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All grades  Project 1 week

Historians-in-Training: Time Sleuths Unite!

Tyler W
7.I.UE.2
7.I.UE.1
7.I.Q.3
Critical Thinker
Productive Collaborator
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Purpose

The purpose of this learning experience is to develop students' historical thinking skills by engaging them in the process of analyzing and evaluating multiple sources and perspectives on a historical event. Through hands-on activities and collaboration with community partners, students will learn to distinguish between primary and secondary sources, assess their credibility, and construct informed claims. This project fosters critical thinking and collaboration as students create digital timelines and scrapbooks, culminating in a gallery walk to share their insights and deepen their understanding of historical narratives.

Learning goals

Students will develop the ability to critically analyze and compare multiple historical sources, distinguishing between primary and secondary sources. They will learn to evaluate the credibility of evidence and synthesize different perspectives to construct well-supported historical claims. By collaborating with peers and engaging with community resources, students will enhance their skills as critical thinkers and productive collaborators. The project will culminate in the creation of a digital timeline and scrapbook, showcasing their comprehensive understanding of a historical event through diverse sources and perspectives.
Standards
  • [Kentucky] 7.I.UE.2 - Analyze evidence from multiple perspectives and sources to support claims and refute opposing claims, noting evidentiary limitations to answer compelling and supporting questions.
  • [Kentucky] 7.I.UE.1 - Use multiple sources to develop claims in response to compelling and supporting questions.
  • [Kentucky] 7.I.Q.3 - Compare the types of supporting questions each of the social studies disciplines uses to answer compelling and supporting questions.
Competencies
  • Critical Thinker - Thinks deeply and makes informed decisions to create solutions or new understanding supported by relevant and reliable evidence.
  • Productive Collaborator - Engages with others to achieve a common goal through building positive relationships, actively listening, showing empathy, and making individual contributions to a larger group.

Products

Students will create a digital scrapbook that showcases their journey of analyzing multiple perspectives and sources on a historical event. This scrapbook will include photos, scanned documents, and written reflections. Additionally, they will develop a digital timeline highlighting key events, perspectives, and sources, which will be displayed during the 'Historical Perspectives Gallery Walk.' These products will demonstrate their ability to think critically and collaborate effectively while engaging with historical evidence.

Launch

Kick off the project with a 'Chronicle Challenge' where students work in pairs to create brief digital timelines using a curated set of primary and secondary sources provided by the local historical society. Encourage them to identify the type of each source and discuss its credibility. This activity sets the stage for deeper exploration and analysis, fostering an initial understanding of historical perspectives and evidence evaluation.

Exhibition

Students will participate in a 'Historical Perspectives Gallery Walk,' where they display their digital timelines and analysis of primary sources. Each student will have a station to present their digital scrapbook, showcasing photos, scanned documents, and reflections on their journey through historical analysis. Peers and visitors will walk around the room, engaging with the exhibits, asking questions, and providing feedback, fostering a collaborative and reflective learning environment.