Homeschool History Doesn’t Have To Be Boring
Choosing a curriculum for history can be challenging at first. There are so many different ways to begin! Many homeschool history programs focus on dates and timelines which can feel dry or boring.
How can you find a homeschool history approach that brings history to life? We discovered that adopting a story-based approach to history made our lessons more engaging for the whole family. The Who Was series from Penguin Randomhouse was a huge part of making history exciting for us here at The Waldock Way.
Beautiful picture book biographies about real people like Eugine Clark and George Ferris led to mini-unit studies all about important moments in history. Keep reading to discover how homeschooling history can be anything but boring when you view it through the eyes of the very real people who lived it.
How We Approach History In Our Homeschool
I’ll admit that our approach to history here at The Waldock Way might be a bit different from most boxed curricula. For example, we don’t necessarily follow a linear approach to learning history. We might jump from honoring veterans of wars with Moina Michael to discovering Ancient Greece with Percy Jackson as our guide.
I believe that our story-based approach to homeschool history gives Emily a chance to see historic time periods and important events through the eyes of the real people who lived them. We use beautiful literature and fact-based biographies for kids to get the job done. Plus, it adds to our child-led learning approach to homeschooling.
Homeschool History Doesn’t Have To Be Boring!
Following our interest-led approach, we capitalize on Emily’s interests with unit studies built around time periods and people she’s interested in learning more about. The Who Was books from Penguin Randomhouse have been a huge part of our homeschool history lessons with fun and interesting historic figures like King Tut, Martin Luther King Jr., and Dolly Parton.
We love the way the Who Was books bring these important characters to life and make them relatable for kids. Plus, they’re easy enough for kids to read independently or they can be read aloud together with the whole family. Each book will introduce your homeschooler to a new important figure.
Some books are about presidents, some are about artists or athletes, and some are about social rights activists.
You can use them independently or as part of a larger unit study in your homeschool lesson plans. Don’t miss out on my Who Was Unit Studies for even more learning fun too. I’ve pulled together video playlists, games, and further reading suggestions for each book. You can take a look at everything that’s included in our Who Was Unit Studies in this Look Inside video.
Homeschooling History With Incredible Biographies
There are just so many incredible people for your homeschoolers to meet in great books! Check out my Who Was Unit Studies to bring these amazing men and women to life for your kids. Here are some of our favorites:
Gandhi
Did you know Ghandi’s philosophy of non-violence is what inspired the civil rights movement in America? It’s also how Gandhi led his people to freedom in India in 1947. Learn more about him and the movement with this unit study.
Aretha Franklin
Discover the queen of soul music with your homeschoolers in a music history unit study all about Aretha Franklin with custom coloring pages, quotes to copy, graphic organizers, and more.
Blackbeard
Do your homeschoolers love pirates? Get ready to celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day on September 19 with a Who Was unit study all about Blackbeard, the famous pirate!
Claude Monet
Discover the impressionist movement as you explore art history with a Who Was unit study about Claude Monet. You’ll get custom coloring pages, art ideas, and video playlists.
Dolly Parton
Did you know Dolly Parton is the most successful female country singer of all time? Learn a bit more about her and the history of country music in your homeschool with this mini-unit study.
Edgar Allen Poe
Are your homeschoolers into scary stories? If so, they’ll definitely want to meet Edgar Allen Poe! Get to know the American author best known for his tales of mystery and macabre with this Who Was unit study all about Poe.
Frida Kahlo
Explore the history and culture of Mexico through the art of Frida Kahlo as you dive deep into her amazing life and art with a Who Was unit study all about this iconic female artist.
Discover all the amazing historic figures in my Who Was Unit Studies and get one free when you grab 5 unit studies. Then, check out additional resources for making your homeschool history a success below.
Additional Resources For Homeschool History
If you’re struggling to make history engaging and exciting, don’t miss my other fun ideas for homeschooling history. There are so many wonderful ways to bring important people and events to life for your homeschooler! Check out some more of our favorite history resources:
- How To Teach Homeschool History Without a Curriculum
- Why Biographies Are So Important To Homeschool History
- The Best History Games For Your Homeschool
So what’s your favorite way to make homeschooling history fun? Share your favorite tips and tricks in the comments. I can’t wait to read them and try a few with Emily!