There are so many amazing history curriculums available. There are so many different methods for teaching history.
But what does a mom do, when even mom hates history.
Hate might be a tad strong. This mom actually sort-a-kind-a likes history. I hate teaching history.
It is hard for me to pay attention and find something that peaks my interest.
In college, I failed Western Civilization because my professor was mind-numbingly boring. During my re-take of the class, my roommate made a deal with me. For every paper/test/quiz I passed, I could read a chapter in one of her favorite books on the Kings and Queens of England. It was chock full of gossipy details that you won’t find in your normal history class. I passed Western Civ that year with a B.
Everyone knows a perk to homeschooling is the ability to customize lessons to fit the learning style of your child. After several years, I still struggle with finding a way to make history interesting for all of us.
I have tried videos, living books, dioramas, dress up, lapbooking, notebooking, and even an old-school textbook.
I sent out a request on The Homeschool Post Facebook Page seeking ideas for how to help my children find history more interesting. Here are the great tips YOU had to share with me!
- Museums
- Field Trips to historical landmarks
- Interactive websites
- Find a historian to chat with your child
- Historical fiction movies followed my hands on research and activities about the movie (Great list on HeartofWisdom.com)
- Plays
- Netflix! (Drive Thru History was one specifically mentioned. We have begun watching it and are enjoying it – each episode is only 30 minutes long – great for watching during lunch)
- Research your own family history
- Chat with elders
- Visit antique shops
- Replace modern conveniences with vintage items
- Look for a hands on History Co-Op
- American Girl books
- Focus on geography, art, music or science, then ask questions about who? what? when? and how? History is in there!
- Try Diana Waring’s curriculum – tons of activities
- Truth Quest History (American History website)
- Oak Meadow curriculum
- Have a friend dress up as a historical figure, and let your child interview them via Skype
- History at Our House – a new Facebook page full of history ideas
- Mystery of History with Draw and Write Through History
- let the kids draw while you read
- Audio Books
Thank you everyone for the great ideas! We’re starting out with the Drive Thru History on Netflix, since the episodes deal with the civilizations we’ve been trying to learn this year.
Anyone else have suggestions for how to bring history to life when even mom isn’t all that interested?
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We’ve found re-enactments and “living history” museums fun. By “living history”, I mean examples such as a Tudor kitchen along with the smells and tastes or a Victorian school room.
We haven’t watched much on this site yet but the Tudor bread making was fascinating and we hope to watch more.
http://cookit.e2bn.org/historycookbook/