The Big Six Historical Thinking Concepts

by Peter Seixas, Tom Morton

In The Big Six Historical Thinking Concepts, Peter Seixas and Tom Morton provide the tools you need to show students that history is a mystery waiting to be solved, an interpretation to be challenged, and a fabric of human experience in which they take part every day.

Each chapter of the book uncovers one of the historical thinking concepts and suggests pathways for students to become powerful historical thinkers by exploring

historical significance
evidence
continuity and change
cause and consequence
historical perspectives
the ethical dimension

Genres: Nonfiction, Teaching, History, Education, Professional Development

200 pages, Paperback

First published July 30, 2012

Reviews

[annika x · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars! felt like an academic weapon reading this, super helpful to understand second order concepts and applying them to the classroom!

[Ian Tymms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elegant - and that's the highest praise there is in my lexicon. That artful mix of wisdom, evidence, complex thinking and succinct and accessible writing. Elegant.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to finish this, but it was worthwhile... or it will be, if I can manage to apply the ideas in my classroom without going nuts. I like that it has very practical examples of how to encourage students to examine the different skills, although of course Canadian examples aren't always directly applicable to my situation.

[Jessica Liew · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a BC teacher, Social Studies teacher or history teacher, this book is a must read. The 6 historical thinking skills it outlines apply to the teaching of history at all levels and the concepts are the foundation of the new BC Social Studies curriculum. The book contains many lesson and activity ideas that can be readily adapted to teach a variety of topics. The book also contains many black line masters for several of the suggested activities. An excellent read for professional development.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been the bible for our History department at school for years, and it's become part of the fabric of my teaching. In some ways it's stating the obvious...but sometimes you need a place where you can reference the obvious when needed.

[LaanSiBB]

A fabulous introduction to historiography.