Catch of the Day - H.S.I. Historical Scene Investigation - 19 Mar 10

H.S.I. Historical Scene Investigation is today's fresh catch

The H.S.I. Historical Scene Investigation project was designed for social studies teachers who need a powerful teaching tool for bringing primary sources into their classroom.

H.S.I. Historical Scene Investigation Home Page

Social studies teachers trying to give students experiences that more closely resemble the work of a real historian find it difficult to locate projects and experiences that are accessible for their students. The HSI project was developed for these teachers.

The HSI instructional model consists of four steps.

• Becoming a Detective - Background information and context relative to the historical scene under investigation are provided for the students. Students are then presented with an question to guide their inquiry.
• Investigating the Evidence - Students are linked to appropriate digital primary sources such as text files, images, audio, or video clips to help them crack the case.
• Searching for Clues - Students are provided with a set of questions for their log to guide their analysis of the evidence.
• Cracking the Case - Students present their answer to the initial question. Students are encouraged to enter new questions that have arisen during the process for future investigation.

Student Notes for an Investigation

There is a section for the teacher in every case. In this section the teacher will find a list of specific objectives for the activity and additional contextual information and resources as well as instructional strategies that might be useful.

Teacher Notes for an Investigation

The H.S.I. Historical Scene Investigation project has been developed in partnership with the College of William & Mary School of Education, University of Kentucky School of Education, and the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Program.

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/0