5 of 10

Write now Article Tools

Capture the interest of primary school students by introducing them to memorable historical figures. Stories about colonists who fought for America's freedom in 1776 are always remembered when these facts have faces of real life Americans.

My third graders were totally involved in learning about our country when they heard of the antics of some of our popular historical figures. Benjamin Franklin was one of our favorites. They were amused by his relationship with his brother James. They could relate to sibling rivalry and how Ben would send letters to James' newspaper under the name of Silence Dogood. When they could no longer work together Ben left for Philadelphia and started a new life.

As we continued learning about Franklin's inventions and involvement in the writing of our Declaration of Independence, he became more than just a name in a book. They could picture him editing Thomas Jefferson's copies of the Declaration of Independence. And from this they learned that all of us need proofreaders before we hand in our finished copy!

During the early years of our rebellion we had colonists working as spies to gather information for the Patriots. Presenting the Revolutionary War as a fight between the Patriot and Loyalist forces became an extremely interesting topic. Learning how secret codes called ciphers were used by our Patriots to share information was exciting.

It was always exciting for my students to learn how a sixteen year old girl rode her horse through the dark roads of Connecticut late at night to warn her neighbors that the British were planning to attack Danbury. Through the eyes of Sybil Ludington, my class could feel the danger that night in 1777,

More excitement grew when they heard of how the colonists dressed up as Mohawk indians and enfuriated King George by tossing his tea into the Boston Harbor. They could picture the Sons of Liberty all painted and in costume as they tossed 348 chests of British tea into the water.

When King George and the Loyalists fought against the colonists, called the Patriots, in the Revolutionary War in 1776 my students had a true sense of what it was like at that time in our history. Time lines made sense to them because they understood what life was like for our ancestors.

We used this strategy of learning American history through the lives of real people when we studied about the Civil War, the Oregon Trail, and the women's suffrage movement. These events become a part of my student's lives as well as we learn about our American ancestors.

Learn more about this author, Felicia Arnold.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Teaching history in elementary school?
We want to hear your view. Write now!