Critical Thinking in History Education

Claire Wolf's 10th grade class prepares for the New York Regents exam by critically engaging with primary sources. Students take on the role of history teachers, curating documents for a DBQ. They explore the work of historians and apply it to their study of the Holocaust, focusing on themes like political conditions and human rights. Through group discussions and a gallery walk, students evaluate document relevance and reflect on the roles of historians and teachers.

What innovative approach did Claire Wolf's class take to prepare for the New York Regents exam?

• Critically analyzing primary sources

• Memorizing historical dates

• Watching historical documentaries

• Reading history textbooks

What is one of the main roles of a historian as discussed in the class?

• To memorize historical facts

• To analyze and understand historical sources

• To write fictional stories about history

• To teach history to students

Which themes were used to study the Holocaust in Claire's class?

• Political and economic conditions

• Impact of fascist ideology

• Human rights violations

• All of the above

What was the task given to students regarding primary sources?

• To ignore the sources

• To write a summary of each source

• To select the most relevant sources for a DBQ

• To memorize all the sources

What is a DBQ essay?

• A personal opinion essay

• A fictional story

• A document-based question essay

• A multiple-choice test

Why is background knowledge important when selecting documents for a DBQ?

• It is not important at all

• It helps in memorizing the documents

• It helps in understanding the context of the documents

• It makes the documents look more interesting

What is one challenge history teachers face when preparing students for high-stakes exams?

• Assigning homework

• Organizing field trips

• Choosing the right textbooks

• Finding enough time to cover all topics

What is the primary goal of a history teacher according to the class discussion?

• To pass on pre-formed ideas to students

• To create new historical theories

• To memorize historical dates

• To write history books

How does being an active historian benefit students?

• It reduces the need for exams

• It makes history more entertaining

• It helps them memorize facts

• It encourages critical thinking and understanding

What is the significance of making students think like history teachers?

• It makes them write more essays

• It helps them memorize more information

• It encourages them to evaluate and prioritize information

• It reduces their workload