Doing History

This essential guide for educators transforms history instruction from rote memorization into authentic investigative work, demonstrating how elementary and middle school students can engage in genuine historical inquiry through case studies of diverse classrooms. Levstik shows children collecting and analyzing primary sources, examining multiple perspectives, and constructing evidence-based interpretations—proving young learners are capable of sophisticated historical thinking when given proper scaffolding and meaningful questions.

What sets this approach apart is its emphasis on history as a process of discovery rather than a fixed narrative, with students acting as historians who interrogate sources and build understanding collectively. Teachers seeking to move beyond textbooks will find practical strategies for creating classrooms where historical investigation becomes the core of social studies instruction, ultimately developing students' critical thinking skills and democratic citizenship through hands-on engagement with the past.