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Basic 1 · History · Why and How We Study History

Events That Will Not Happen Again

In this topic you will learn about special past events and how we find out about them.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name events that happened once in the past
  • List past events you have seen
  • Name sources of history

What you already know

  • Objects and stories tell us about the past

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
History as a Subject
Sub-strand
Why and How We Study History
Indicator
B1.1.1.1.2 – Describe how sources of historical evidence help us find out about past human activities

Introduction

Ghana became independent only once, on 6th March 1957. It will not happen again. We remember it every year.

1. Events That Happened Once

  • the day you were born
  • the day your school was opened
  • Ghana's independence in 1957

2. Events We Have Seen

  • a wedding in the family
  • a festival in town
  • a school sports day

3. Sources of History

How we find out about the past
SourceExample
Photographsfamily album
Objectsclay pot, calabash
Stories from eldershow the town began
Written recordsbirth certificate, school register
Four boxes showing a photograph, a clay pot, an elder speaking and a birth certificate
Figure 1: Sources of history Draw the four sources of history.Illustration: Sirbus

New words

source
Where we get information from.
record
Something written down to remember.
certificate
An official paper that records a fact.
celebrate
To do something special for an event.

Summary

  • Some events happen only once, like Ghana's independence.
  • We remember them every year.
  • Photographs, objects, stories and written records are sources of history.

Class activity: Event Sorting

  1. Look at pictures of different events.
  2. Say which ones happened only once.
  3. Name the source each picture shows.

You need: Old family photographs, Clay pot or calabash, Exercise books

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which event happened only once?

    • A. Ghana's independence in 1957
    • B. Sunrise
    • C. Eating breakfast
    • D. Rain
    Show answer
    Answer: Ghana's independence in 1957It happened once in history.

  2. 2. Which is a written record?

    • A. Birth certificate
    • B. Clay pot
    • C. Calabash
    • D. Song
    Show answer
    Answer: Birth certificateIt is written down.

  3. 3. Stories from elders are a source of history.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueElders tell about the past.

  4. 4. Your birth happens many times.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseYou are born only once.

  5. 5. Where we get information from is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: sourceThat is the meaning of source.

  6. 6. Name two sources of history.

    Show answer
    Answer: Any two: photographs, objects, stories from elders, written records.These tell us about the past.

Homework

  1. Ask to see your birth certificate or weighing card. What does it tell you?