Virginia SOL S.CE.c

Social Studies7th Grade

The Standard

developing questions, enhancing curiosity, and engaging in critical thinking and analysis

Virginia Standards of Learning for History and Social Science

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students turn broad social studies topics into focused, researchable questions. They ask follow-up questions, examine evidence, and revise their thinking when new information challenges an early answer.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a topic or source, students can write an open-ended question and several useful follow-up questions. They can identify needed evidence and explain how it might affect their answer.
Common Misconceptions: Students may treat a simple fact question as a strong inquiry question. They may assume the first source gives a complete answer or that questions are only asked before research begins.
How to Assess It: Give students a short news excerpt about a local policy decision. Ask them to write one researchable question, two follow-up questions, and one fact they still need.

Lesson moves

Place a map, photograph, and artifact replica at stations; students rotate, record observations, and build one question from each source.
Show two accounts of the same event and ask, "Where do they disagree, and what question would help explain the difference?"
Play Question Sort: teams classify cards as factual, analytical, or unanswerable, then revise weak questions into researchable ones.
Use a current school board issue; students identify stakeholders, draft interview questions, and list evidence needed before taking a position.

Free download

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