Way to Learn History Homeschool
Learning history homeschool can be an exciting and rewarding experience for your kids. The easiest way to learn history is by using a hands on approach that will grab their attention. This can be done through making food of that time period, recreating historical artwork or reenacting historical events. There are many resources for doing this through your local library, online or even homeschooling curriculums.
For children who don’t like to read, a video or documentary can be an engaging way to get them interested in the subject. There are services like VidAngel that remove offensive material from films for young children so that they can watch without worry. There are also plenty of documentaries about different people, places and times that can be educational for kids who find it easier to retain information when a story is told.
Another great way to make history homeschool is by incorporating it into unit studies or living books. Whether they are written by a Charlotte Mason educator or not, using a living book as a history spine is an excellent way to teach history through stories and engage students who don’t enjoy reading textbooks. These type of books can take you down some amazing rabbit trails such as the history of video games, art or film history.
The Easiest Way to Learn History Homeschool
A unit study can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. Using books that are related to the topic and having students write about it is an excellent way for them to show what they have learned. Having them create a timeline or map is another great way to help them recall what they have learned. Having them write a play or short story about an event in history is also an excellent way for them to retell what they have learned.
For older kids, it is a good idea to review what they have learned throughout the year. This can be done through games, projects or, my favorite, having them retell the story of an historic person in their own words. This will allow them to remember what they have learned and help them to see that history is all around them and that it has impacted their own lives.
When choosing a history curriculum for your homeschool, keep in mind that it is the sequence of events that is important, not the dates themselves. If your kids become overwhelmed with learning dates, they may lose interest in the subject. Start with a broad overview of the period you will be studying and then gradually incorporate more details. You can always go back and re-visit the time periods later on to add more information. You can also use a variety of materials to teach history, including a history DVD or video, historical fiction and supplemental materials like food, music and clothing. A history supplement kit from BookShark is an easy and affordable option that will allow you to use a variety of tools to deepen your child’s understanding of the past!
Whichever approach you take to history, it is always good to remember that you want your kids to not only learn about the past, but to love it. The more your students love it, the better equipped they will be to apply what they have learned to their future choices.