Top Five Tips for Teaching History To Elementary-Aged Students

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

How do you approach teaching history to your young children? From living history to playing games, there are so many wonderful options when we want to incorporate history into our daily homeschool lessons. 

Top five tips for teaching history to elementary-aged students

Books, Books, and More Books 

There are so many wonderful resources for teaching history. We enjoy both fiction and non-fiction history books in our homeschool. Books can help bring history to life for your children and there are many that I could recommend to homeschooling families. You can read books together as read-alouds, ask your children to read them as part of their curriculum, or just shelf good history-related books on your bookshelves. If you and your children enjoy reading, books are a great way to learn more about history. 

Some favorites include: 

• The Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder 
• If You Were Me and Lived In... Series by Carole P. Roman 
• The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls by M. J. Thomas 
• Benjamin West and His Cat Grimalkin by Marguerite Henry 
• Toliver's Secret by Esther Wood Brady 
• The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh
• YWAM Publishing Heroes of History Series 

Historical Sites 

Getting out and actually seeing history provides so many wonderful opportunities. Some children learn better by seeing and doing and visiting historical sites can allow our elementary-aged children the opportunity to do both! 

Many historic sites give children the opportunity to try their hand at different crafts and skills. Or perhaps they have period clothing for your children to try on while visiting. And there may even be guides dressed in period clothing themselves who will give tours in character. 

Games 

I am amazed by the number of games available for families who wish to include a new way to learn in their homeschool day. We have several that are perfect for reinforcing history facts and practicing geography in our homeschool. From board games to video games, there are options for every age! 

Some of our favorites: 

• Professor Noggin's History of the United States Card game
• Professor Noggin's American Revolution Card game 
• Continent Race by Byron's Games 
• Egyptians 

Movies, Documentaries, and Videos 

If you cannot visit a historic site in person, watching about it in a movie, documentary, or video is another good way to make that time period or location come to life. There are a great number of movies available so you will want to preview them before sharing them with your children. When pre-watching them, consider the following things: 

• Is this movie appropriate for the age of my child? 
• Is this movie historically accurate? How important is accuracy? Do I want my child to learn historical facts or get an idea of what life was like during that time period? 
• Will I share the entire movie? 
• Do we want to watch a fictional adaptation or a documentary? 
• Who produced the movie? What were their motives?

Some favorite resources include: 

• Drive Thru History (there are multiple series ranging from Bible history to American history) 
• Gettysburg (1993) 
• Robin Hood (1973 cartoon)
• Cross Seven History Videos for Kids

Favorite Curriculum and Resources 

Sometimes you might just want a well-written full-year course, unit study, lap-book, or other curriculum resource to teach history to your elementary-aged student. Fortunately, there are a great number of options available to homeschoolers. From individual history classes that are available with a membership to SchoolhouseTeachers.com to the textbook-based Our Star-Spangled Story from Notgrass History, you can pick and choose what works for your family. 

If you would prefer to not focus on a specific class but let your children's interest guide you, Home School in the Woods offers many different options. There are smaller lap-books that you can complete to larger unit studies focusing upon different time periods like the American Civil War or the Renaissance in Europe. 

Other favorites include: 

• Drive Thru History 
• YWAM Publishing Unit Studies
• Memoria Press 

Final Thoughts 

As a former high school history teacher, I love all these ideas! We incorporate a variety of them into our homeschool day. While using Adventures in U.S. History from My Father's World, we also add in Drive Thru History America: Columbus to the Constitution during lunchtime on some days. When we want to take a break from formal studies, we have been learning about the Wonders of the World with Home School in the Woods. And the literature books from Our Star-Spangled Story by Notgrass History are very welcome additions to our read-aloud time. How do your elementary-aged students enjoy studying history? 

Journaling through the Bible: Wise Love

As a member of the Homeschool Review Crew, I was blessed with the opportunity to review a four-week Bible study of Philippians by Julie Polanco. I am currently in the beginning steps of this journey through Paul's letter to the Philippians but I am thoroughly enjoying reading more and learning more about the wisdom and advice that Paul has to offer. The Crew will share a complete review of both this Bible study and the Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Romans bundle (which I will start after I complete this one) in mid-November, but I wanted to share this wonderful resource in relation to my Bible Journaling.

I must admit that, as a child, I did not completely understand the letters included in the Bible. Perhaps, this is because I did not have a firm understanding of the history of this particular time period. After viewing Drive Thru History® - Acts to Revelation, I felt a lot closer to the men who journeyed around the Mediterranean during the early years of Church History. I now know how to properly say the names of all the places and peoples. It was with this relatively new knowledge that I entered into the Bible study by Julie Polanco. 

God has started so many good works in my own life and the lives of those in my immediate family. I feel that, through His guidance, I have come closer to Him and will continue to come closer to Him through Jesus until the day of Jesus Christ. This is what Paul wishes the people of Philippi to do – come closer to God. 

