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Ms. V History7th Grade Social Studies
All units

SkillsHistorical thinking toolkit

Course Information & Skills

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What you are expected to learn

Standards & I Can Statements

4 standards and 16 I Can statements for this unit. Each standard keeps the colour it has in your packet, and the vocabulary in that colour belongs to it. Use the I Can statements as your study checklist — if you cannot say it yet, that is what to practice.

Mastery by standard

The same colours as your packet. Pick a standard to practice just the words you are still learning in it.

  • Standard 1

    Content Understanding

    5 termsColour code: Grey

    You will learn what history, social studies, and geography each mean.

    How the standard says it

    Students will learn the definitions of history, social studies, and geography.

    I Can Statements

    • I can explain the difference between social studies and history.
    • I can explain the steps historians take to understand and interpret the past.
    • I can recognize the definition of geography and put events in chronological order.

    Study the 5 terms for Standard 1

  • Standard 2

    Historical Literacy Skills

    4 termsColour code: Blue

    You will learn to think like a historian: tell primary sources from secondary ones, and judge what each kind is good for and where it falls short. You will show your thinking by annotating and text tagging.

    How the standard says it

    Students will learn to think like a historian by identifying and evaluating the strengths and limitations of primary and secondary sources. They will demonstrate their understanding of texts and sources through annotation and text tagging strategies.

    I Can Statements

    • I can annotate a source or article to show my understanding, thinking, questions, and connections.
    • I can text tag a source or article to show support for assessment questions.
    • I can identify primary and secondary sources.
    • I can describe the differences between a primary source and a secondary source and know the strengths and weaknesses of both.

    Study the 4 terms for Standard 2

  • Standard 3

    Historical Source Analysis

    11 termsColour code: Green

    You will analyse a source by finding its title, author, and time period, using what you know to place it in its historical context, and working out who it was for, why it was made, and whose point of view it shows.

    How the standard says it

    Students will accurately analyze a historical source by identifying the title, author and time period of the source, applying background knowledge to determine its historical context; and evaluating the source’s intended audience, purpose, and point of view.

    I Can Statements

    • I can use sourcing strategies to locate the title, author, and date of a document.
    • I can calculate the time gap & use it to discuss the reliability of a source for a topic of research.
    • I understand that a variety of sources can corroborate what happened in the past or reveal source bias.
    • I can identify the geographic context or the historical context of a source to connect what I already know about the period, events, and location to better understand why a source was created and what it means.
    • I can use the HIPP strategy to analyze a historical source by thinking about its historical context, intended audience, purpose, and the point of view of the source creator.

    Study the 11 terms for Standard 3

  • Standard 4

    Historical Writing

    7 termsColour code: Red

    You will write history responses backed by evidence that show what you know, how you reason, and how you analyse — arguing and justifying the way a historian does.

    How the standard says it

    Students will create historical writing responses that are supported by evidence and demonstrate content knowledge, reasoning, and analytical skills, as well as their ability to think, argue, and justify like a historian.

    I Can Statements

    • I can identify the components of the CER and TEA writing strategies.
    • I can formulate a thesis or claim to frame my argument.
    • I can use evidence from documents and outside information to support my claim.
    • I can develop my argument using reasoning and analysis to explain why events, ideas, or evidence are significant.

    Study the 7 terms for Standard 4