How to Teach History Thematically
Many people claim that they find history "boring." But people who had inspiring history teachers tend to find history fascinating. Inspiring students is easier when you teach thematically, because you can reach people of all interests and abilities. Especially at the elementary school level, teaching thematically allows all students to excel and to enjoy history.
Instructions
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Narrow your topic. It's not possible to teach something like "American History" as a theme. You need to break each era into its own theme, such as "The Revolutionary War" or "The 1950s." The younger your students, the more general you can be. You can introduce the concept of medieval times to kindergartners through a fairy tale unit, or focus on The Civil War in sixth grade.
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Know your topic. When teaching thematically, don't just read the textbook version of the history; read some narrative accounts of the events and check out other sources. Reading adult-level topics on your own time can give you the appropriate background, but make sure to read different kinds of sources with your students as well.
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Make a web of the facts. Write the topic in a bubble in the middle of a piece of paper. Then branch off with the important facts you want students to learn about the topic. Choose about 5 to 20 facts, depending on the students' ages. For first graders, 5 facts are plenty. Fifth graders can learn at least 10 and those in middle school can learn at least 20.
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Create lessons to teach each fact. Begin with social studies lessons, where you read nonfiction accounts of the era. Start a KWL chart (a chart that lists what students already know about the topic, what they want to know about the topic, and finally what they have learned about the topic) and begin a timeline (post a long strip of paper on the wall or above the board, mark the current date, and have students fill in significant facts and dates as you learn them).
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Use history in other subject areas. Language arts lessons complement history lessons very well. Discuss fiction versus nonfiction, introduce primary and secondary sources, and introduce vocabulary of the topic.
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Extend the theme to mathematics. If you are studying a war, for example, use statistics to analyze the numbers of soldiers killed or wounded. Practice addition and subtraction by figuring out how long ago the topic happened or how old the people involved were at that time (or would be now).
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Incorporate physical education. Learn dances from the era or do some the activities that soldiers had to do.
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Remember the arts. Have students do art projects in the style of the period, or recreate clothing or make murals of important events in the topic. For primary grade students, make murals illustrating events studied is most helpful. Creating clothing or using the artistic styles of the period is most appropriate for middle school students. Intermediate students can learn songs, dances, and games of the period you are studying.
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Tips & Warnings
To teach thematically, try to include your topic in everything that happens in your classroom--even lining up to go to lunch.
Talk to other teachers who work with your students. Ask the music, PE, and arts teachers to help you address the theme.
