Asking Questions About the Past · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Asking Your Own Questions About the Past

History · Historical Thinking · ages 7-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Asking your own questions about the past means only waiting for someone to tell you the facts.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. Which question is a finding-out question about the past?

    • Why did people build castles with thick walls?
    • What is a castle?
    • How many castles are there?

  3. You see an old toy in a museum. Which question could you actually investigate?

    • Is this toy old?
    • Who played with this toy long ago?
    • Is this a toy?

  4. Where might you look to find out why old houses had small windows?

    • A book about old houses, or a museum
    • A comic book about superheroes
    • A weather app

  5. Priya wonders about an old letter. Which question best turns her curiosity into something to investigate?

    • What does the letter say?
    • Is the letter old?
    • Why did the person write this letter?

  6. Tom asks, 'What is a knight?' and stops there. What could he ask next to dig deeper?

    • Nothing, that question already tells him everything
    • Why did knights wear armor?
    • What is a knight?

  7. If your question about the past can be answered with just yes or no, it usually helps you find out the most.

    Circle one:   True   False

  8. Which of these is NOT a good finding-out question about an old bridge?

    • Why did people build the bridge here?
    • What was life like for the builders?
    • Is the bridge made of stone?
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Asking Your Own Questions About the Past W1-mt_6nTw-Ic6pC-s1

  1. False · Asking your own questions means wondering and finding out for yourself, not just waiting to be told.
  2. Why did people build castles with thick walls? · The second question asks why, so you could look for a real answer. The others just ask for a fact or a number.
  3. Who played with this toy long ago? · The first question invites you to find out more. The others only need a yes or no.
  4. A book about old houses, or a museum · A book about old houses or a museum are good places to search for real answers about the past.
  5. Why did the person write this letter? · Asking why someone wrote the letter leads to real investigating, about how people acted back then.
  6. Why did knights wear armor? · Repeating 'what is a knight' does not dig deeper. Asking why turns his curiosity into a question he can investigate.
  7. False · Yes or no questions close down investigating fast. Questions starting with why or what was it like open it up.
  8. Is the bridge made of stone? · 'Is the bridge made of stone' only needs a yes or no. The other two questions open up real investigating.
Worksheet · LightMySky