HISTORY'S MYSTERIES
Historical Inquiry for Elementary Classrooms
Invite your students to act as history detectives as they investigate primary and secondary sources to help solve a mystery.
WHAT IS HISTORY’S MYSTERIES?
History’s Mysteries is a K-5 history curriculum that helps elementary educators re-center history in their classrooms by providing easy-to-use, adaptable, and engaging curriculum that focuses on research-based practice in historical inquiry.
History’s Mysteries are inquiry-based history lessons centered around the investigation of primary sources.
In each mystery, students are invited to act as history detectives as they investigate primary and secondary sources to help solve a mystery.
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES ADDRESSES CHALLENGING CONTENT
History’s Mysteries focus on important stories often not explored in elementary curriculum.
HISTORY’S MYSTERIES INQUIRY LEADS TO ACCESSIBILITY
All mysteries include scaffolded primary source analysis. Rich in the use of historic images, the mysteries have multiple entry points and hone important critical and historical thinking skills without text. Elsewhere, complex text is modified for increased accessibility.
HOW DOES HISTORY’S MYSTERIES WORK?
Each unit in the curriculum begins with a mystery that introduces historical inquiry skills, followed by three to four mysteries that build skills and content as they proceed.
Each mystery emphasizes key vocabulary, historical content, and historical investigation.
All mysteries are Google-based and have a narrated slideshow with handouts, a brief lesson plan, and teacher resources editable for classroom use.
The mysteries can be expanded by educators that are ready to dive deeply into historical inquiry. They are also ready-to-use. Just click and play!