Historical Thinking Skills

A. Distinguish between past, present, and future time.

B. Identify the temporal structure of a historical narrative or story.

C. Establish temporal order in constructing students’ own historical narratives.

D. Measure and calculate calendar time.

E. Interpret data presented in time lines.

F. Create time lines.

G. Explain change and continuity over time.

A. Reconstruct the literal meaning of a historical passage.

B. Identify the central question(s) the historical narrative addresses.

C. Read historical narratives imaginatively.

D. Appreciate historical perspectives.

E. Draw upon data in historical maps.

F. Draw upon visual and mathematical data presented in graphs.

G. Draw upon the visual data presented in photographs, paintings, cartoons, and architectural drawings.

A. Formulate questions to focus their inquiry or analysis.

B. Identify the author or source of the historical document or narrative.

C. Compare and contrast differing sets of ideas, values, personalities, behaviors, and institutions.

D. Analyze historical fiction.

E. Distinguish between fact and fiction.

F. Compare different stories about a historical figure, era, or event.

G. Analyze illustrations in historical stories.

H. Consider multiple perspectives.

I. Explain causes in analyzing historical actions.

J. Challenge arguments of historical inevitability.

K. Hypothesize influences of the past.

A. Formulate historical questions.

B. Obtain historical data.

C. Interrogate historical data.

D. Marshal needed knowledge of the time and place, and construct a story, explanation, or historical narrative.

A. Identify problems and dilemmas in the past.

B. Compare the interests and values of the various people involved.

C. Suggest alternative choices for addressing the problem.

D. Evaluate alternative courses of action

E. Prepare a position or course of action on an issue.

F. Evaluate the consequences of a decision.