Reading & writing · Grades 6–9
The river notebook · reading guide
An original passage with comprehension, reasoning and a marking guide.
The river notebook
An old notebook described a riverbank covered in reeds. A recent photograph showed a paved path along the same bank. The local history club wanted to explain the change. They compared maps, interviewed long-time residents and looked for construction records. The notebook alone showed one earlier description; it did not tell them why the path was built.
Read, think and respond
- What feature appears in the recent photograph?
- Why did the club consult more than one kind of source?
- Distinguish evidence of change from evidence of cause in this example.
Suggested answers and marking notes
What feature appears in the recent photograph?
a paved path
Why did the club consult more than one kind of source?
Rubric: Explain corroboration and the different evidence supplied by maps, memories and records. Note that individual sources can be incomplete.
Distinguish evidence of change from evidence of cause in this example.
Rubric: The notebook and photograph indicate changed appearance. Reasons for construction require further evidence, such as decisions or planning records.
Learning preview · teacher review required. Grade bands are approximate, not official curriculum alignment.