American History Games for Elementary Children
American history, for many, evokes scenes of the Gettysburg Address or the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Teachers may find it difficult, however, to explain the importance of such events to elementary-age children. Young children learn best from visual aids and interaction -- educators and parents can implement both in instructional and entertaining games.
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Guessing Games
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Simple guessing games require few, if any, materials yet teach children historical facts as well as more complicated activities. Students can play the classic game of 20 Questions to learn more about United States Presidents and other figures in American history. One student (or a teacher or parent) pretends to be a famous person and answers only yes or no questions that the other students ask. The children get to ask 20 questions before they have to guess who the person. Parents or teachers can also create a "whodunit" mystery game involving famous figures and events throughout United States history. Create a set of clues for each mystery. Some clues can offer facts about the person or event while others can tell students where they might look for the next clue. The children can play on teams or as individual "investigators."
Historical Trivia
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Preparing multiple choice trivia games requires more effort than guessing games but can introduce a vast amount of information to young students. Create five questions for each of five categories, resulting in 25 total questions. Add them to a computer program or document that allows you to project them to the entire class. Divide the class into teams. Color-code each category and create corresponding game pieces out of card stock or construction paper. Once a team has correctly answered a question in a particular category, they receive a corresponding game piece. The team with the most pieces at the end of the game wins. You can also present trivia with a matching game. Instead of multiple choice answers, create a list of famous historical people, places and events. Place these in columns on a dry erase board or on a document projected to the class. On the opposite side of each column, write facts that correspond to each item in the column. Scramble the order and let students match them.
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Word Games
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Like guessing games, word games require very few materials but are effective teaching tools for elementary children. Teachers or parents can play hangman with young children using only a dry erase or chalkboard and a marker or chalk. Word scrambles are another game that only needs a dry erase board and marker to play. The teacher can write several words or phrases at once or one at a time. The students can either raise their hands to answer or write them on paper. The person who unscrambles the most words wins.
Picture Games
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Simple visual aids can also add an entertaining element to otherwise ordinary activities. Many of the clothes, objects and tools common to past centuries are unknown to children today. Find pictures online of items, such as a quill and inkwell or spinning wheel. Present them to the children and ask them to guess what they are. For a similar game, present pictures of historical figures to the class and ask them to guess their names and why they are famous. After showing pictures of leaders, like Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Douglass or Susan B. Anthony, offer additional information about each one.
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References
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