As students examine sources in the inquiry kits, they practice historical thinking skills that promote deeper learning and understanding, and ongoing reflection.

Alignment to Standards

C3 Framework

The Inquiry Kits for Social Studies are aligned with social studies and history standards. The Maryland State Department of Education has adopted the College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Framework for Social Studies Standards to support students’ development of social studies processes and skills. The inquiry kits fit naturally into the C3 Framework Inquiry Arc, “a set of interlocking and mutually reinforcing ideas that feature the four dimensions of informed inquiry in social studies.” (NCSS, 2013)

Click on each card below to learn how the Inquiry Kits for Social Studies support each dimension of informed inquiry.

MCCR Standards

Using inquiry kits can also help students gain experience in skills that are part of the disciplinary literacy standards outlined in the Maryland College and Career Ready (MCCR) Standards for Reading and Writing in History/Social Studies along with social studies and history standards and skills that are important for independent research projects, including:

  • Posing a research question
  • Developing a thesis and drawing conclusions
  • Using a research question to guide investigation
  • Reflecting on and revising work
  • Finding, analyzing, and using sources as evidence
  • Writing an historical argument
  • Understanding and using sources as evidence
  • Writing citations and annotated bibliographies
  • Analyzing visuals, including political cartoons, chart, graphs, and tables
  • Practicing and using media literacy skills to recognize bias