Check the Claims

This worksheet helps students in Grades 5, 6, and 7 develop critical reading, fact-checking, and media literacy skills by analyzing an opinion-style passage about the Great Fire of London. Students identify claims made by the author and compare them to verified historical facts, learning to distinguish accurate information from exaggeration or misleading statements while strengthening historical understanding and analytical thinking.

Skills Reinforced

• Claims vs. Evidence (Grades 5-7)
  Identify author claims and determine whether they are accurate, exaggerated, or misleading.
• Source Comparison
  Compare information from a narrative passage with verified historical facts.
• Critical Reading & Reliability
  Evaluate how tone, opinion, and purpose can affect historical accuracy.
• Media Literacy
  Recognize exaggeration and misinformation in persuasive or opinion-based texts.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to support ELA standards focused on evidence evaluation.
• Structured Analysis Tasks
  Clear steps guide students through claim identification, verification, and reflection.
• Reflection-Based Learning
  Prompts encourage students to consider why authors may distort facts.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Suitable for independent work, small groups, discussion, or assessment.
• Low-Prep Format
  Easy to print and use in classroom or homeschool settings.

This printable worksheet builds essential skills in verifying claims, evaluating historical accuracy, and reading texts critically. By comparing narrative claims about the Great Fire of London with factual evidence, students learn the importance of cross-checking sources and questioning reliability. It’s a practical, engaging resource for both classroom instruction and homeschool learning.

This worksheet is part of our critical comprehension worksheets collection.