"While we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

There has been a lot of suffering in the world and in the lives of many individuals I hold near and ear to me – including my own life. I hope that, through the reading of the words of Paul, I can see that these tribulations do produce perseverance. The perseverance that grows in me will hopefully lead to a stronger character. And what will that character bring? Hope. I am more hopeful than I ever have been before even with all the suffering and tribulations in the world and my own personal life. I pray that everyone can find that hope.

May you find hope each and every day!

How Can You Supplement Your History Curriculum?

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my Terms of Use and Disclosure Policy page. Thank you.

There are so many fun and educational ways you can supplement your homeschool history curriculum. I love history. In fact, I can't remember a time that I did not enjoy visiting historical sites, reading about history, or watching history movies (both fiction and non-fiction). Therefore, it is quite easy for me to recommend many different options to supplement your homeschool history curriculum.

Visit History 

So many of my vacations with my mom, before I was married, involved touring historical locations (like Eckley Miners' Village Museum). This is probably one of the easiest ways to supplement your history curriculum. All you need are time and some money because you will often find tour guides, park rangers, and others at each site who will be able to help teach you and your homeschooled children new facts and information. Many places will even allow you to participate in living history by using tools of the time period, trying on period clothing, or creating a memento to take home.

Watch History 

Another very easy way to supplement your homeschool history curriculum is with documentaries and movies. If you attended public school, you might remember the television being wheeled into the classroom to watch a documentary borrowed from the school library or perhaps from your teacher's own collection. I am old enough to remember a few of my teachers sharing slide presentations with us. While not all documentaries and movies are created equal, there is a great selection available. One of our favorites is Drive Thru History® with Dave Stotts. There are quite a few series in which Dave Stotts takes viewers on a journey through history like those listed:

• Drive Thru History® Ancient History 
• Drive Thru History® American History 
• Drive Thru History® The Holy Land 
• Drive Thru History® The Gospels 
• Drive Thru History® Acts to Revelation 

In addition to documentaries, movies can also be wonderful to incorporate into your homeschool history curriculum. From movies that are not highly accurate to those that are written and try to stick the facts more, there are different learning opportunities. For example, for high school homeschooled children, you may wish to view the movie Gettysburg, read the book, and visit the site to compare and contrast the accuracies and inaccuracies. In addition to this movie, many others focus on the American Civil War, including two television series: North and South and The Blue and Gray. These both follow many fictional characters but provide a sense and a feeling for the time period with costumes, foods, and other details.

Listen & Play Through History 

If your children enjoy music, you might want to research the different genres of music based upon time periods. There are many different ways to approach supplementing your history curriculum with music. Previously I shared how you can study the American Civil War through Stephen Foster's "Better Times are Coming." And don't forget to listen to recorded speeches, watch clips of historical events recorded live, or view home movies to see what was life like in a particular time period.

• Learn to play songs from a particular time period 
• Learn to sing songs from a particular time period 
• Research different musical instruments that may no longer be played today 
• Listen to the music of the era of history you are studying 
• Interpret the lyrics written to learn more about the historical time 

Why not play a game? There are many different games inspired by history and ones that incorporate history into their play. You may wish to purchase games already made and designed like Egyptians, Made for Trade, or even Go to the Head of the Class (which covers multiple subject areas), or perhaps you might want to make your own file folder games like those offered by Home School in the Woods.

How Will You Supplement Your History Curriculum? 

Have you discovered any new ideas to incorporate into your history curriculum? Even if you are using a boxed curriculum, there is always room for additional supplements. Some even have items like literature packages or hands-on projects. We are using the literature package that goes along with Our Star-Spangled Story from Notgrass History. We have also used hands-on kits from Sonlight in previous years.

Drive Thru History® – Take a Look at the World of the First Christians – A Review of "Acts to Revelation"

Reviewing the latest DVD collection from Drive Thru History® was a wonderful opportunity for our family. Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" looks at what happened after the Gospel accounts of Jesus Christ. Our host, Dave Stotts, takes viewers on an adventure through the modern Mediterranean world so we can travel back in time to see what the lives of Peter, James, Paul, Barnabas, and others were like during the early history of the Christian Church. Everyone in our family was eager to get started with Dave again as he drove "Steve McQueen" through Israel and then continued his adventures in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece, Malta, and Rome in other vehicles.

The special edition is a beautiful 3-DVD set with a Study Guide attached to the DVD case that provides beautiful photographs, summaries, discussion questions, suggested readings, and additional historical information. The case is well made and looks very nice sitting on our shelf as we watch each new episode. My only complaint would be that I would prefer if the Study Guide was removable but I can also see the potential for it getting lost if one could remove it.

