or otherwise, there is still fear and uncertainty.

Aim

How can we use ordinary documents and objects to put together a story?

Duration

1-2 Class Periods

Related Museum Program

This tour feature the families highlighted in this resource. Click the link below to learn more.

Victoria Confino

Primary Sources

• The 1913 SS Argentina Ship Passenger List (Manifest) – Find the Confino family on the passenger list of a ship that brought immigrants to the United States in 1913. (See below)
• Confino Family Story article