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Reading a Town Record is a free printable Kindergarten to Grade 2 social studies worksheet on using a source to study the past, aligned to C3 Framework indicator D2.His.10.K-2. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Reading a Town Record

D2.His.10.K-2

NameDate

Look at the source, then answer the questions.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

Letter From a Mill Worker

A letter written in 1868 by Emma Shaw's mother, kept by the family. Dear sister, We are all at the mill now, even Emma. The bell rings at half past five and we walk down Mill Row. The work is hot and the noise is very great. We are glad of the wages, but I would rather Emma were at school. Your loving sister, Alice

  1. 1. What time does the bell ring?
  2. 2. Why did Alice write to her sister?
  3. 3. Who wrote this letter?
2.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

Census Page, Mill Row

A page from the town census of 1871, kept in the record office. MILL ROW, 1871 Number 3: Shaw, John, 34, weaver. Number 3: Shaw, Alice, 31, weaver. Number 3: Shaw, Emma, 11, piecer at the mill. Number 4: Doyle, Mary, 58, washerwoman. Number 5: empty.

  1. 1. What was Mary Doyle's work?
  2. 2. Why did the town count people this way?
  3. 3. How old was Emma Shaw?

LessonPrint · D2.His.10.K-2 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Reading a Town Record

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Half past five. 2. To tell her sister that the family is now working at the mill. 3. Alice, Emma's mother.
  2. 2.1. She was a washerwoman. 2. To record who lived in each house on Mill Row and what work they did. 3. Emma Shaw was 11.

Questions about Reading a Town Record

What does the Reading a Town Record worksheet cover?

It practices using a source to study the past — 2 questions for Kindergarten to Grade 2, all on C3 Framework D2.His.10.K-2: Explain how a source helps you study the past. The instruction to students is “Look at the source, then answer the questions”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which C3 Framework indicator does Reading a Town Record practice?

D2.His.10.K-2, under History for Kindergarten to Grade 2. The published indicator reads: “Explain how historical sources can be used to study the past.” The worksheet assesses that indicator rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Reading a Town Record is written for Kindergarten to Grade 2, typically ages 7-8. It is one of the sheets on D2.His.10.K-2, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Reading a Town Record come with an answer key?

Yes. All 2 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of Reading a Town Record can I print?

25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is Reading a Town Record free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Reading a Town Record, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

Is there a lesson plan to teach D2.His.10.K-2?

Yes — “Reading a Town Record” is a 40-minute Kindergarten to Grade 2 plan for D2.His.10.K-2, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Reading a Town Record is the practice that follows it.

More practice for D2.His.10.K-2

Explain how a source helps you study the past.

Teaching this next? Reading a Town Record is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Kindergarten to Grade 2 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.10.K-2 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.