Introducing Historical Thinking

Four Concepts of Historical Thinking Historical Significance Cause and Consequence Continuity and Change Historical Perspective

Historical Significance Examining issues, events, people and places Questions to ask: – Why is this important? – What impact has this had on us, or the world? – Are the impact’s short or long lasting – Who is this important to? – Who is this not important to? – How is this relevant to other issues or events today?

Cause and Consequence What are the factors that affected or led to something? (an event, situation, action, interaction) What was the impact or the effects of this cause? How many factors contributed to this consequence? Was this an intended consequence, or unintended?

Continuity and Change What stays the same over the years and what changes? Why do some things change, and why do some things never change? What comparisons do we make between the past and the present? Areas of examination: ways of life, political policies, economic practices, relationship with the environment, social values and beliefs

Historical Perspective How do we look at the past? Whose eyes do we see the past through? How was our world different, how do we understand history better by looking at it through ‘different eyes’ How do today’s values and beliefs prevent us from understanding specific aspects in history? How do we look at history through someone else’s eyes?

Historical Significance

What makes something significant? Impact Consequences How many people were changed by this? How were people/ countries changed by this? How does this compare to other big events?

Brainstorm: What BIG events have had an impact on your life? What smaller events have had an impact on your life?

Assignment: Choose an historical image In a short paragraph outline the historical significance