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Summaries · Grade 4 History › Sources and timelines
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Sources and timelines

Kinds of sources, primary and secondary sources, and timelines, decades, centuries and millennia. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Kinds of sources

KindExample
WrittenA diary, letter or newspaper
ObjectAn old coin, an artefact that was dug up
OralAn interview with an elder
VisualAn old photo: shows what people and places looked like

Always ask: who made it and why? A source can be one-sided, because the writer has their own view. Use more than one source; a source is more trustworthy when others confirm it. Historians list their sources so others can check them. Museums keep old objects so people can learn from them.

Sources: things that tell us about the past.
Sources: things that tell us about the past.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Measuring time

17thcentury1601–170018thcentury1701–180019thcentury1801–190020thcentury1901–200021stcentury2001–21001652 falls in the 17th century; 1750 in the 18th century.
We now live in the 21st century. 2010 to 2019 is one decade.
Rule

Century: take the first two digits and add one (1750 → 17 + 1 = 18th century). But a year ending in 00 is the last year of a century: 1700 is the end of the 17th century, 1900 the end of the 19th.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • A historical source is anything that tells us about the past.
  • A primary source comes from the time (an eyewitness); a secondary source was written later (a textbook).
  • A timeline shows events in order; the earliest event goes at the beginning.
  • Decade = 10 years; century = 100 years; millennium = 1 000 years.
  • A fact can be checked; an opinion is what someone thinks.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Decade = 10 (like decimal), Century = 100 (100 cents), Millennium = 1 000.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

True or false?

Read the question and the answer. Is the answer right? Tap True or False.

    Now the real quiz!

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    For parents
    • Read one part together and ask your child to tell it back in their own words.
    • The ticks (“I know this”) are saved on this device only. We never ask for names or emails.

    Follows CAPS for Grade 4 Social Sciences (History). Always check your teacher’s notes and textbook too.

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