Washington State
Curriculum Based Assessment [CBA] Links to the National Archives and Records Administration's Primary Documents located at [web]www.ourdocuments.gov
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5th Grade

What's the Big Idea? (History)

Student assignment:

In an essay or presentation, you will:

  1. explain the effects of the idea or technology on people's actions, and
  2. describe how the technology or idea led to changes in people's values and beliefs.
In a graphic organizer you will:
  1. list effects of the idea or technology on the people.

Primary source documents from "Our Documents, 100 Milestone Source Documents from the National Archives and Records Administration," relating to this Curriculum Based Assessment [CBA]:

Important notes for using this section:

  • Following each sub-topic is a list representing specific documents that are believed to best illustrate a topic. Each document is linked to an interactive digital copy of the record itself, complete with description, background information, a transcribed copy [for convenience and for students having difficulty reading handwriting] and teaching suggestions, from the "Our Documents" web site [see [web]www.ourdocuments.gov]. Just click on the document title and it will take you to the specific "Our Documents" page.
  • In addition, there is a "Document Only" link which can be used in classrooms with fewer web connections. This is an "Adobe Acrobat" [.pdf] file and can be opened in advance and copied by the instructor or student directly, without a web connection, on any type of computer, as long as Adobe Acrobat is loaded on the computer. For a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat program [web]click here.

Sample Topics and Associated Primary Sources:

Ideas

Democracy Exploration & Scientific Discovery Land for New Citizens Transportation Conservation of Resources Income Tax Ways to Avoid War Overcoming Poverty Rights of Citizens Helping Others Safety

Technology

Associated Washington State Standards {EALR}

  • History 2.1.1 - Explain how an idea has affected the way people live.
  • Social Studies Skills 3.1.2d - Investigate cause and effect relationships and their impact on people, environments, and economic systems.
  • History 2.2.1 - Describe instances in which new technology has led to changes in values, beliefs, and attitudes.
  • Social Studies Skills 1.1.1d - Locate particular facts in Social Studies documents. Identify the main idea.

Scoring
EALR Scoring
(*for additional levels, see OSPI Scoring Rubric)
History 2.1.1
Social Studies Skills 3.1.2d		 *at highest level... Clearly and accurately explains at least three effects of the idea or technology on people’s actions with specific details to support each explanation.
History 2.2.1 *at highest level... Clearly and accurately describes how the technology or idea led to two changes in the values and/or beliefs of the people.
Social Studies Skills 1.1.1d *at highest level... List of resources thoroughly examines six or more sources.
National Archives and Records Administration
6125 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
http://www.archives.gov/pacific-alaska