Want more history into your home school day? Here are tips to do it.
Here's what you'll learn in this article:
- History gives context for the present day and allows us glimpses into different perspectives, which makes it a great subject to provoke critical thinking and discovery in home school.
- Five tips for adding more history into your home school day.
- Answers to common questions about including history in home school.
- Key takeaways so you can start adding more history into your day.
- Where to learn more about managing home school.
More History? Yes, Please!
History is a core subject, but it can still be side lined relative to reading and math, which are often seen as priority subjects across learning methods. Keeping history central in your home school day is one way to enjoy full-day learning and inspire critical thinking, exploring, discovering, and creating.
There are also a lot of ways to engage with history in homeschooling that are much more expansive than what is typically found in traditional school. If history is your child's favorite subject, then they may engage with the topic no matter the style; however, if it isn't a favorite topic, there are lots of ways to explore history.
5 Tips for Adding History to Your Home School Day
History is a subject that allows for a lot of creativity. With a little preparation and intention, you can add more history to your day. Here are tips to get started:
1. History as Art
Once you've completed a lesson, your child's work cycle time is ideal for going deeper on the topics you've covered. Sometimes they may have ongoing projects or workbook pages to complete, but when they don't, an art project driven by history is a great option.
Consider what type of art your child prefers. If they enjoy painting, then having books with great paintings through history can provoke an afternoon of painting inspired by the classics. Another option is using clay to copy ancient sculptures or create your own cuneiform tablets. Alternatively, if your child prefers history, and is less inclined to art, then this approach might help them explore new areas and find the value in different methods to explore a subject.
2. The Science Behind History
What we know about history includes a lot of science from determining the age of artifacts to preventing deterioration of pieces through careful excavation and storage. Consider what science experiments your children can conduct that are inspired by history. What happens if they bury different objects in the yard and excavate them after a week? What if it rains too?
Another option is to explore controversy over historical pieces, as well as unanswered questions. How does the scientific method help when historians gather evidence? How can we better understand fact and opinion? Consider having family discussions or debates over the topics as your child explores.
3. Writing Your Own History
There are many gaps in our understanding of periods in history and how events actually happened. What if your child writes their version of what might have happened? Or they write their own story that fills in the missing link?
Another option is to emulate the style of a certain period. What is it like to try to write in iambic pentameter or using glyphs instead of phonetic writing? Encourage your child to pick a time period and help them identify possibilities that they can explore through writing.
4. Geography and Architecture Shape History
We are shaped by our environment. How did the early landscape influence humans from their clothing to their shelter? Your child can explore the interplay between the environment and historical events by creating drawings, reports, or dioramas.
Natural disasters have also left their marks throughout history. What if your child builds a setting to recreate a natural disaster? Options might include a volcanic eruption in Ancient Greece or a flood in Japan. Another option might be exploring how these events shaped future societies or visiting buildings with historical significance.
5. History is Practical
One typical complaint about history in a classroom is that it can be dry. Particularly, if the primary approach to learning about it is reading dense text. Leverage your home school flexibility to get creative with how you engage with history.
While adding field trips to historical places in your community is a great way to "make it real", another option is to bring historical techniques to life at home. What if your child tries hammering and cutting with rocks? What about building a pyramid or Roman arch? Reading or watching a video about a historical practice, then recreating it is a wonderful way to learn.
FAQs: Get Creative with How You Add History to Home School
What if my children are in different grades?
If your children are different ages, then aim to adjust the complexity of the activity. A high school student might spend hours building a detailed pyramid that is to scale, while a younger elementary school student might only have interest in the overall shape. The key is to encourage them where they are. Use open-ended questions to get them thinking and when they share ideas, avoid judgment, and instead approach with curiosity.
How do I find all the materials?
If you have a history curriculum, then use that as a jumping off point for topical areas. Alternatively, you can look to your state's core requirements in history or visit the library to find reputable materials. From there, the materials to connect with other subjects can likely be found around the house or the yard. If your child becomes really interested in a topic, then consider if purchasing additional materials so they can keep exploring makes sense.
Key Takeaways
- History is important. History gives us context and perspective on our current lives.
- Think expansively about history. Expanding topics adds depth to your home school day and fosters full-day learning.
- Make connections. Connecting history with other subjects spurs creative thinking and invites new ways of engaging with the material.
- Explore. Let your children enjoy the process of exploring by having the opportunity to engage with a topic in a new way without emphasis on the outcome.
Where to Learn More
If you want to add more reading to your day, then look here.
If you would like more information about building home school lessons and experiences that are custom-tailored to your children's needs, consider becoming a member of Crush Home School. With our membership plan, you get monthly guidance delivered to your inbox with downloadable resources and much more. Learn more about becoming a Crush Home School member.