This primary source activity pack gives students multiple ways to analyze the testimony of textile mill-worker William Cooper before a Parliamentary committee investigating child labor during the early Industrial Revolution in Britain. Students will read the testimony and can use multiple History Made Fresh strategies, such as Primary Source Ninja to identify broader themes within the document, and Prove It or Lose It to test claims made about the document for validity. Both strategies give purpose to student reading and writing with the goal of increasing understanding and demonstrating mastery. These activities are classroom tested.

It’s flexible, powerful, compact, and can help you in a pinch – Primary Source Ninja to the rescue! This versatile primary source analysis tool is designed to deeply engage students in close reading, evidence-backed writing, and personal reflection through the lens of six themes of world history (Power, Conflict, Cooperation, Morality, Innovation, Exploitation). This CCSS oriented analysis framework can be applied to any historical document and is meant to be used and re-used throughout the year with different sources so that students gain comfort with their ability to independently read, analyze, and write about history. The Primary Source Ninja neatly fits on one page, so a primary source reading can be copied on the other side. After students gain comfort with the assignment, it can be easily assigned for homework, or used as a go-to sub plan. The Ninja can also serve as a basis for theme-based projects and formative assessments. Comes with editable file so you can adjust to your liking.

Explore the topic of Divine Right of Kings with this primary source activity pack. Students will get multiple ways to analyze a 1647 reading justifying absolute monarchy from King Louis XIV’s Bishop at Versailles. Students will read selected excerpts and can use multiple History Made Fresh strategies, such as Primary Source Ninja to identify broader themes within the document, and Prove It or Lose It to test claims made about the document for validity. Both strategies give purpose to student reading and writing with the goal of increasing understanding and demonstrating mastery. These activities are classroom tested.

It’s flexible, powerful, compact, and can help you in a pinch – Primary Source Ninja to the rescue! This versatile primary source analysis tool is designed to deeply engage students in close reading, evidence-backed writing, and personal reflection through the lens of historical themes specific to U.S. and World History. This CCSS oriented analysis framework can be applied to any historical document and is meant to be used and re-used throughout the year with different sources so that students gain comfort with their ability to independently read, analyze, and write about history. The Primary Source Ninja neatly fits on one page, so a primary source reading can be copied on the other side. After students gain comfort with the assignment, it can be easily assigned for homework, or used as a go-to sub plan. The Ninja can also serve as a basis for theme-based projects and formative assessments. Comes with editable file so you can adjust to your liking.

The Document Based Question, or DBQ, is a foundational component of any Common Core-aligned history course. Covering a wide array of historical thinking and literacy skills, document sourcing and analysis, selecting and using evidence, and persuasive writing, the DBQ is an essential tool in the history teacher’s toolkit. This DBQ Matrix gives students a place to collect source information, as well as document analysis from their reading of primary and secondary sources on one neatly organized sheet. It then guides students to group documents in preparation for composing a thesis statement. Since DBQ packets can often be many pages, this matrix allows teachers to reuse the documents over multiple periods or years, while giving students a place to collect their needed information without writing on the documents themselves. The DBQ Matrix uses the HAPPY method of analyzing documents and works well for both grade-level and advanced courses. This file is completely customizable and is classroom tested.

Explore United States’ President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s ‘Quarantine Speech’ from 1937. Students will read selected excerpts and use multiple History Made Fresh strategies, such as Primary Source Ninja to identify broader themes within the document, and Prove It or Lose It to test claims made about the document for validity. Both strategies give purpose to student reading and writing with the goal of increasing understanding and demonstrating mastery. These activities are classroom tested.

This primary source analysis activity gives teachers a framework for their students to analyze the remarks of President George W. Bush on 9/12 – the day after the attacks. This activity features the Primary Source Ninja activity – a History Made Fresh strategy. This can be assigned in class, at home, or as a simple plan for a substitute. The Primary Source Ninja activity encourages reading for understanding, evidence selection, and personal reflection. This activity is classroom tested.

It’s flexible, powerful, compact, and can help you in a pinch – Primary Source Ninja to the rescue! This versatile primary source analysis tool is designed to deeply engage students in close reading, evidence-backed writing, and personal reflection through the lens of five themes of United States History (Equality, Rights, Liberty, Opportunity, Democracy). This CCSS oriented analysis framework can be applied to any historical document and is meant to be used and re- used throughout the year with different sources so that students gain comfort with their ability to independently read, analyze, and write about history. The Primary Source Ninja neatly fits on one page, so a primary source reading can be copied on the other side. After students gain comfort with the assignment, it can be easily assigned for homework, or used as a go-to sub plan. The Ninja can also serve as a basis for theme-based projects and formative assessments. Comes with editable file so you can adjust to your liking.

Prove It or Lose It is like a utility knife that can be used and adapted to any reading content. History teachers can use it to encourage deep reading of a primary source or textbook. English teachers can use it to encourage critical reading of a short story or non-fiction article. The possibilities are endless! The teacher picks the reading, populates true and false claims that students will seek to either prove or disprove depending on what they learn while they read. This is meant to be presented in a fun way and works great as either individual or group work. Students can use their Prove It or Lose It work as the basis for a persuasive speech, an argumentative essay, or as a silent debate. Files are fully editable so that teachers can fine-tune to their topic du jour. It also can work great as an emergency sub plan.

No more hunting for answers without reading. Read for understanding with the History Made Fresh Reading Frame. A go-to reading strategy that goes along with nearly any history textbook. Depending on the publisher’s layout, students can either approach reading a textbook section to answer a Focus Question with a thesis and evidence to back it up, or they can read with the goal of proving the author’s stated thesis. Master file included so that the Reading Frame can be edited to match your history textbook. This lesson is classroom tested.