How to Teach Children History Events From the 1990s

"Princess Diana", by cliff1066

A key to teaching history events from the 1990s is to strive to convey major changes in perspective that occurred during this decade. While you will not be able to discuss events in minute detail, by focusing on major issues and characters related to this time, you will be able to offer children important starting points from which they can learn more about this period. Instead of discussing these history events as if they are old headlines, summon the bravery to discuss them as if they have just occurred.

Things You'll Need

• Photographs of Princess Diana (recommended)
• Photographs from the Mars Pathfinder mission (recommended)
• Access to Primary Documents from the 1990s

Instructions

1. 

   Draw an invisible line in the middle of your room, and then construct an imaginary wall. Explain that this wall represents a real wall that was built in Berlin and stood for nearly 30 years. Explain that the wall was designed as a concrete symbol of political differences between major nations such as the United States and the Soviet Union. As you describe how the wall separated husbands from their wives and children from their parents, tell children to stand on separate sides of the room to recreate this division. Explain that people were unhappy, and they protested. In 1989, the Berlin Wall finally fell, and it was completely removed by late 1990. This activity will also allow you to discuss the Soviet Union's demise 1991, and how the Cold War came to an end.

2. Tell the story of an English princess who was adored by her subjects, but who felt trapped by her fame. Children will find the tale of Princess Diana's life and early death fascinating, especially if they are girls. Emphasize the elegance of her lifestyle, and discuss how she was hounded by the paparazzi. Consider playing the song "Goodbye, England's Rose" by Elton John. By discussing the life of Lady Di, you will be able to provide children with a vague understanding of political issues as well as to discuss the pressures associated with being a major celebrity during the 1990s.

3. 

   Introduce children to important scientific advancements of the 1990s by viewing images sent back from Mars in 1997 by a robotic explorer vehicle named Sojourner. Few children are aware that such clear, color photographs from Mars exist. These photographs will capture a child's imagination, and provide you with the opportunity to discuss other scientific projects of the 1990s, such as the Human Genome Project or the implementation of the Global Positioning System (GPS).

4. Produce a newscast as a group activity. By allowing children to actively research events from the past, you will be able to let them teach each other about serious stories such as the Persian Gulf War or intriguing stories such as the surge in the Internet's popularity. Children can be assigned different tasks associated with the production of the newscast, including researching, writing, designing logos and images on poster board and presenting the material. If you are teaching a considerable number of children, you can divide them into multiple groups, and each can present their own newscast.

5. Discuss the fears that surrounded Y2K as a way to let kids learn that sometimes adults make errors in judgment. Describe why Y2K computer failures were hypothesized, what people did to prepare for massive computer malfunctions and how certain people acted fearfully on the basis of these presumptions. Ask kids if they can guess what actually happened when New Year's Day arrived on January 1, 2000. Review information regarding Y2K with your children, and discuss whether the negative effects of Y2K were prevented by human intervention or if Y2K was never actually a very big problem.

Tips & Warnings

• Encourage children to ask family members about their own experiences during the 1990s. Should they do so, they may gain a more solid understanding of how people are affected by the passage of time.

• Avoid mentioning scandalous events including acts of sex or violence, such as the O.J. Simpson case, Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky or the Oklahoma City bombing. If children are interested in learning about these events, they are free to discuss them with their parents.

References

• Cold War Timeline: The End of the Cold War
• Mars Pathfinder Welcome to Mars!
• Y2K for Kids