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Introducing CKHG™ Primary Source Activity Books

Core Knowledge is committed to creating literate citizens through the implementation of knowledge-building curricula. One way is through elevating the teaching of history and geography. We are thrilled to unveil our latest product: the Primary Source Activity Books for Grades 3–6!

Why Use Primary Sources?

Primary sources are anything from a time period that tells us about the people and events of that era. This often means documents such as government proclamations, letters, diaries, newspapers, and books. But it also means art, furniture, clothing, toys, and other elements of materials culture.

Integrating primary sources help humanize history. Students can “hear” what people of the past knew, thought, felt, and believed from the people themselves. Students can interact directly with history, instead of history being filtered through a Student Reader. This interaction helps students build their reading and visual literacy skills. When students compare a source with the information in their Student Reader, they also develop informational literacy skills—skills that are increasingly important in this age of mis- and disinformation.

 

What Are the Primary Source Activity Books?

The Primary Source Activity Books are built around a collection of primary sources that have been carefully curated to align with the Core Knowledge History and Geography program. Each source connects directly to a person, place, or event mentioned in the CKHG Student Readers for that grade level.

Sources are accompanied by questions that lead students through the five steps of primary source analysis: accessing prior knowledge, describing the source, putting the source in context, interpreting the source, and drawing a conclusion. Answering these questions helps students “think like a historian.” Students are also guided to reflect on their own learning and consider how each source confirms or changes their understanding of history.

 

How Do I Use the Primary Source Activity Books?

The activity books are designed for flexible implementation. Sources may be used one by one as students progress through each CKHG unit or may also be used collectively, as a culminating activity for the unit, with students completing a jigsaw or working in stations. Teachers may also choose for students to complete the activities individually, in pairs, in small groups, or as a whole class. We encourage teachers to choose the implementation strategy that best suits their available time and instructional style—and to vary strategy from unit to unit, if it suits them.

We are very excited to introduce these books, and we can’t wait to see what our teachers do with them!

 

Web-based, teacher-driven games/assessments have arrived at Core Knowledge. We call them Digital Engagements.

Core Knowledge Foundation is committed to keeping our Grade K-5 units up to date and modern. The addition of Science Digital Engagements are important and pedagogically useful tools that bump up all K-5 Science Literacy units. These Digital Engagements are integrated in the lesson flow of a unit, serve as both fun, team-based games, and double as point-of-use assessments.

What is a Digital Engagement?

A Digital Engagement is an option pause in the lesson flow, in which the entire class participates in game-like scenarios. Individuals or class groups compete in answering questions based on the content of the lessons just completed. Each Digital Engagement takes about 15-20 minutes of class time.

 

How is a Digital Engagement undertaken in a classroom?

After a certain number of lessons are completed (driven by the Teacher Guide), the teacher MAY wish to take a break and do a Digital Engagement. The teacher, via a link, accesses the Core Knowledge Digital Engagement website. Once the teach divides the class into teams (suggestions in the Teacher Guide) the teacher will then go from screen to screen, playing a game whose success depends on students giving correct answers to content questions. The games vary: click and drag, mystery box, Who Did It, connect the dot and more. Only one team will win the game.

 

Are the Digital Engagements games or assessments?

They are both. These Engagements are point-of-use. They occur immediately after a lesson set and deal with content ONLY in those lessons. The game-like format is underpinned by real assessment. A teacher can gain an understanding of how well the class has mastered recent content in the Student Book/Reader. The game nature of each Engagement makesZ it enjoyable for the entire class.

Are there rewards for a job well done?

Yes. In each Science Literacy unit there are three (3) Digital Engagements. When each is completed correctly, students are given an online puzzle piece. When the class has completed all three Engagements they can then direct the teacher to assemble the puzzle—and when correct, students view a fun, unique Core Knowledge-based movie as a reward.

On November 5, 2024, American voters will cast ballots for the next president of the United States, as well as other officials at the national, state, and local levels. Such elections are a vital part of our democratic system, and it is part of the Core Knowledge mission to prepare students to participate in that system.

 

One way we do that is through the Pathway to Citizenship, a thread that runs through the Core Knowledge History & Geography (CKHG) units in Grades 3-6. Each American history unit in those grades includes questions, activities, and support notes related to the history, laws, and structure of the American government. These questions, activities, and notes are identified in the Teacher Guides with an American flag icon.

 

The Pathway to Citizenship continues into the Core Knowledge middle school U.S. History program. The middle school U.S. History volumes also include Civics in Action prompts and activities that are intended to encourage students to develop civic awareness and civic participation.

 

Recently, CKHG added focused civics units to its offerings. These units provide student-friendly direct instruction in civic ideals, civic participation, and the history of our political system. There are four units, which can be implemented in conjunction with the Core Knowledge Sequence and History & Geography units or used independently. The Grade 1 unit, Lessons in Civics, can be used in Grades K-2. The Grade 4 unit, Understanding Civics, can be used in Grades 3-6. The middle school level curriculum includes Civics and Economics in U.S. History and Civics and Economics in World History. Both can be used in either Grade 7 or Grade 8.

 

It is our hope and our goal that these materials will help today’s students become literate citizens able to contribute to our democratic society.