History // Historical Thinking

Vocabulary: historical thinking

Know and use the vocabulary of historical thinking — source, evidence, primary source, secondary source, artefact, chronology, chronological order, BC/BCE, AD/CE, century, decade, era, period, timeline, excavation, archaeologist, interpretation, corroborate, bias, perspective — and apply these terms when discussing how we know about the past and how reliable our knowledge is

Ages
6 to 10
Type
Language
Builds on
1 topic
Leads to
6 topics

Quick check

If you asked the learner whether something they read in a history book was definitely true, could they explain why it might not be — using words like 'source', 'evidence', or 'bias'?

Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.

Topic // Mastery

What mastery looks like

What a learner can do once this topic is secure.
  • Correctly use BC/BCE and AD/CE to place events in time and explain what the letters stand for
  • Distinguish between a primary source and a secondary source with an example of each
  • Use 'evidence', 'interpretation', and 'bias' correctly in a sentence about a historical source

Topic // Map

Where this fits

What to learn first and what this topic opens up, with the reason for each link. Required links come first.
  • RequiredMust come first
  • HelpfulHelps, but not essential

Before this

1 topic
  • Domain Vocabulary Across Subject AreasHelpful

    English // Vocabulary // Ages 9 to 11

    Acquiring the specialist vocabulary of historical thinking (source, bias, chronology, corroborate) builds on the academic vocabulary development taught in English

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Vocabulary: historical thinking

Ages 6 to 10 // Language

Leads to

6 topics
  • Evidence from the PastRequired

    Historical Thinking // Ages 6 to 7

    Understanding that everything we know comes from evidence requires 'evidence' and 'source' vocabulary

  • Different Accounts of the Same EventRequired

    Historical Thinking // Ages 6 to 8

    Recognising that different accounts exist requires 'source', 'perspective', and 'interpretation' vocabulary

  • Checking Sources Against Each OtherRequired

    Historical Thinking // Ages 8 to 10

    Corroborating sources requires the term 'corroborate' and 'evidence'

  • Questioning Historical SourcesRequired

    Historical Thinking // Ages 8 to 10

    Evaluating a source requires 'primary source', 'secondary source', 'bias' vocabulary

  • Evidence Versus InterpretationRequired

    Historical Thinking // Ages 10 to 11

    Distinguishing evidence from interpretation requires both these terms as precise vocabulary

  • Understanding People in Their Own TimeHelpful

    Historical Thinking // Ages 8 to 10

    Judging historical actions in context draws on era, period, and chronology vocabulary