History Mysteries: Investigating Primary Sources

Resource overview:
History Mysteries is an online resource that provides curated collections of authentic primary sources, including letters, diaries, photographs, newspaper articles, and government records. These sources allow students to investigate historical events, explore multiple perspectives, and develop critical thinking skills. The platform provides guidance on how to analyse sources, formulate historical questions, and make evidence-based conclusions. It is particularly useful for fostering historical literacy, understanding continuity and change, and practising the evaluation of reliability and bias in sources.

In the classroom:
Teachers can use History Mysteries for case studies on topics like early colonial Australia, World War I, or Indigenous histories. Students can work individually or in groups to answer inquiry questions, cross-reference sources, and construct evidence-based narratives. This resource supports scaffolded learning for younger students while offering rich content for senior secondary classes investigating complex historical issues.

Five features teachers may find useful:

• Access to authentic, high-quality primary sources.

• Teacher guidance and suggested questions for analysis.

• Suitable for differentiated instruction across multiple year levels.

• Supports development of critical thinking and historical inquiry skills.

• Free, browser-based access.

Australian Curriculum links:

• Year 7: AC9HS7S01 – Investigate historical sources and perspectives.

• Year 9: AC9HS9S01 – Analyse primary and secondary sources to explain historical events.