My very first book in 1989 was all about bringing history to life. The premise was that American history could come to life—and be FUN—when a folk song and its history were connected to actual events. But there are lots of other fun, hands-on ways to play with history! You can learn ancient history, medieval history, modern history, ANY history through utilizing your five senses.
Here are just a few “5 senses” suggestions to get you started:
Experience “living history” through planting a garden using heirloom seeds favored by Thomas Jefferson OR planting a dead fish underneath your corn seed, á la Squanto. Make a mouth-watering bite of the American frontier in a Laura Ingalls Wilder gingerbread, OR get a taste of Bible history with milk and honey. Create a cardboard medieval castle, OR fashion a Roman-arched bridge with sugar cubes. Let your puppets perform history from the other side of the couch, OR set the stage and costume your kids for their unique take on an event.
Touch, taste, see, hear, smell as much history as possible.
Then, to make it really stick, sing and dance, plant and eat, design and display, or write and read something fun of what has been learned.
Trust me on this one: they’re gonna love it!!