MassachusettsHISTORY EXPLORERS GRADES 3–8
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Quick glossary
evidence
Information from a source that helps us test a claim.
source
A document, object, image, or account we can examine.
inference
An explanation based on clues; it still needs checking.
migration
Moving from one place to another to live.
immigrant
A person who moves to another country to live.
estimate
An approximate amount, based on available information.
oral history
A recorded interview about someone’s memories and experiences.
community
People connected by a place, relationships, or shared activities.
ancestry
Family origins across generations.
primary source
Evidence created by someone who experienced a time or event.

Thoreau at Walden Pond

Choose a PDF, read on screen, and try the word game.

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All four include an image, vocabulary, comprehension questions, a follow-up reading, and teacher guidance. These English PDFs have selectable text; use the reading below for adjustable text and listening tools.

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Portrait of Henry David Thoreau.
Portrait of Henry David Thoreau.

Words to know

observe
look or listen carefully
nature
the living things and physical world around us
reflect
think carefully about an experience or idea

Henry David Thoreau moved into a small house near Walden Pond. He observed nature and thought about how people live. He later wrote Walden. The pond is in Concord, and his stay lasted about two years.

Talk about the reading

What happened? Point to a detail that supports your answer. What does the picture help you understand? What would you like to investigate next?

Follow-up: Ether anesthesia demonstration

Doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital used ether during a public surgical demonstration. It helped show that surgery could occur with less pain. Many people contributed to the development of anesthesia.

How are the two events connected or different? Their order does not prove that one caused the other.

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Word match: use the reading

Select a word, then select its meaning. You can use a keyboard or tap. Read the word bank if you need a clue.

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Check the evidence

Research source for this event ↗

Benjamin D. Maxham active 1848 - 1858 · Public domain Image source and rights ↗

Historical images, later portraits, reconstructions, and modern topic illustrations are identified in their captions. They are different kinds of evidence.

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