Explore major questions in civics and history while building the skills needed to analyze primary sources.
DBQuest guides students through the examination of major questions in civics and history utilizing primary sources. With each document, it challenges students to dig into the text itself and find the relevant information through document-based supporting questions.
Whether you’re a social studies teacher looking for fun ways to support literacy skills or an ELA teacher interested in digital writing tools, DBQuest is for you!
Topics
Documents
Images
Video
Maps
African American History
America at War
Civics & Government
Civil Rights
Economics
Founding Documents
Human Enslavement
Native Peoples
Voting & Suffrage
Women in History
Alignments
History
Alignment to state and Common Core standards can be found on iCivics.org.
Use evidence from informational texts to support analysis and answer questions.
Identify each type of source and its purpose.
Analyze a variety of texts, images, and videos.
Draw on several sources and consider questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
Teacher Experience
Teach with DBQuest as a 1:1 assignment, or as a whole class activity.
Each module is supported with the following instructional materials: Teaching Guide & Tips, Classroom Printables, Anticipation & Reflection Activities, Evidence Guide, Overview Reading and Extensions
Student Experience
The tool takes students through the same four steps for each source:
Rate the document for usefulness and determine perspective.
Identify and analyze the text and visual elements that assist with answering the questions.
Address the supporting questions in your own words.
Summarize your findings as a response to the Big Question.
Private i History Detectives: HISTORICAL INQUIRY FOR ELEMENTARY CLASSROOMS
K-23-531+ min
Take inquiry-based learning to the next level. Students become history detectives using primary sources as evidence to solve historical mysteries.
Invite your students to become history detectives. Private i History Detectives is an inquiry-based curriculum featuring primary sources from the Library of Congress and other collections. With this curriculum, students dive into historical questions framed as mysteries to develop skills in primary source analysis and claim-based reasoning. Private i History Detectives comprehensive slideshows focus on scaffolded primary and secondary source analysis. Each unit includes printable PDFs and digitized student handouts available online through iCivics’ FREE Kami integration.
Topics
Documents
Images
Maps
African American History
America at War
Civics & Government
Civil Rights
Community & Family
First Freedoms
Founding Documents
Human Enslavement
Native Peoples
Symbols & Traditions
Women in History
Alignments
Alignment to state and Common Core standards can be found on iCivics.org.
Learning Objectives
The student will be able to:
Follow agreed-upon rules for discussion
Make observations and ask questions
Gather evidence and draw conclusions
Make logical inferences based on text evidence
Examine primary and secondary source material
Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and relevance of a variety of sources
Teacher Experience
Materials are available as printable PDFs or digitized student handouts available online through iCivics’ FREE Kami integration.
Available materials include slide shows, handouts for students, embedded lesson plans, and resources for teachers.The slideshows are adaptable to meet your classroom needs.
Walk through the slide show and Teacher Resources first to acquaint yourself with the development of the mystery.
We recommend beginning with the "Introduction to Inquiry" mystery for your grade-band as a starting point for students
Student Experience
Students act as history detectives to solve a mystery by exploring primary and secondary sources with the Private i History Detectives Team.
All mysteries include a big mystery question, vocabulary, primary sources from the Library of Congress and other repositories, and inquiry activities.
Students will have the opportunity to activate prior knowledge, investigate, support a claim with evidence, and reflect on content learned.
Inquiry-based activities allow all students entry points to engage in higher-order thinking.
