ABSTRACT
This is not so much an activity in itself, but rather a means of allowing individuals to organise ideas and concepts in a visual manner. The skill of organising ideas and concepts is central to the work of any historian, but it can be quite challenging for pupils across a range of ages and abilities. The ideas presented below are certainly not new, but are stimulating nonetheless. The recent emphasis on analytical thinking and extended writing in the secondary sector has led to the use of ‘sorting devices’ - tools that help and encourage group members to think in a questioning way. The novelty is that, for once, pupils are allowed to ‘see’ historical issues and arguments. Discussion can follow on metacognitive issues - how pupils remember things, whether pictures and charts help, etc.
