Wayground
Vocab Unit 0: Intro to social studies - Printable Social studies Worksheets 6th Grade - Wayground

Vocab Unit 0: Intro to social studies

Christine Meisberger

Created by Christine Meisberger

14 questions

6th Grade

Social studies

Updated May 2025

Vocab Unit 0: Intro to Social Studies is a Grade 6 social studies worksheet that introduces essential vocabulary for inquiry, evidence, sources, and map skills. Its 14 multiple-choice questions ask students to identify compelling and supporting questions, claims, evidence, citations, inquiry, the discipline strands, primary and secondary sources, latitude, longitude, scale, compass, and legend. Students build foundational social studies literacy by matching concise definitions to the correct academic terms. The worksheet helps learners distinguish related ideas—such as a claim from its evidence, a primary source from a secondary source, and latitude from longitude—while reinforcing the map vocabulary needed for later geographic analysis. It works well as an introductory vocabulary check, guided practice activity, or review before students begin research and map-based assignments. This free printable worksheet includes a complete answer key for efficient checking and feedback.

Worksheet settings

Font size

S
M
L
XL
WaygroundWorksheets

Vocab Unit 0: Intro to social studies

Total questions: 14

Name
Class
Date
1.

A question that is answered with an opinion or claim.

a)

supporting question

b)

compelling question

c)

claim

d)

evidence

2.

Specific questions used to guide research. The information is used to help answer a compelling question

a)

Supporting Question

b)

Compelling Question

c)

Inquiry

d)

Evidence

3.

An opinion that must be supported by evidence.

a)

Citation

b)

Inquiry

c)

Evidence

d)

Claim

4.

Civics 

History

Economics 

Geography

a)

Discipline Strands

b)

Anger Strands

c)

Disciple Strings

d)

Discipline Strings

5.

Questioning and investigating to learn truth, information, or knowledge.

a)

Insider

b)

Esquire

c)

Inquiry

d)

Impossible

6.

Sources used as proof for a claim.

a)

Claim

b)

Evidence

c)

Primary

d)

Proof

7.

The identification of a source that contains the evidence used to support a claim

a)

Plagiarize

b)

Give credit

c)

Citation

d)

Sightation

8.

A source of information that comes from a first-hand account of an event or time period.

a)

Secondary source

b)

Primal source

c)

Primary colors

d)

Primary source

9.

A source that uses primary sources to describe or explain an event or time period.

a)

Secondary source

b)

Second nature

c)

Secondary school

d)

Secondhand

10.
A horizontal measurement on a globe or map of location north or south of the Equator.

A horizontal measurement on a globe or map of location north or south of the Equator.

a)

Longitude

b)

Scale

c)

Compass

d)

Latitude

11.
The relationship between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the earth.

The relationship between a distance on a map and the corresponding distance on the earth.

a)

Legend

b)

Scale

c)

Claim

d)

Citation

12.
A symbol on a map that shows the cardinal directions

A symbol on a map that shows the cardinal directions

a)

GPS

b)

Dial

c)

Compass

d)

Primary Source

13.
The vertical measurement of distance on the earth's surface, east or west of a defined meridian

The vertical measurement of distance on the earth's surface, east or west of a defined meridian

a)

Equator

b)

Latitude

c)

Global distance

d)

Longitude

14.
A description, explanation, or table of symbols printed on a map

A description, explanation, or table of symbols printed on a map

a)

Compass

b)

Scale

c)

Legend

d)

Discipline Strands

WaygroundAnswer Key

Vocab Unit 0: Intro to social studies

Total questions: 14

1.
b)

compelling question

2.
a)

Supporting Question

3.
d)

Claim

4.
a)

Discipline Strands

5.
c)

Inquiry

6.
b)

Evidence

7.
c)

Citation

8.
d)

Primary source

9.
a)

Secondary source

10.
d)

Latitude

11.
b)

Scale

12.
c)

Compass

13.
d)

Longitude

14.
c)

Legend

Browse by subjects

Browse by grades

Browse by format

FAQs

What does the Vocab Unit 0: Intro to Social Studies worksheet cover?

This Grade 6 worksheet uses 14 multiple-choice definition questions to build vocabulary for social studies inquiry, evidence, source analysis, and maps. Students identify terms such as compelling question, supporting question, claim, evidence, citation, primary source, secondary source, latitude, longitude, scale, compass, and legend, strengthening their ability to recognize and use foundational social studies concepts.

How can I use this worksheet to teach introductory social studies vocabulary?

Introduce the terms in clusters: begin with inquiry, compelling and supporting questions, claims, evidence, and citations; then teach primary and secondary sources and the map terms. Have students explain why each selected term fits its definition, using contrasts such as claim versus evidence and latitude versus longitude to turn the multiple-choice activity into a vocabulary discussion.

What mistakes should I watch for when students complete this social studies vocabulary worksheet?

Students may confuse a compelling question, which is answered with an opinion or claim, with a supporting question, which guides research; they may also select evidence instead of the claim it supports or overlook citation as the identification of a source. In the map section, watch for latitude and longitude reversals, and for confusion among a compass, scale, and legend; students may also mix up first-hand primary sources with secondary sources that use primary sources to explain an event.

How do I assign and grade this social studies worksheet?

You can assign Vocab Unit 0: Intro to Social Studies as a printable PDF or as a digital quiz on Wayground, and it includes a complete answer key for checking all 14 multiple-choice questions. For printable submissions, scan student work with the Wayground for Teachers app to help grade responses efficiently.

How can I differentiate this social studies vocabulary worksheet for my students?

Use the worksheet’s Advanced Settings to adjust font spacing or increase the font size so the definition-and-choice layout is easier to read. You can also enable a dyslexia-friendly font or translate the worksheet into another language while students work with the inquiry, source, and map vocabulary.

Where can I find more free worksheets like this on Wayground?

Wayground offers a broad collection of free printable worksheets and practice problems across subjects, with downloadable PDFs and answer keys to support essential skills and concepts. Browse more resources at https://wayground.com/en-us/worksheets.

© 2026 Wayground Inc.

Accessibility and Inclusion