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Sources That Disagree on Purpose is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on choosing sources allowing for different views, 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.

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Sources That Disagree on Purpose

D1.5.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best source for each purpose.

1.Why use the notice and the circular together?
  • A.They give the two sides of the same dispute
  • B.Both are from 1893
  • C.Both are printed
2.You want somebody's overall judgement on the region. Which source?
  • A.The harbour return
  • B.The census abstract
  • C.The 1998 regional history
3.You want to know where people were moving. Which source?
  • A.The strike notice
  • B.The census abstract, with figures for 1861 and 1891
  • C.The union circular
4.You want to know who left the region and at what cost. Which source?
  • A.The health table
  • B.The mill notice
  • C.The emigration agent's ledger
5.Why is the 1998 history not enough on its own?
  • A.It is too modern
  • B.It makes a claim other historians dispute, so it must be tested
  • C.It is too short
6.You want the hands' case in the same dispute. Which source?
  • A.The mill gate notice
  • B.The census abstract
  • C.The circular from the weavers' union
7.You want the owners' case in the 1893 dispute. Which source?
  • A.The health table
  • B.The notice posted at the mill gate
  • C.The union circular
8.You want to know what the harbour handled. Which source?
  • A.The school board minute
  • B.The emigration ledger
  • C.The harbourmaster's return of cargo

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

Answer key — Sources That Disagree on Purpose

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.They give the two sides of the same dispute
  2. 2.The 1998 regional history
  3. 3.The census abstract, with figures for 1861 and 1891
  4. 4.The emigration agent's ledger
  5. 5.It makes a claim other historians dispute, so it must be tested
  6. 6.The circular from the weavers' union
  7. 7.The notice posted at the mill gate
  8. 8.The harbourmaster's return of cargo

Questions about Sources That Disagree on Purpose

What does the Sources That Disagree on Purpose worksheet cover?

It practises choosing sources allowing for different views — 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 That Disagree on Purpose 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 That Disagree on Purpose 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 That Disagree on Purpose 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 That Disagree on Purpose 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 That Disagree on Purpose free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Sources That Disagree on Purpose, 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 — “Sources That Disagree on Purpose” is a 50-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 That Disagree on Purpose 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? Sources That Disagree on Purpose is the 50-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.