History for Homeschoolers

History for homeschoolers doesn't have to be dull and boring. Parents who teach their children history can draw from their favorite books, the Internet and field trips. While students who go to public schools may be limited to what is taught in the classroom, a homeschooled child has a variety of resources that can help him understand history with unique perspectives.

Reenactors bring history to life.

For those that have endured history taught in public school classrooms, they already realize that textbooks aren't always the best way to learn about the past. While some children seem eager to learn no matter what the format, others are strong visual learners. For these children, simply reading a textbook won't deliver the information in a way that is easy to digest. Those who homeschool their children have a unique opportunity to present history to these children in a way that can have them hungry for learning more, no matter what the topic is. Here are a few ideas to help children learn about history and keep them coming back for more!

One of the best ways to present history is for children to actually see where history has taken place. This is especially true for visual learners. A good example of this is for children to visit Washington, D.C. to learn about President Lincoln. Many children have read about President Lincoln and his assassination in textbooks, but it can really come to life when they visit Ford's Theater in person. This particular attraction is run by the National Park Service and is open to the public. Children can actually see where the President sat, where John Wilkes Booth fell when his foot caught in the bunting and see the production that was being performed on that fateful evening.

There are hundreds more fieldtrips that could be planned to bring history to life, locally for some, and within a few hours drive for others. History has happened all around us and is also taking place every day. Visit museums and historical places to learn all you can about specific events. Attend special re-enactments (many children love watching Revolutionary and Civil War re-enactments), go see exhibits sponsored by the National Park Service or even enroll children in summer day camps that let them learn what it was like to live during specific time periods.

It is not always possible to go on fieldtrips during certain times of the year, especially when inclement weather hits. During these times when you can't get out of the house, break up reading about history with watching history in movies. There are many wonderful docu-dramas, documentaries and biographies that are available on video and DVD as well as being offered regularly on both the History and Discovery channels. (It is also important to note that these two channels also offer teaching materials for many of their televised programs, which are available on their websites). A few history series programs that are designed for children include:

• Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts
• Liberty's Kids

Both of these history series are available through Amazon.com, Netflix and at public libraries.

The Internet has many interesting resources for parents to use when teaching history for homeschoolers. A few of the websites that can help children research and learn about history include:

• Kidipede
• History Detectives
• NASA History
• Social Studies for Kids
• Kids Past.com

Be sure to surf the Internet to find more specific information for your current history lessons. There are literally thousands of websites written by educators and other individuals who are passionate about their favorite history topics.

Current textbooks available to the public school market are not always what parents want to use when teaching their children at home. If you want to use books that teach about American and world history that tell about events in a straightforward manner, consider the following resources:

• Learning Through History magazine
• Children's Encyclopedia of American History by the Smithsonian Institution
• The American Story: 100 True Tales from American History by Jennifer Armstrong and Roger Roth
• History: The Definitive Visual Guide by Adam Hart-Davis

There are so many ways to get children interested in history, whether it is at the local, national or world levels. Parents can get their children involved in their own learning by visiting re-enactments, museums and books designed specifically for children. Learning about history doesn't have to be dull; it can be as exciting as you and your children want it to be!

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