Reading Like an Historian is a creation of the Stanford History Group. It provides K-12 lesson plans aligned to the Common Core Standards for Social Studies and provides related primary source documents to challenge learners to examine multiple resources critically and to determine the quality of resources related to historical events. The focus of the lesson plans is to develop critical thinking about history and other social studies areas through problem-based learning.
Type of Material:
Collection of lesson plans, materials and primary document resources
Recommended Uses:
Lesson plans and materials, including a strong variety of primary source documents that can be used to support critical thinking and evaluation of sources and materials. The lesson plans should be quite effective in helping students to independently evaluate information from a variety of sources and reach a supported conclusion.
Technical Requirements:
Some elements of the site require a current version of Java
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Learning goals are linked to the Common Core Standards for Social Studies. While the description of the site refers to a K-12 curriculum, this site seems focused more on middle school and high school level. Since Common Core Standards for Social Studies focus on grades 6 - 12, this seems appropriate.
The learning goals are to encourage critical thinking and historical analysis. Students are given a debatable question and are required to take a stand on the issue using the resources to support their arguments.
Target Student Population:
Middle school and high school students in history, government and other social studies classes could use the material. Undergraduate preservice teachers in secondary education social studies programs could also benefit from the lesson outlines and discussion prompts.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Teachers should use curriculum guides of their schools and the Common Course Standards to determine appropriate prerequisites for their students.
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
Lesson plans are designed to meet the Common Core Standards for Social Studies. Resources are well matched to the topic of the plan and provide multiple points of view. Suggested questions are provided to guide students in thinking critically about various narratives in current textbooks and other sources. Lesson plans are flexible enough to support most standard K-12 social studies curriculum.
Concerns:
Some teachers might be more comfortable with more suggestions of how to be effective in merging standard textbook content with primary source materials in meaningful ways. Some additional suggestions in this area might be helpful.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Each lesson plan is clearly linked to the appropriate Common Core Standards. Available resource materials are well balanced and clearly related to the lesson and the standards. Each lesson provides suggested questions for guiding students through the process of critically evaluating available resources and reaching their own supported conclusions. Lesson plans, while clearly aligned to the Common Core Standards, are flexible enough to be used in a variety of curricula and situations.
Concerns:
Some of the questions are subjective. For example, students are asked whether or not Lewis and Clark were respectful or was Nate Turner a hero or a madman. Student answers would require a great deal of supporting evidence.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Full text historical documents are provided and readily available to teachers and students. When teachers are searching for lessons, a "Quick View" button brings up lesson plans, guiding questions, and resources for easy review. Once a teacher decides to use the materials, they are easily downloaded. This sames time and effort in assuring that all classroom technology is aligned and ready to operate by the students.
Concerns:
As noted earlier, some teachers may feel uncomfortable without clear alignment with a textbook. A few more suggestions on how to integrate the activities and materials effectively might help in this area.
Most of the material is black and white images, easy to print, but not visually appealing.
Other Issues and Comments:
None noted
Creative Commons:
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