Home > Introduction to Inquiry Mysteries, Grades K-1 > What Is This and What Was It Used For?

Learning Objectives

  • Follow agreed-upon rules for discussion
  • Make observations and ask questions
  • Make and revise predictions using evidence
  • Compare objects and time periods to each other
  • Discuss and use reasoning to explain: “What is this and what was it used for?”

Overview

Historians are observant. In this introduction to inquiry lesson, students will learn some of the skills and strategies historians use to learn about the past. Students will use their historian skills to uncover a mystery object as they notice, wonder, infer, and compare.

Before starting a Private i History Detectives unit, use this lesson or the “What Can We Learn from a Hat?” mystery as an introduction to inquiry lesson to introduce your students to the Private i History Detectives Team and the skills historians use.

iCivics en español! Student and class materials for this mystery are available in Spanish.

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Tags

Pedagogy Tags
EL/ML
Spanish
ELA/Literacy
History Connection
Inquiry-based
Primary Source
Vocabulary
Tech Options
Web browser
Integrations
Google Slides
PDF
Kami
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