To make history come alive for children is to re-enact vital moments in history. Children get the opportunity to have first-hand experiences at local and national history. They can pretend to be famous historical characters who influence society today. Allow children to act out history so that they gain comprehension and retention. Read on to learn make history come alive for children.
Instructions
1. Based upon the age of your group, choose a book that recounts a historical story. The discovery of gold in California or the landing at Plymouth Rock are great examples.
2. Read the historical story to the children. Make sure all the children understand the story. Periodically ask them about what is going on in the story.
3. Assign characters in the story to each of the children. Read the story again and have the children demonstrate the roles while reading. Encourage the children to act out the action. Validate the actions of acting as appropriate.
4. Change character assignments so that everyone has a chance to play various roles. Create an audience if you have more children than characters with the expectations of rotation.
5. Ask the children speak some of the lines in the story. This includes all the words between the quotation marks.
6. Keep the story exciting. Listen to what the children have to say about acting out history.
7. Let the children dress for each role. You can obtain hats, ties, jackets, vests or scarves.
8. Add props appropriate to the story. Run the story one more time with dress up, props and children acting out the story with out you reading the book.
9. Schedule your next history lesson.
