Suppose a middle school social studies teacher assigns a project work on Shivaji. Which of the following would be highly relevant to develop critical thinking?
A. Prescribed textbook
B. Books from school library
C. Details from more than one Internet website
D. Information shared by the teacher in class
E. Information shared in social networking applications
Choose the correct option:

Correct option is C

Correct Answer: (C) Only A, B, C and D
Explanation:
Statement A: Correct — The prescribed textbook provides structured and curriculum-based information about Shivaji and can serve as a basic source for the project.
Statement B: Correct — Books from the school library provide additional historical information and different perspectives. Consulting books helps learners compare and analyse information.
Statement C: Correct — Using more than one Internet website enables students to compare information from multiple sources, identify similarities and differences, and critically examine historical accounts.
Statement D: Correct — Information shared by the teacher in class can provide context, clarification and guidance. Students can compare the teacher's inputs with other sources while preparing the project.
Statement E: Incorrect — Information shared through social networking applications may be unverified, biased or unreliable. Using such information without checking its authenticity does not effectively promote critical historical inquiry.
Information Booster:
→ Critical thinking in history involves corroboration, which is the practice of comparing different sources to see where they agree or conflict.
→ Primary sources (like contemporary documents) and secondary sources (like modern biographies) form the bedrock of historical research.
→ School libraries provide access to curated, age-appropriate, peer-reviewed monographs that aid deeper study.
→ Evaluating the reliability of web pages teaches middle schoolers essential digital media literacy skills.