When the Figures Disagree
A 50-minute Grade 4 lesson on comparing sources that disagree by arithmetic rather than by tone.
When the Figures Disagree is a free 50-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies lesson plan for Common Core standard D2.His.10.3-5 — compare what different sources say about the same past. 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:
- Grade 3 to Grade 5
- Length:
- 50 minutes
- Standard:
- D2.His.10.3-5
Grade 3 to Grade 5 · History
D2.His.10.3-5
Compare information provided by different historical sources about the past.
Objective
Students will be able to compare two sources and say what their agreement or disagreement is worth.
Students are successful when they can
- Says where two sources agree.
- Explains a disagreement by who counted and why.
- Says what agreement adds and what it does not.
What you need
- The notice and the circular; the abstract and the ledger
- A three-column sheet: agrees / disagrees / only one says
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — one figure, two documents
5 min- Ask both 1893 documents how the mill was doing.
- Note that neither denies the other's fact.
Teach — three columns
17 min- Agrees: both documents accept that cotton was dear in 1893.
- Disagrees: whether that made the cut necessary.
- Only one says: the profits of 12,000 pounds, which only the union publishes.
- Ask what agreement is worth: more confidence in that one point, and nothing beyond it.
- Ask what to do with a disagreement: ask who counted, how, and for what purpose.
- Do the abstract and the ledger: one counts, the other names. They complete each other.
- Take the 1998 claim and say how to test it against the return and the abstract.
“Do they agree because it is true, or because they share an author?”
Guided practice — three pairs
15 min- Groups compare three pairs of sources using the columns.
- For one disagreement they say who made each and what they wanted.
- Groups report the pair that added most.
Independent practice
10 min- Students complete the 'When the Figures Disagree' page.
- Check disagreement is explained, not just noticed.
Close
3 min- Ask which missing source would settle the 1893 dispute.
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Thinks disagreement makes both useless.
Why: Conflict feels like no evidence.
Fix: Both are evidence of what each side argued. That is worth having.
Thinks agreement proves everything in a source.
Why: Confirmation spreads.
Fix: They agree cotton was dear. That confirms cotton, not the conclusion.
Averages two figures.
Why: It feels balanced.
Fix: Ask who counted and why. Sometimes one side is simply better placed.
If they are not there yet
- One pair and two columns.
- Give the agreement and ask what it is worth.
If they finish early
- Find two sources agreeing for a suspicious reason.
- Say what a third source would settle.
- Test the 1998 claim against the abstract and the return.
Exit ticket
Both 1893 documents accept that cotton was dear. What does that agreement give you, and what does it not?
What to look for: Confidence about cotton alone, and nothing about whether the cut was necessary. Extending the confidence means the limit needs another run.
Printable practice for D2.His.10.3-5
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- When the Figures DisagreeCircle the best answer.
Questions about When the Figures Disagree
How long does the When the Figures Disagree lesson take?
50 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 17 min, guided practice 15 min, independent practice 10 min, close 3 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 When the Figures Disagree teach?
D2.His.10.3-5 — D2.His.10.3-5, History for Grade 3 to Grade 5: “Compare information provided by different historical sources about the past.” In plain terms, compare what different sources say about the same past.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
The notice and the circular; the abstract and the ledger, a three-column sheet: agrees / disagrees / only one says 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: thinks disagreement makes both useless; thinks agreement proves everything in a source and averages two figures. 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: “Both 1893 documents accept that cotton was dear. What does that agreement give you, and what does it not?.” Confidence about cotton alone, and nothing about whether the cut was necessary. Extending the confidence means the limit needs another run. 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 When the Figures Disagree?
Yes — 1 printable D2.His.10.3-5 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 When the Figures Disagree 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.10.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.