History is the most exciting and fascinating subject we teach? I’m not crazy, I promise. It really is the most amazing subject in school! It’s what makes us who we are as a planet. History is a story of love, war, innovation, sorrow, and humanity. Yes, history itself is incredibly exciting. It’s the way we teach it that isn’t always interesting.
Imagine if your teachers had drawn you into a world of sensory delight. What if you had spent high school history surrounded by the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of a different time and place? As a homeschooler you get to make sure your teens get this picture of our world, to see that history is the very stuff that makes us who we are!
Bring History to the Table
One of the best ways to get to know a culture is through its food. When you taste someone’s food you get a peek into what their life and their home are like. Caviar-topped dishes tell you that someone lives a life of comfort, while dishes like Depression Cake show us how people worked to make the most of what they had in hard times. Take history out of the textbooks and bring it to life through food!
Find Old Cookbooks
Many years ago my grandma hand-wrote an album of recipe cards for each of her kids. It’s one of my favorite cookbooks we own (and that says something considering how much I love to collect them). Why do I love it so much? It was a labor of love. It also gives me this amazing glimpse of what her life was like, cooking and caring for a family of 7 so many decades ago.
That’s why old cookbooks are so special, they give us a window into the past. Grab your kids and stop by your local antique store or thrift shop. Ask your parents and grandparents if they have any of their cookbooks from the past still on the shelf. Then scour your finds to see what ingredients were used then as opposed to now. Talk to your teens about why recipes may have changed over time. And remember, if you don’t know, that’s ok. Look it up together!
Make Historical Dishes
As hard as it is to believe sometimes, our kids are going to grow up and move out one day. We want them to be able to feed themselves when that time comes, preferably with something more than just frozen food and takeout. That means they need to learn to cook.
What better way to learn than getting in the kitchen with you and whipping up something from history. Whip up a batch of Suugo Suqaar as you talk about how colonization impacted the cuisines of Africa. Combine school with life skills and you’ll get the best of everything. Your teen will learn amazing stories of people from times gone by, develop some rather important life skills, and get dinner on the table all in one fell swoop!
Step Into the Story
“That’s not fair!” “Why would anyone do that?” I could see the sense of injustice mounting in my son. As we read Katerina’s Wish he couldn’t fathom what was happening. Katerina was growing up in a company town in the early 1900s and as usual the company owners took advantage of the citizens. My teen just couldn’t understand how and why someone could treat others that way.
Fast forward a few months. There was a story on the news about a wealthy businessman who wanted to open a company town for his employees. This man spoke of how he would use it to help his employees and grow his company. Without missing a beat my son remarked that it was a terrible idea. He knew how easy it was for business owners to take advantage of people when they controlled every aspect of their lives because he remembered Katerina’s story.
It’s How We Learn
Have you ever noticed that Jesus almost exclusively taught through parables? It’s because we were wired to learn through story. Neuroscience even backs that up. Referring to research done by Paul J Zak, the editor of Cerebrum said, “…his lab discovered that compelling narratives cause oxytocin release and have the power to affect our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.” How amazing is that? A good story has been scientifically proven to change the way we think and act!
Since we are going to learn and remember information best by hearing it in a story, doesn’t it make sense to harness that power for school? Instead of relying on textbook chapters that your teen will forget as soon as the test is done, run to the library and grab some books set during the time period you’re working through. Ask your librarian for help if you aren’t sure what might meet your needs. Use those books to work with your child’s brain and draw them into learning.
It’s How We Connect
I really want to get this pillow I saw online that says, “Cry here when a fictional character dies”. First, it’s just plain hilarious. But it’s also so relatable! I can’t count how many times I have been moved to tears (of joy or sorrow) over a character’s fate. Good books make us feel like we are right there with the characters through their highs and lows and everything in between. That sense of deep connection to the characters is a big part of what makes their stories stick in our heads.
Do you want to increase that connection factor? Find books with teens as the main characters. When our high schoolers see people their own age in the books they are reading they relate to the people and events even more. They see themselves as part of the story, living through what is happening. That can lead to the true magic of education that we are all looking for, our kids wanting to learn more!
Move Beyond the Page
Books are great for learning (and a whole lot of fun), but they aren’t the only way to get to know our history. We need to move beyond the pages of books from time to time and think outside of the box to get a full understanding of the past. Luckily there are so many ways for our kids to learn. When we give them a chance to see history through a different lens, they get a better understanding of the people and cultures that built the world as we know it.
Hands-On Activities
Mrs. M, my 6th grade history teacher, holds a special place in my heart. I loved everything about her, from her gentle nature to the window-seat reading nook she built in her classroom. One of my fondest memories is of the Ancient Egypt fair she put on each year.
Mrs. M broke the class up into trios and gave us each the task of re-creating some aspect of ancient Egyptian life. Then, one evening, we all went to the school to show our parents what we made. As my group worked to replicate the jewelry of the time we got to know what was important to Egyptians from all those years ago; what they found beautiful. We got the chance to get to know the people of the land, not just facts and figures about their history.
Encourage your kids to do the same by giving them hands-on activities. Cook a menu designed around wartime rations as you talk about why they were necessary and how they fostered a black market. Build model bridges and towers and compare both the art and the science of architecture in different time periods. Go fishing with old fashioned rods and think about technology changes. Let your kids explore the past while getting their hands dirty!
Field Trips
Years ago my family traveled to Minnesota for vacation. While we were there we got to explore a re-created pioneer town with period actors. Think of something along the lines of Colonial Williamsburg but for a later time. It was absolutely fascinating. The history from my textbooks seemed to come to life! Everything suddenly felt so real. It turned dry facts into actual people and their stories. That is the power of a field trip.
Get out of the house and let your teens start exploring the world to help them grow their sense of curiosity and wonder. It doesn’t have to be a historical reenactment. Find a local event like a Greek cultural festival or a Chinese New Year parade. Meet people and encourage your high schoolers to ask questions about the meaning behind the celebrations. Check out a museum or visit or fort. Find a topic that interests your teen whether it’s food, clothing, engineering, or the military, and look for a place where you can go and learn together.
Make History Come Alive
History is deeply fascinating. It’s the story of real people who loved and lost, struggled and succeeded, just like us. As parents and teachers we have the privilege of showing our teens just how deeply powerful that story is! The best way to do that? Step outside the textbook and into the world! Journey through time with your teen. Taste the food and walk in the footsteps of the generations that came before you. If you’re looking for a ready-made way to spark that passion, check out my Early Modern world and 20th Century World high school history curriculums!