Drive Thru History® offers "fast-paced, content-rich history" through over 50 episodes and this latest series is no different than the others in the series that we got to watch when reviewing Drive Thru History® Adventures last year.

Watch the Trailer!

How Our Family is Enjoying Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation"

Almost every night after dinner, our family has been joining together in the living room to watch Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" much like we did when we reviewed Drive Thru History® Adventures. By watching Dave Stotts present the lives of the individuals in the New Testament as he traveled through the Mediterranean Sea area, we are able to pause and discuss what he was talking about in each episode. There are many opportunities to make connections to modern day events, such as those in and around Syria.

When our two younger children are older, we will use Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" as part of our homeschool curriculum as we read and discuss the questions and the recommended readings from the Bible. For now, they are enjoying watching the programs with us as a family.

The Study Guide 

The Study Guide of Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" provides viewers with an introduction to the 18-episode series. In the last series of Drive Thru History®, viewers joined Dave Stotts in modern Israel as he documented the birth, ministry, life, and resurrection of Jesus according to the Gospels. With this new series, each episode is covered in the Study Guide with an introductory quote, summary of the episode, discussion questions, reading, and a side road.

Example of Study Guide for Episode 13

"When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved." Luke, Acts 27:20

The summary shares a map of Malta as well as a brief explanation of the "perilous journey at sea." The Side Road provides some background information about Publius, the chief official of Malta. Discussion questions include:

• Name at least two other people that were on the ship to Rome with Paul. 
• After the shipwreck on Malta, why did the locals think that Paul was a god? 

At the end of each episode there are suggested readings for the viewers.

What We Like About Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation"

A short list of the aspects of "Acts to Revelation" that our family enjoys:

• Humor of Dave Stotts
• Use of maps
• Examination of historical sites 
• Cool cars 
• Perfect length of episodes (approximately 27 minutes) 
• Use of paintings to illustrate Biblical events 

We love the use of technology in the episodes.

Throughout the series a number of paintings are used to help bring the stories to life.

Our three-year-old has enjoyed looking through the photographs and images in the Study Guide with me as we watch the episodes while I like being able to use the discussion questions to check for comprehension and retention. Having the answers in the back of the Study Guide is also helpful in case you need your child to watch the episode and answer the questions before you are able to sit down and enjoy Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" yourself.

One of our five-year-old's favorite parts are the maps. Both my husband and I agree that it is very useful to actually see on a map where the early leaders of the Church traveled. In addition to the maps, our five-year-old son also loves the theme song. At the end of each episode, he gets up and dances through the credits.

Two specific scenes that really stuck with our two younger children were that of Dave in the sheep's clothing and the image of Dave getting dressed into the armor that the Spartans would have worn at the Battle of Thermopylae.

The history major in me LOVES how Dave incorporates different historical facts to provide evidence of the historical accuracy of the Bible. I also like the fact that the variety of religions is not shied away from but included. I feel discussing the different temples in such places as Corinth really helps viewers understand the challenges that Paul and other early leaders faced as they traveled the early Mediterranean World.

Another feature of Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" that I like is the overlaying of the ancient buildings and cities on top of the modern day cities. I love being able to see the comparison and change that has taken place over time.

My husband enjoys seeing the maps which enable the viewer to follow the travels of the early Christians as we move through the books of the New Testament after the Gospels. They provide a good correlation to the book of Acts and the corresponding letters of the Bible.

Our family would recommend Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" for families, couples, or individuals interested in learning more about the time after the resurrection of Jesus. Each episode is short but packed full of amazing information as Dave tours various historical sites as well as modern day cities. Personally, I think this is one DVD collection we will watch over and over.

The enthusiasm of Dave and his obvious love of history are great parts of this series.

If you would like to learn more information, please visit the following sites: 

Website – Facebook – YouTube – Instagram 

If you would like to see how other families have used Drive Thru History® "Acts to Revelation" in their households, please visit the reviews of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine Homeschool Review Crew.

Reviewing Drive Thru History Adventures - A Fantastic Homeschool History Curriculum

  

We love history in our household. So, we were very excited to review Drive thru History Adventures, which offers curriculum for three courses – Ancient History, American History, and The Gospels. We focused upon Bible History Adventures, an 18-part series on the Gospels introducing children and families to the life of Jesus.

Each set of curriculum contains a half-hour program that transports viewers to locations around the world as they learn about the topic of that episode. The episode is accompanied by readings, sometimes another brief video, and a discussion worksheet with questions and answers to further the conversation.

Using the Adventures TV app on my phone, I was able to stream some episodes of The Gospels for us to watch together as a family in the living room. This was great because it meant that not only was my 15-year-old teen viewing the episode but so were my 2- and  and 4-year-olds. We were able to discuss the episodes together as a family. Additionally, closed-captioning is now available for The Gospels series after viewers requested it. This is great for hearing-impaired viewers. It also makes it easier to view with small children (who like to provide their own commentary!).

