Homeschool history is more fun than you think! What better way to learn about the past than to do it in non-traditional ways that will grasp your child’s attention? In this post, I will be sharing # ways that you can learn about history in your homeschool.
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The Importance of Including History in Homeschool Curriculum
History is a subject that is often neglected in homeschooling because it’s not considered as “fun” as science, math, or English. However, when it comes to the study of history we need to know about what has happened in the past and why it’s happening today.
History provides a better perspective on current events. It helps us understand how and why things have changed over time. History is also important for understanding how we got to this point in America and how we can affect change for the future of our country.
Why Should I Teach My Child About History in Other Ways Besides Simply Textbooks?
Well, this is an easy one; because textbooks can be dry, and boring which leads to boredom, which leads to your child not paying attention, which leads to you wasting your time.
**This is not to say all textbooks are boring, but let’s face it, the majority are!
Our primary sources for teaching history in our homeschool is by using literature and living books.
What are the Best Resources to Study and teachHistory Besides a Textbook?
Here is a list of different ways you can study history this homeschool year with your child:
Use Literature To Study History
Here are some amazing choices (some fiction and some historical fiction):
- The Light and The Glory (American history) –check it out here
These next authors seriously have amazing ways that they teach history to their readers in captivating and interesting ways. Your kids will never even realize they’re doing a history lesson!
- Hot on the Trail in Ancient Egypt: The Time Travel Guides (Ancient Egypt)- check it out here
- The Thrifty Guide to the American Revolution: A Handbook for Time Travelers (American Revolution)- Check it out here
- The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Rome: A Handbook for Time Travelers (Ancient Rome)- check it out here
- The Thrifty Guide to Ancient Greece: A Handbook for Time Travelers (Ancient Greece)- check it out here
- The Thrifty Guide to Medieval Times: A Handbook for Time Travelers (Medieval Times Great for studying Medieval History)- check it out here
- Adventures in Ancient Egypt- Good Times Travel Agency (Ancient Egypt) a family FAVE!- check it out here
- Adventures in Ancient China- Good Times Travel Agency (Ancient China)- check it out here
- Adventures in the Middle Ages-Good Times Travel Agency (Middle Ages)- check it out here
Use Mini Unit Studies to Study History
Here are some of my favorite places to get mini-history unit studies from:
- Mini-Unit Studies on Etsy – check out some amazing ones HERE
- If you do a quick google search of (*insert what you want to learn* unit study), you can find some amazing resources on the internet, even for FREE sometimes!
Use The Library for Studying History
The idea is simple. You just choose a topic (or let your homeschooler choose) what you want to learn about for your history lesson, and then go to the library and check out a bunch of books on that topic.
Then, read, read, read to your child! They’re learning history! No lesson plan is needed here!
Use Podcasts for Studying History
Podcasts are a fun way to learn about history. You simply turn on a history podcast, and let your children listen and learn. Here is one of our favorite history podcasts:
- Real Cool History For Kids- Listen to it here
Use Audio Stories and Audio Dramas for Studying History
Listening to audios is a fun way to learn about our history that can really grasp your child’s attention.
Here are some of our favorite history audios:
- The Hiding Place by Focus on the Family- Check it out HERE
- The Life of Jesus by Focus on the Family- Check it out HERE
- The Legend of Squanto by Focus on the Family- Check it out HERE
- Amazing Grace: The Inspirational Stories of William Wilberforce, John Newton and Olaudah Equiano by Focus on the Family- Check it out HERE
Use Virtual Tours for Studying History
Virtual Tours are of all the rage now, which is great for us homeschoolers who can’t always make it out to different states or countries, or a historical site.
Want to visit China? No problem!
See Rome? Easy peasy!
Just choose a place your child wants to study or learn about, and get online and search for a virtual tour of that place to do some studying of world history.
Google- *Place of interest + virtual tour*
There are museums that have virtual tours, Google Earth can walk you through the streets of a place, and more!
You’ll be surprised with what you can find online in terms of virtual tours!
Use Your Own State For Studying History
Wherever you live, your state or province will have some rich history behind it. Here’s what you can do to study where you live:
- Go to your local state’s museum
- Visit your Capital Building
- Tour the historic cities in the area
- Go to your local “touristy spot” and grab the brochures that advertise what all the “out of towners” should see. That would make a good starting point to see and visit some historical places.
- Visit your state’s pioneer history museums
- Visit your state’s art museum
Use A Fun History Curriculum for Learning about History
Here are some great history curriculums:
- Good and Beautiful- Check them out
- Simply Charlotte Mason- Check them out
- Sonlight History- Check them out
- Time Travelers- Check them out
- Notgrass History- Check them out
Infuse History into What They’re Already Learning
As homeschooling is on the rise, parents need to figure out ways to make subjects exciting for their children. One of the most effective ways to do this is by infusing history into what they are learning.
For example, if they are learning about animals in a science class, they can research how certain animals were domesticated and when, and what their contributions were.
Choose a Historical Figure To Study for History
For this idea, you let your homeschooler (or you can) choose a specific historical figure to study about.
Get books, mini-unit studies, research online about that figure, and there ya go!
We had fun doing this to study the presidents!
Choose a Specific Time Period or Historical Event to Study for History
Like the same concept as above, but only this time, you’ll choose a specific time period of event in history to study.
For example- If your children want to learn about the Civil War, or say, Early American History, get some books from the library, do some research online and learn through literature books (choosing a living book, as opposed to a dry facts book is recommended), podcasts, audios, etc.
Seeing a pattern with my choice of learning here, yet?
Again, even your younger student can join in on this type of learning. No age level really required here!
Use the Bible to Study History
Read your Bible. When you read your Bible, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, you ARE learning about our world’s history.
We love using the Bible for teaching history in our homeschool!
For extra studying, when you’re reading your Bible and learning about a specific event or time in the Bible, you can also take the time to do some geography while you’re at it!
Use Art to Study History
Choose an artist to study, learn about their life, their paintings, the time period they lived in, etc.
You can also study art history, and how it has evolved over the years!
Boom!
So how about using some of those ideas, tips, and ways to study and teach history to your homeschoolers from now on?!
