Informing Preservice Teachers about Multiple Representations of Historical Events

Since historical thinking can be such an unnatural process, social studies educators need to find effective methods to open students’ minds to historical ways of thinking while building upon and modifying researching skills already possessed. This article looks at one way to assist students in thinking historically and making them more aware of the multiple representations that may exist of an historical event or time period. Through the utilization of one historical event, the Battle of Lexington Green and the World Wide Web, the process described demonstrates how one technique for instilling and enhancing historical thinking may be used.