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
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Teaching Table · Reviewed guide
Set out your lesson
“Historical thinking uses sources as evidence. A primary source comes from the time studied; a secondary source interprets the past later. Historians place evidence in chronology, use BCE and CE dates, corroborate sources, notice bias and perspective, and judge reliability.”
Bring to the table
- Paper
- Pencil
- One simple primary source and one secondary source about the same event
Full guide and materials
- Paper
- Pencil
- One simple primary source and one secondary source about the same event
- Step 1. Define primary source, secondary source, evidence, interpretation, corroborate, bias, perspective, and reliability.
- Step 2. Place two sample dates in chronological order and label them BCE or CE.
- Step 3. Record what each source claims and where they corroborate one another.
- Step 4. Identify one possible bias or limitation and explain how it affects reliability.
- Quick check. Show a new source pair. Success means your child identifies primary versus secondary, orders one BCE/CE date pair, and explains one corroboration or reliability issue.
Worked example. A soldier’s dated letter is a primary source; a modern history book is a secondary source. If both support the same date they corroborate it, but the letter’s perspective may limit what it reliably shows about the whole event.
Optional challenge. Compare two biased perspectives and decide what additional artefact or source would make an interpretation more reliable.
What to notice. Save a photo of the vocabulary chart, or a short note recording one evidence-based interpretation.
Compare teaching approaches
Teaching approaches
Gakuva’s recommended starting approach is selected. You can still compare every option.
1 approach
Historical thinking uses sources as evidence. A primary source comes from the time studied; a secondary source interprets the past later. Historians place evidence in chronology, use BCE and CE dates, corroborate sources, notice bias and perspective, and judge reliability.
Spend 15 minutes building a historical-thinking chart, then compare a primary source with a secondary source about the same event.
Family records and proof options
Keep a record of your learning
Save photos, notes, and attendance. Export a proof packet for compliance or portfolio reviews.
Learning resources
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Check understanding
- 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
“If you asked your child 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'?”
Curriculum record
- Type
- Language
- Subject
- History
- Domain
- Historical Thinking
- Age range
- Ages 6–10