Engaging Ways to Build Historical Thinking Skills for 6th Grade Learners
Teaching history in middle school is about more than memorizing names and dates. Students need to develop historical thinking skills for middle school so they can analyze sources, understand cause and effect, and make connections between events. These skills help students think critically and prepare them for more advanced history courses.
Middle school is the perfect time to introduce these skills. At this age, students can start questioning sources, making comparisons, and recognizing different perspectives. In this post, we’ll go over what historical skills are, how to teach them, and how a structured curriculum can make the process easier.
What Are Historical Thinking Skills?
Historical thinking skills help students analyze and interpret history rather than just memorize facts. These skills include:
Sourcing – Who created a document? When and why was it made?
Contextualization – What was happening at the time? How does it impact the source?
Corroboration – How does this source compare to others?
Close Reading – What claims are made? What evidence is used?
These skills help students become better at reading, writing, and thinking critically. They also help students understand history in a deeper way instead of just repeating facts.
Sourcing – Who created a document? When and why was it made?
Contextualization – What was happening at the time? How does it impact the source?
Corroboration – How does this source compare to others?
Close Reading – What claims are made? What evidence is used?
These skills help students become better at reading, writing, and thinking critically. They also help students understand history in a deeper way instead of just repeating facts.
Activities to Encourage Critical Thinking
You don’t need complicated lessons to help students build historical thinking skills for middle school. Simple, structured activities can make a big difference.
1. Primary Source Analysis
Give students historical documents, artifacts, or images and ask them questions about the source. Who created it? Why? What does it tell us about the past?
2. Cause & Effect Timelines
Have students create timelines showing how one event led to another. This helps them see patterns in history and understand cause and effect.
3. Debates & Discussions
Use historical scenarios to encourage students to take different perspectives. Let them argue different sides of an event based on historical evidence.
4. Compare & Contrast Civilizations
Ask students to compare different civilizations in terms of government, religion, and culture. This helps them recognize similarities and differences across history.
1. Primary Source Analysis
Give students historical documents, artifacts, or images and ask them questions about the source. Who created it? Why? What does it tell us about the past?
2. Cause & Effect Timelines
Have students create timelines showing how one event led to another. This helps them see patterns in history and understand cause and effect.
3. Debates & Discussions
Use historical scenarios to encourage students to take different perspectives. Let them argue different sides of an event based on historical evidence.
4. Compare & Contrast Civilizations
Ask students to compare different civilizations in terms of government, religion, and culture. This helps them recognize similarities and differences across history.
How the Ancient Civilizations Curriculum Bundle Includes These Activities
Planning engaging history lessons takes time. The 6th Grade Ancient Civilizations Bundle makes it easier by including activities that help students develop historical skills without extra prep.
This curriculum includes:
These activities help students develop historical thinking skills in a way that is engaging and manageable for teachers.
This curriculum includes:
- Hands-On Notebook Activities – Helps students organize their thinking.
- Guided Reading Passages – Provides background knowledge for analysis.
- Discussion & Writing Prompts – Encourages deeper thinking and debate.
- Consistent Lesson Structure – Makes it easy to build skills over time.
These activities help students develop historical thinking skills in a way that is engaging and manageable for teachers.
Benefits of Teaching Historical Analysis at This Level
Helping students develop historical thinking skills for middle school has long-term benefits.
- Prepares students for high school history – They’ll be ready for more complex analysis.
- Increases engagement – Students enjoy history more when they interact with sources.
- Improves academic skills – Reading, writing, and critical thinking all improve.
- Saves teachers time – A structured curriculum provides everything needed.
Final Thoughts...
Teaching historical skills in middle school doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right activities and resources, students can develop the skills they need to analyze history and think critically. Using structured lessons, primary sources, and interactive discussions helps make history more meaningful for students.
✔ Historical thinking skills help students analyze and interpret history.
✔ Activities like primary source analysis, debates, and timelines make history more engaging.
✔ A structured curriculum like the Ancient Civilizations Bundle includes ready-to-use lessons that build historical skills.
✔ Teaching historical analysis prepares students for high school and beyond.
✔ Activities like primary source analysis, debates, and timelines make history more engaging.
✔ A structured curriculum like the Ancient Civilizations Bundle includes ready-to-use lessons that build historical skills.
✔ Teaching historical analysis prepares students for high school and beyond.
Ancient History Lesson Set Bundles available in my TpT store
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Welcome! I'm Hillary Midgley, a veteran 6th grade teacher.
I create educational materials and develop curriculum for other teachers. I specialize in teaching students how to learn through my Study Skills Curriculum. I have established fundamental classroom systems and structures for teachers to help them streamline their classroom. And my passion is teaching ancient history through engaging activities with foundations in academic skills. Here you will find resources on all of these topics and more. Learn more about me here.
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