Asking Like a Historian

Choose a good research question, pick the information that answers it, and check whether two sources agree.

Warm-up, learn, try it together, practice, then a quick check. About 15 minutes.

What children learn in Level 7

Historians begin with a good question. “How did the Erie Canal change trade?” is a good one, because you can find the answer in sources. “Do you like boats?” isn't.
Next, sort your facts. Relevant facts help answer your question. Interesting facts about something else can wait for another day.
Is it enough? One small clue rarely tells a whole story, so historians gather several sources.
Do they agree? Read across this table. The sources say different years for the canal. When sources disagree, check another source you can trust.
Try it with a grown-up: choose a question about your town, and find two sources that answer it. Do they agree?

Georgia Standards of Excellence in Social Studies:

IPS.14 — Information Processing Skill 14: formulate appropriate research questions (introduced in Grade 4)
IPS.15 — Information Processing Skill 15: determine adequacy and/or relevancy of information (introduced in Grade 4)
IPS.16 — Information Processing Skill 16: check for consistency of information (introduced in Grade 4)