Who Wrote It, and When?
A 40-minute Grade 1 lesson on working out a source's maker, date and place from the source itself.
Who Wrote It, and When? is a free 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D2.His.11.K-2 — work out who made a source, when, and where, from the source itself. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the mathematics, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten to Grade 2
- Length:
- 40 minutes
- Standard:
- D2.His.11.K-2
Kindergarten to Grade 2 · History
D2.His.11.K-2
Identify the maker, date, and place of origin for a historical source from information within the source itself.
Objective
Students will be able to find the maker and date, and mark whether each was stated or inferred.
Students are successful when they can
- Finds the maker where stated.
- Infers a date from a clue.
- Marks stated and inferred differently.
What you need
- Local sources with and without dates
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — look at the bottom
5 min- Find the name on the lost cat poster and the council letter.
- Note where names usually sit.
Teach — stated and inferred
13 min- Take a source with a stated date. Mark it stated.
- Take one without. Find a clue — the clothes, the cars, the prices.
- Mark that inferred, and say the difference out loud.
- Say the Grade 1 addition: an inferred date is useful and less certain.
- Show a clue that could mislead.
“It does not say the year. But nobody has driven a car like that for fifty years.”
Guided practice — three questions, two marks
12 min- Pairs answer who, when and where for two sources.
- They mark each answer stated or inferred.
- They name what is missing entirely.
Independent practice
8 min- Students complete the who-made-this page.
- The sources are on the sheet.
Close
2 min- Take one inferred date and its clue.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Treats an inferred date as certain.
Why: A good clue feels like proof.
Fix: Two marks, always. The distinction is the skill.
Guesses a maker with no evidence.
Why: A blank feels like failure.
Fix: 'We cannot tell' is a correct answer.
Thinks the person shown made the source.
Why: They are visible.
Fix: Ask who held the camera.
If they are not there yet
- Sources with everything stated.
- One question rather than three.
If they finish early
- Date a source from two clues that disagree.
- Say why a maker might not sign something.
- Say what the maker wanted you to notice.
Exit ticket
When was this photograph taken? Was your answer stated or worked out?
What to look for: A date and an honest label. An inferred date marked as stated means the two-marks rule needs restating.
Printable practice for D2.His.11.K-2
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Who Wrote It, and When?Look at the source, then answer the questions.
Questions about Who Wrote It, and When?
How long does the Who Wrote It, and When? lesson take?
40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does Who Wrote It, and When? teach?
D2.His.11.K-2 — D2.His.11.K-2, History for Kindergarten to Grade 2: “Identify the maker, date, and place of origin for a historical source from information within the source itself.” In plain terms, work out who made a source, when, and where, from the source itself.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
Local sources with and without dates and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: treats an inferred date as certain; guesses a maker with no evidence and thinks the person shown made the source. The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “When was this photograph taken? Was your answer stated or worked out?.” A date and an honest label. An inferred date marked as stated means the two-marks rule needs restating. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with Who Wrote It, and When??
Yes — 1 printable D2.His.11.K-2 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is Who Wrote It, and When? free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on 7 September 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-09-07. Aligned to D2.His.11.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.