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Sources for Both Sides is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on choosing sources allowing for disagreement, aligned to Common Core standard D1.5.3-5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils 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.

Sources for Both Sides

D1.5.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best source for each purpose.

1.You want the case against the railway. Which source?
  • A.The railway timetable
  • B.The trade directory
  • C.The 1844 petition from the boatmen
2.You want somebody's overall judgement of the change. Which source?
  • A.The 2015 local history
  • B.The toll table
  • C.The timetable
3.You want to know what goods the canal carried. Which source?
  • A.The canal toll table
  • B.The petition
  • C.The 2015 history
4.Why is the 2015 history not enough on its own?
  • A.It is one historian's argument built from the other sources
  • B.It is too recent
  • C.It is too short
5.You want to know what voters were promised. Which source?
  • A.The railway report
  • B.The election poster
  • C.The workhouse register
6.You want the case for the railway. Which source?
  • A.The petition
  • B.The workhouse register
  • C.The newspaper report of the opening
7.Why use both the petition and the newspaper report?
  • A.They give opposite views of the same change
  • B.Both are printed
  • C.Both are from 1846
8.You want a measure of who lost work. Which source?
  • A.The workhouse register and the trade directory
  • B.The election poster
  • C.The toll table

LessonPrint · D1.5.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Sources for Both Sides

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The 1844 petition from the boatmen
  2. 2.The 2015 local history
  3. 3.The canal toll table
  4. 4.It is one historian's argument built from the other sources
  5. 5.The election poster
  6. 6.The newspaper report of the opening
  7. 7.They give opposite views of the same change
  8. 8.The workhouse register and the trade directory

Questions about Sources for Both Sides

What does the Sources for Both Sides worksheet cover?

It practises choosing sources allowing for disagreement — 8 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on Common Core D1.5.3-5: Work out what kind of source would help, allowing for the fact that people disagree. The instruction to pupils is “Circle the best source for each purpose”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which Common Core standard does Sources for Both Sides practise?

D1.5.3-5 — D1.5.3-5, in the Developing Questions and Planning Inquiries domain for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published standard reads: “Determine the kinds of sources that will be helpful in answering compelling and supporting questions, taking into consideration the different opinions people have about how to answer the questions.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Sources for Both Sides is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D1.5.3-5, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Sources for Both Sides come with an answer key?

Yes. All 8 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 Sources for Both Sides can I print?

25 — one per pupil, 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 Sources for Both Sides free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Sources for Both Sides, 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 D1.5.3-5?

Yes — “Choosing Sources for Both Sides” is a 45-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 plan for D1.5.3-5, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Sources for Both Sides is the practice that follows it.

More practice for D1.5.3-5

Work out what kind of source would help, allowing for the fact that people disagree.

Teaching this next? Choosing Sources for Both Sides is the 45-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D1.5.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.