MYSTERY
Historians find clues. In this lesson, students will use their inquiry skills to figure out how and why many Americans celebrate on the 4th of July. Students will investigate a series of images and collect evidence to back up their answers. While students might know a lot about how and why people celebrate the Fourth of July, this lesson sets the stage for basic inquiry and lays a common starting point for Lesson 2.
“As a second and third grade teacher for the entirety of my career I had long taught students history through inquiry. Seeing students explore history in this way has been SUCH a joy! Lightbulb moments galore! A teacher’s dream!...unlike lessons I had taught in the past, I didn’t have to find the primary sources. I didn’t have to research them. I didn’t have to write the lesson plan from scratch. I didn’t have to do anything but read the lesson plan… and teach the lesson!”
“I just used the first lesson in the Mapping Unit. It was so great to get students talking about what they noticed and also expand their thinking on how maps have a special purpose to the user.”
"I love that students got to look at REAL court cases! And it was so easy to use!"
"I liked the simplicity of the handouts. Not too much there to be overwhelming--just enough. Simple, clear directions. The photographs of the clues were great for the students to have."
This Mystery is included in the following Private i History Detectives Unit:
Why Do Many People Celebrate on the Fourth of July?
Other Mysteries in this Unit: