Thinking Like A Historian

at D.C.Everest

WOW!

Examine testing at various levels:

8th grade WKCE

10th grade WKCE

AP Tests DBQ’s

[Teachers] creating a foundation that can connect and develop students’ curiosity about and understanding of history through the use of a common language.

Thinking Like a Historian

What Is History?

• History is a discipline: a way of thinking that encourages students to analyze historical evidence, evaluate it, and then demonstrate their understanding of that evidence.

• The “best” history courses engage students in the study of historical artifacts and documents – which are often contradictory and muddled – from which they draw their own interpretations or conclusions.

• Middle School, Junior High , and even H.S. students accept sources as “gospel” as the truth.

• Students need the power of discernment more than ever!

“In a rapidly changing world in which historical ignorance seems to be the rule rather than the exception, there is no more important discipline for our students to practice , than history.”

Questions

• All history starts with questions?????

• Take on the persona of a detective to examine the evidence.

• The evidence comes in two forms: primary and secondary sources.

How do Historians Use Historical Sources?

• There is a fundamental difference between looking for answers in the sources and constructing answers from the sources.

• Constructing answers is the final stage of “Doing History”

• Building an interpretation based on evidence is the defining characteristic of history.

Drawing Conclusions; Making Interpretations

• Historical conclusions must be supportable by the historical record AND take into consideration sometimes conflicting perspectives and experiences in that record.

Historical Categories of Inquiry

• These are patterns that help us organize both the questions we ask of the past and the answers we construct.

• These categories of inquiry and analysis provide the patterns that help us make sense of the past.

• It also gives us a common language.

Evaluating Sources

• Not all historical sources are equal• Consider ways to assess the validity of the

sources• Use AAPARTS ( to be explained later by JEFF)• Multiple sources are needed in order to fully

understand the complexity and importance of any historical event , era, person or group.

• DBQ’s provide multiple sources for students to use to draw conclusions and make interpretations.

Thinking Like A Historian: Rethinking History Instructionwas written by Bobbie Malone and Nikki Mandell.

Cause-Effect Graphic Organizers