Making the Most of Your History Curriculum:
(From a homeschool parent with a BA and Master’s degree in history)
- Go big, first.
If you’re learning about Henry Hudson, don’t just learn about Henry Hudson—cover a brief “big history” first so your child can place Hudson in the larger picture. Otherwise, Henry Hudson is just some guy that discovered something sometime in the past (—and why do we care, again??)
-Get a simple, colorful, straight-to-the-point timeline. Point to “where you are” in the lesson.
-Very briefly run through the Ancient Period, Classical Antiquity, Middle Ages, and the Age of Exploration (while referencing the timeline).
-Put the exploration of Henry Hudson in context: he was exploring North America to look for a shorter route to Asia through the Arctic Ocean (the Northwest passage). When he was stopped by ice, he tried a more southern route through North America, which led to the discovery of several areas such as Hudson Bay. But he was one of many European explorers looking for a route to the East since the fall of Constantinople during the Middle Ages.
-When historical figures are left in their historical context, their beliefs and actions are easier to identify and understand. It also helps you grasp the larger picture, as well as cause and effect.
(Try this free download: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-ULTIMATE-History-Timeline-8274445 ) - Make connections.
Ask questions to make deeper connections:
-What happened?
-What events led up to the subject?
-What happened as a consequence?
-Do we feel/see/experience consequences of this event even today?
-Create a web (however detailed) outlining the cause and effect of each event, however small - Diversify.
Use various mediums and avenues to learn about the subject. YouTube videos, documentaries, recipes, photos/art, field trips, a craft, music—don’t just stick to the “open and go” worksheets. People learn all different ways and there are LOTS of ways to make it come alive. - Personify.
Use historical narratives (fiction or nonfiction depending on the age) to humanize the past. Read primary sources and first-hand accounts of the people you’re studying. Sticking with the Henry Hudson model, ask questions like:
-What was it like to travel to unknown places?
-What challenges did he face?
-How did he react to these challenges?
-What were living conditions like on the ship(s)?
-Which indigenous tribes did he meet on his expeditions? What were they like?
-What are different interpretations of his role in the Exploration Age, colonialism, and Westward Expansion? - Don’t complicate it.
Increase the details and complexity of the past as the child grows and matures.
This is common sense, but I’ve seen a lot of families learn about the ancient period for YEARS, getting bogged down in tiny details, and by the time the child is a teenager, they’ve forgotten most (if not all) of what they were taught. Because they have no sense of chronology and how things connect, they just have these dotted lessons in their minds that don’t really make sense. (I see this ALL.THE.TIME. in teaching homeschoolers.) Sometimes, in elementary school especially, less is more. - Punctuate with historically immersive experiences. Living history museums, re-enactments, museums—these help stimulate historical empathy and give kids a benchmark to revisit in their memory.
(And please, I’m begging you, don’t make a child write an essay after visiting a museum: use historical experiences to orient a child to the past, build upon a tangible experience and have a point of reference for future lessons. Historical experiences are invitations to experience the past in a real, personal way—and the fastest way to kill the resulting curiosity is with a dang essay.)
Most importantly, learn with your child.
You don’t have to know everything.
You don’t have to know anything at first—show them that learning is a lifelong and joyful process.
Because it is.
❤️
The Homeschool Historian 