^ Historical Thinking Concepts
1. Historical Significance
Deciding what events, people, or developments are important to study and why they matter either because they had a big impact or reveal something important about the past.
2. Evidence (Primary Source Evidence)
Analyzing primary sources (letters, photos, artifacts, etc.) to understand what they can tell us about the past and what their limitations are.
3. Continuity and Change
Examining what has stayed the same over time and what has changed, and explaining why change happens when it does.
4. Cause and Consequence
Understanding the factors that lead to events (causes) and the results that follow (consequences), both intended and unintended.
5. Historical Perspectives
Trying to understand how people in the past saw the world, recognizing their beliefs, values, and context without judging them by today’s standards.
6. Ethical Dimension
Thinking about the right and wrong of past actions, understanding moral implications, and considering how history can guide ethical decisions today.