Holistic Education

Historical Thinking gets students to think about history and at times to step into the past to experience it. It allows students to gain an understanding of what occurred in the past and to be able to then be able to connect history to their lives. Their lives in terms of what happened in the past brought them to the present they live in. A present that could have been different depending upon the different events, and factors that have happened.

Historical thinking also allows students to form an identity with the past and allows them to gain an understanding of who they are too. Also, historical thinking is about students gaining a better understanding of what happened, and not about them learning a series of names, dates and events that have occurred. Instead it is about learning a useful skill that can be used in the future in school and outside of school.

When assessing students learning and doing of historical thinking, it should involve students reflecting and discussing what they have learned in the unit. Not about if they were able to answer a short answer or multiple choice quiz. Instead students should be able to discuss and reflect about history, of course using evidence they have collected to discuss and prove their point. But also discuss why they believe the evidence supports the idea or thought.