Teaching History

April 17, 2008

You've probably already read how I like teaching history as a story.

Today, we saw a "school showing" of a play called Battledrum, the story of Rufus, a Confederate orphan adopted by a troop of Union soldiers who eventually becomes their drummer boy. (The Eckerd Theatre Company of Clearwater, FL is doing this up and down the east coast.)

First, I must say that I am a firm believer that all the experiences you can give your children become a part of who they are. I try to make sure the girls learn things in as many different ways as possible, and not just from a book - that's why I love "field trips." They use these experiences to build a framework for future learning and make the future learning easier to process. (The “education lingo” for this is called an “advance organizer.”)

Upon arrival, the greeter directed our attention to a small display that was put up by the theatre company with pictures and detailed stories about young soldiers and women in the Civil War. They also had information on the research the set and costume designers did to fulfill their duties. My kids took a full 20 minutes before being seated reading and studying the information in the display. (One more bit of knowledge to use as a building block either today or in the future.) I was so sad for the children who got off the busses and were herded into the theatre, totally missing the opportunity to glean another bit of knowledge from a different perspective.

I really loved that my kids WANTED to study the information that was there. I didn’t force them, or lead them, or ask them a hundred questions about what they learned. After we were seated and waiting for the show to start, they offered up a few bits about the set design and the war that they had learned just minutes before. The best part is, I know some of this information will make its way out again, in another place, in another time, and it will thrill me to know that what I’m doing as a homeschool mom is really making a difference.

More on educational field trips here.

More on teaching history in your homeschool.

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