Homeschooling offers the opportunity to customize your child’s education based on their specific needs and interests, which can be highly beneficial.
Teaching history at home can be difficult due to the lack of a pre-made curriculum, as it becomes unclear where to begin or which resources to utilize. Nevertheless, there exist alternative methods to teach history that can engage your students and make the subject pertinent.
1. Primary Source Materials
Primary source materials, such as original documents and artifacts, provide one of the most effective methods for teaching history. These materials, which were produced at the time of study, offer students a firsthand understanding of the experiences and emotions of individuals who lived through historical events. For instance, letters penned by soldiers in a war serve as a direct window into their perspectives.
By utilizing primary source materials, students can gain a personal perspective on history, instead of solely relying on textbook descriptions. This is also applicable to speeches delivered by notable figures from the past, as they offer valuable insights into their point of view and intended message.
2. Field Trips
Teaching history effectively can also be achieved by organizing field trips. Students can experience the vibrant nature of history by visiting museums or historical sites.
Field trips can provide students with a firsthand experience of historical events and places, such as visiting a historical battlefield or museum, which can give them a sense of what it was like to be there and allow them to see and learn about artifacts from the past.
3. Historical Fiction and Non-Fiction Books
To enhance the study of history, historical fiction and non-fiction books can be utilized. For instance, students can engage with a historical fiction book that takes place in the past to gain insight into the challenges and everyday life experienced by people at that particular era.
Another option for students is to engage in reading non-fiction books that pertain to a historical event or figure, as this can assist in developing a more comprehensive comprehension of the subject matter. Exploring historical fiction can also prove to be an effective tool in making history more engaging for students and enabling them to grasp the significance of the events and individuals being covered.
4. Incorporating Media
Utilizing a range of media, including videos, podcasts, and documentaries, is also an excellent method to complement the study of history.
To make history more engaging for students and provide a different perspective on the topic being studied, they can watch a video or listen to a podcast. For instance, they can watch a video about the construction of the pyramids in Egypt to understand how they were built, or listen to a podcast about the life of Martin Luther King Jr. to understand his impact on civil rights.
5. Role-playing
Role-playing and simulations are effective tools for enhancing students’ understanding of historical events. Through role-play, students can delve into the social and cultural environment surrounding the event, thereby immersing themselves in a hands-on approach that promotes comprehension of historical events.
6. Independent Research
Ultimately, by urging students to independently investigate and exhibit their discoveries regarding a specific historical event or individual, they can enhance their abilities in critical thinking and research.
Students have the option to select a historical event or individual that holds their interest and conduct thorough research on it, generating a presentation or report to present to the rest of the group. This activity can instill a feeling of ownership in students regarding their learning experience and additionally enhance their interest and relevance in the subject of history.
7. Strewing History in Your Homeschool
By strewing colorful non-fiction books and games, you can effectively capture your homeschooler’s interest in delving into historical exploration. In addition, this approach fosters independent learning.
To utilize this approach, select suitable materials that are of interest to you and scatter them throughout your home in locations where your homeschooled child can freely investigate and interact with them. For instance, if you choose a book regarding medieval Europe, include playful dress-up items as well. Subsequently, observe as your homeschooler actively participates in imaginary play directly within your living space!
Strewing can be a wonderful method to introduce fresh ideas, subjects, and resources in your homeschooling curriculum. Moreover, it provides children with the opportunity to work independently without any correct or incorrect solutions. Consequently, it serves as an ideal approach for engaging homeschool history lessons that involve practical activities.
8. Living History Books
Living books are books that can captivate and encourage children, sparking their enthusiasm and eagerness to acquire further knowledge. A living book revolving around a beloved historical character or an intriguing era could serve as the perfect resource for your homeschooling child.
A lifelong passion may be ignited by reading a book on the history of airplanes.
9. Hands on History
Although not being a monthly subscription box, these kits make a fantastic addition to your homeschooling experience. If your kids enjoy doing crafts such as cutting, gluing, coloring, and building, they will adore these interactive history supplements! The best part is that each project is meticulously crafted to enhance their grasp of history and provide tangible proof of learning.
By working together with your children, following the specific instructions in each kit, you will create memories. BookShark’s enriching kits provide all the necessary supplies, except for the basic materials you may already have, such as markers, glue, scissors, and a stapler.
10. Wonder Crate
Wondercrate is a subscription box designed to expose children to inspirational role models, ignite their curiosity, and foster a connection to their own potential. Inside each box, which is delivered on a monthly basis, you will find a book and engaging activities. These resources serve the purpose of educating, inspiring, and empowering children to recognize their unique talents and embrace the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world.
11. Universal Yums
Universal Yums is a service that caters to international snacks by offering a monthly subscription. Every month, a box is delivered to your doorstep containing an assortment of snacks and candies from a specific country. Additionally, each box includes an activity sheet and a booklet encompassing details about the snacks, trivia, games, cultural highlights, a music playlist, and a clue regarding the upcoming featured country for the following month.
12. History Games for Your Homeschool
Games are a beloved aspect of our homeschooling journey. We have found numerous enjoyable games that we have been able to integrate into our lessons throughout the years.
We have found that gameschooling history is entirely feasible and, in fact, it is one of our preferred methods to delve into different time periods. The abundance of exceptional board games and card games centered around significant historical figures and eras contributes to our enthusiasm for this approach.
Discover a wide range of entertaining games to incorporate history and geography into your homeschooling curriculum. My extensive list consists of the finest board games, card games, and cooperative games suitable for homeschoolers of all ages.
Is it possible to homeschool history without a curriculum? Absolutely! Incorporating living books, games, and subscription boxes can provide an excellent learning experience. However, one might wonder about the possibility of overlooking crucial information.
It is a fact that gaps are unavoidable. Regardless of whether a student is homeschooled following a curriculum or attends public or private school, there will always be aspects that they are not taught, unable to retain, or simply forget.
When homeschooling, there is no concept of falling behind. We are able to spend more time on difficult concepts that our children struggle with or move quickly through topics and concepts they easily master.
