Critical Thinking, Information and Primary Sources

How to Choose High-Quality Social Studies Instructional Materials for Your District

TCI

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

With the right HQIM, students develop critical thinking skills, engage meaningfully with historical content, and become informed citizens ready to tackle complex societal issues. Primary Source Integration: Many programs emphasize the use of primary sources in instruction.

Social Studies

Social Studies Primary Sources Civics Professional Development

Using Snorkl to Deepen Historical Thinking in the Classroom

Moler's Musing

MARCH 8, 2025

One of the biggest challenges in history education is engaging students in meaningful analysis while encouraging collaboration and critical thinking. Image & Source Analysis (8 Parts) A picture is worth a thousand wordsbut only if students know how to analyze it! Sourcing where their information comes from.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources History Critical Thinking History Education

Boost Reading Skills with Social Studies: The Key to Stronger Literacy

TCI

MARCH 25, 2025

Yet, studies show that integrating social studies into the curriculum can significantly enhance reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and critical thinking. Incorporate Inquiry-Based Learning: Engage students in discussions, debates, and primary source analysis to deepen comprehension and critical thinking.

Social Studies

Social Studies Primary Sources Civics Critical Thinking

Making Time for Social Studies and Science Without Sacrificing Literacy

TCI

MARCH 25, 2025

However, research increasingly shows that integrating knowledge-rich instruction across subjects is essential for improving literacy, critical thinking, and overall student success. Reading Integration: Use informational texts, primary sources, and document analysis to enhance comprehension and critical thinking.

Social Studies

Social Studies Primary Sources Critical Thinking Professional Development

The Week That Was In 234

Moler's Musing

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024

The Frayer Model worked especially well for students to internalize the information and make it more manageable. This part helped students connect primary source analysis to the broader motivations for European exploration, further deepening their historical thinking skills.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Artifacts Geography Lesson Plan

Most Students Think History Is Boring. Here's How We Change That.

ED Surge

APRIL 3, 2024

To counter this, teachers emphasize the inverted pyramid style, which prioritizes placing the most crucial information at the beginning of the article, or even in the headline. I often weave these historical narratives into content through primary sources. Make History Personal Alex's great-grandfather's World War I helmet.

History

History Primary Sources Artifacts Social Studies

Unleashing Metacognition: The Power of See, Think, Wonder

Catlin Tucker

AUGUST 5, 2023

This critical thinking process encourages them to draw inferences, identify patterns, and make informed interpretations. Whether analyzing literary themes, scientific data, historical evidence, or artistic techniques, this analytical thinking nurtures their ability to approach subjects with a more discerning and insightful lens.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Critical Thinking Education

The Week That Was In 234

Moler's Musing

OCTOBER 26, 2024

I figured that leaving the notes would help the students review what we’ve already learned about British acts and taxes while introducing some new information like the Townshend Acts , Tea Act , and Intolerable Acts. Analyze the cartoon with no background information—just raw observation. Onward to the next lesson!

Primary Sources

Primary Sources History Government Critical Thinking

If I was teaching Social Studies today…

Dangerously Irrelevant

MAY 31, 2017

Like many teachers, I would tap into the the Library of Congress, which would give me tips for teaching with primary sources , including quarterly journal articles on topics such as integrating historical and geographic thinking. Maybe my students would write their own textbooks like those at Beachwood (OH) Middle School.

Social Studies

Social Studies Teaching Archiving Geography

US History EOC Review Activities

Students of History

JUNE 5, 2023

This encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of your content. These 9-page packets are perfect for an EOC review because they include maps, vocabulary, people, images, timelines, and primary sources to analyze.

History

History Primary Sources Lesson Plan Critical Thinking

Helpful Resources and Tips for Teachers Using Studies Weekly

Studies Weekly

FEBRUARY 5, 2024

Before discovering Studies Weekly, I remember having to look up, research, and study all our standards and then search for curriculum, information, and ideas to create daily lessons. It is a wealth of knowledge with fantastic support, strategies, and more. Thankfully, it is all there for you at your fingertips, ready to use in the TE.

Artifacts

Artifacts Primary Sources Lesson Plan Social Studies

Transforming Adult Students into Scholars

ED Surge

JULY 7, 2022

It teaches the basics of critical thinking, research and academic writing. So when one student says she plans to study the Bermuda Triangle, the professor recommends that she ask a librarian—maybe the one who talked to the class earlier in the semester—to help her curate a reading list of secondary sources. It helps in my job.”

Library

Library Psychology Primary Sources Humanities

Striking the right chord: How does it feel to write your first inquiry?

C3 Teachers

MAY 8, 2024

It can be daunting to attempt to create your first inquiry, making sure it’s an active and engaging approach that puts the learner at the center, fostering both curiosity and critical thinking. I started with browsing an exhaustive amount of websites, academic journals, blog posts, digital museum tours, primary sources etc.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Social Studies Artifacts Museum

Striking the right chord: How does it feel to write your first inquiry?

C3 Teachers

MAY 8, 2024

It can be daunting to attempt to create your first inquiry, making sure it’s an active and engaging approach that puts the learner at the center, fostering both curiosity and critical thinking. I started with browsing an exhaustive amount of websites, academic journals, blog posts, digital museum tours, primary sources etc.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Social Studies Artifacts Museum

The Week That Was In 234

Moler's Musing

MARCH 14, 2025

We used Annotate & Tell to break down Texas independence and the Mexican-American War, Map & Tell to visualize territorial disputes, and Thick Slides to connect primary and secondary sources on the Mormon migration. Mexican War through layered activities that encouraged critical thinking. Why or why not?”

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Local History History Government

People’s History Teaching Stories

Zinn Education Project

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

After going over key terms and background information (as suggested by Wolfe-Rocca in the PDF version of the activity), I arranged my students in groups of four and they investigated six of the included documents. They gather information and then must go into the heads of the enslaved to write from their point of view or on behalf of them.

History

History Teaching Social Studies High School

The Week That Was In 234

Moler's Musing

NOVEMBER 2, 2024

I had used AI to simplify the primary sources into 7th-grade-friendly readings, hoping this would keep students engaged and make the sources more accessible. This made the Loyalist primary source lesson from the Digital Inquiry group a perfect choice.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Government History Human Rights

The Week That Was In 234

Moler's Musing

FEBRUARY 1, 2025

Thick Slides encourage students to synthesize information creatively. But, despite the constraints, I found ways to layer in engagement and critical thinking while still covering the required content. Archetype Four Square encouraged critical thinking about Adams’ leadership style.

Primary Sources

Primary Sources Leadership Critical Thinking History

Social Studies Network

How to Choose High-Quality Social Studies Instructional Materials for Your District

Using Snorkl to Deepen Historical Thinking in the Classroom

Trending Sources

Boost Reading Skills with Social Studies: The Key to Stronger Literacy

Making Time for Social Studies and Science Without Sacrificing Literacy

The Week That Was In 234

Most Students Think History Is Boring. Here's How We Change That.

Unleashing Metacognition: The Power of See, Think, Wonder

The Week That Was In 234

If I was teaching Social Studies today…

US History EOC Review Activities

Helpful Resources and Tips for Teachers Using Studies Weekly

Transforming Adult Students into Scholars

Striking the right chord: How does it feel to write your first inquiry?

Striking the right chord: How does it feel to write your first inquiry?

The Week That Was In 234

People’s History Teaching Stories

The Week That Was In 234

The Week That Was In 234

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