As a new member to Drive Thru History Adventures, Dave Stotts welcomes you in several emails and videos to help you on your journey.  There are eight videos to help you get started that introduce you to the curriculum, Dashboard, community, and the Adventures TV app.  Receiving each email a day or so apart was great for me because I didn’t feel overwhelmed that all the information was given to me at once.  It was all available for you to dive right in from the minute to become a member but if you need to take things one step at a time, these reminders were great to introduce you to the key features available as part of the membership.

We were all blown away by the very first episode of the Bible History Adventures. The introduction of The Gospels (The Historical Landscape) is very impressive.  Dave Stotts walking by famous individuals of history is a memorable image.

After watching each episode in the Bible History Adventures, students are presented with discussion questions along with images, paintings, maps, scripture readings, and additional readings and videos from scholars and others. In the Dig Deeper section accompanying the second episode – The Announcements, for example, there is a brief video about Roman coins which uses the American penny with Abraham Lincoln depicted on it to introduce the idea of learning from coins. Episode 6, Jesus Returns to Galilee, is accompanied by scripture readings from all four Gospels, and several articles and a video discussing the geography of the area in the Dig Deeper section. Articles are posted on a regular basis, adding new content to the Adventures you are studying.

One of my family’s favorite parts of our membership is the community that is fostered through the private Facebook group for members, regular email updates from Dave Stotts, YouTube videos, Instagram posts, and other social media avenues. We love the weekly updates and the holiday-themed videos. We have watched the brief holiday videos – like that on Groundhog Day and Valentine’s Day – at the start of dinner. These videos then give something for the whole family to discuss together – from the 2-year-old to my husband and me. The welcoming community atmosphere of Drive Thru History Adventures makes you feel like you personally know Stotts and his family as he provides updates through emails and the Facebook group.

I asked my 15-year-old stepson what helped bring home the message of The Gospels. He said, “I think (Dave) actually being where the Bible took place helped, like at Herod’s palace. Being there gave you a sense of how grand it was.”

I also asked him what he thought of the host, Dave Stotts. He said, “Dave Stotts is quite the character. He is charismatic and awkward at times but in a good way.” I would agree with this sentiment. Stotts is down to earth while sharing his passion for history. In each episode, it is evident that Stotts is “passionate about history” as he said in a recent update video.

What we loved about Drive Thru History Adventures:

• Ease use of the Adventures TV app – for both my teenage son and myself: it remembers your viewing progress in each episode
• Images used to illustrate the events in each of The Gospels episodes – they were one of the first things my teenage son mentioned after he started following the Bible History Curriculum
• Videos that are uploaded to their YouTube channel are available within their Drive Thru History Adventures website so we don’t have to go to YouTube directly – and thus avoid the distractions of other non-related videos
• Inclusion of discussion questions and an answer key for parents
• Article and video supplements
• Updating via new articles and resources
• The community atmosphere
• The presentation of the scripture readings side-by-side on the website made it very easy-to-read. As an example, reading about John the Baptist this way in each of the four Gospels was interesting. Your children can still use your preferred translation by simply changing it at the top of the embedded Biblia.com application.
• In the concluding episode of The Gospels, “Who Is Jesus,” each prophecy that Jesus fulfilled is stated, along with the scriptural reference appearing on the screen. Accompanying archeological evidence is also provided.

My stepson summarizes the series for us:

“The host, Dave Stotts, takes you through the history of the Gospels using Bible verses as he explores such places as Nazareth and Galilee.”

Included with the subscription to Drive Thru HistoryAdventures are two other curriculums that we will be checking out when we complete the Bible History Curriculum – American History and Ancient History Curriculums.

In the American History Curriculum, your child will watch a series of 12 episodes and explore the history of America from Columbus to the Constitution. Through viewing the episodes and reading primary source documents like the Mayflower Compact and George Washington’s First Inaugural Address (which are available to both read online and to download and print), your child will learn about the Christian worldview, courage, and character. 

Through the 12 adventures in the Ancient History Curriculum, your child will learn about the empires of Greece, Rome, and Asia Minor, read excerpts from Herodotus’ Histories, Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey, the Bible, and other works. By the end of the 12-week adventure, your child will have learned about the role of the ancient empires in the rise of Christianity and Western Civilization.

Subscribers to Drive Thru History Adventures also have new programs to look forward to in the summer of 2018. That is when the new Acts to Revelations Series is planned for release. The series will have eighteen 30-minute episodes and curriculum materials to accompany it. Stotts also said they have many other ideas in pre-production. So, we have more to look forward to in the coming months and years!

My family wholeheartedly recommends a Drive Thru History Adventures subscription because you gain access to so many valuable resources including the videos, curriculum, and a growing community.