When learning history as a young child my interest went as far as my desire to do well on the test. The events and times seemed so disconnected and irrelevant to me.
Now, I love history much more than any other subject. Now I understand that history is simply a story, THE story, of the human experience.
History is full of stories of men and women with dreams, fears, and ambitions just like me.
Now I see how these stories really do connect to me. Now I understand why learning history can help me better understand myself and help me better appreciate my own heritage and legacy.
This is why I consider the study of history valuable in efforts of raising and educating future leaders.
My kids and I are currently learning about WWII and next month will be reading and learning about the Civil Rights Movement.
I use historical fiction often. I like how it gives a much more personal perspective of historical events and time periods. When reading the stories of people in history it helps them better consider the human impact of the events we learn about.
(this Scholastic article, Why and How I Teach Historical Fiction, has great thoughts and resources)
For the last 3 years we have been reading through American Girls book series in chronological order. All my kids, ESPECIALLY my boys, have really enjoyed them. I complement our reading with documentaries and other books on the topic, both fiction and nonfiction. We just finished Molly’s series (WWII) and next month will be reading Melody (Civil Rights).
With the more recent historical events we are learning about now we have the exciting opportunity to learn from people who actually lived through them. Next month we will also be working on an Oral History Project with other homeschoolers in our area. My boys and other middle and highschoolers will be interviewing residents living local retirement homes, learning more about their childhood and their life.
In preparation, my boys will also be interviewing their grandfather who lived during the Civil Rights movement and who’s dad served in WWII. It will be an amazing opportunity for them to learn from their grandfather and others what it was like to be a young black boy in the 50’s and 60’s.
This project will be a great way for them to learn to value history in a different way as they listen to real stories and the struggles of real people. It’s a different way to really engage and relate with the source. I am looking forward to their questions and reactions as they learn more about such challenging times people in our country experienced, and the way it changed real people.
My older sons have interviewed their grandparents before. I know that as we do this again they will continue to reap the benefits of learning to engage and attentively listening to the stories and wisdom of older people. In the long run it will help them value the legacy being left behind and appreciate their heritage.
Interviewing grandparents is always a great history project. I used this list of questions to get my younger kids thinking but the goal is always genuine curiosity and natural dialogue.