ASSESSING HISTORICAL THINKING

To the Past aims to provide teachers of Canadian history a library of assessments that target specific skills embedded within Big Six Historical Thinking Concepts.

The majority of assessments focus on skills or habits of mind critical to effective work with historical evidence. All claims, whether regarding historical significance, cause or consequence, or the ethical dimension of history must return to the historical record for support and corroboration. Providing students with clear instruction and opportunities to practice sourcing, contextualizing, closely reading, and corroborating historical accounts and traces is critical for them to develop as sophisticated historical thinkers.