A lot of people think history is just the memorization of names and dates. In reality, history is a

science that involves forming and testing hypotheses, researching events, and investigating

historical mysteries. An historian’s job is to figure out what happened in the past. During this

unit, your student will be learning and practicing the skills necessary to be a history detective.

During this unit, your student will be completing the missions below to learn and practice

important material and test their understanding.

1. Identify the techniques used by historians when trying to uncover the truth about the

past.

2. Demonstrate the techniques used by historians when trying to uncover the truth about the

past.

3. Demonstrate your understanding of the work of historians.

Make sure to visit Mr. Shomaker’s “Homework Helps” hyperdoc at:

https://goo.gl/XNzhV3 for videos, practice materials, study guides and

games, and practice tests.

HISTORICAL METHODS

COURSE: AMERICAN HISTORY GRADE: 7TH

4.0 More complex

learning target

In addition to score 3.0 performances, the student went beyond—either by making in-depth

inferences and applications, by teaching others, or understanding at a higher level than what was

taught.

3.5

The student met learning target without errors and without help. The student was able to go

beyond target with a cue or hint. In addition to score 3.0 performance, the student demonstrates

in-depth inferences and applications with partial success.

3.0 TARGET Challenging, but

attainable

The student met the learning target without errors in the concept being taught and without help.

The student demonstrates understanding by the following:

1) I can demonstrate the techniques used by historians when trying to uncover the truth about the

past.

The student exhibits no major errors or omissions.

2.5 The student understands the concepts and is able to apply knowledge with no major errors or

omissions. The student did not meet learning target due to several minor errors.

2

Simpler learning

target

The student knows simpler concepts, but cannot do more difficult problems. The student is

beginning to use knowledge of simple concepts to solve basic problems such as the following:

1) I can define and correctly use the terms: primary source, secondary source, sourcing, close-reading,

contextualization, and corroboration.

1.5

Even with help, the student is behind in terms of meeting the learning target. The student is

unable to recall the most basic concepts without help. The student may be able to demonstrate

partial knowledge of the score 2.0 elements.

1 Even with help, no understanding of the skill is demonstrated

0 No evidence