Why Wasn't History This Interesting In School?

[Virgo10]

We watched The History Channel's presentation of Washington The Warrior last night (TIVO'd) and it was fantastic. BTW, it will repeat on 6/3 at 8 p.m. EDT.

Coming up shortly is another History Channel series about the American Revolution. I hope it's as good as the Washington show. You can read about it here:

The Revolution

History is alive, not dry and dead like the books we were given in school.

 

[Cantw8]

I couldn't agree more The show was awsome, one of the more fascinating ones I have seen. The History Channel is one of my favorites

 

[VSL]

I love history.

Of course, I'm in the UK, so we study very different history to what you look at in the US.

< age 11 Cannot remember!
Age 11-14 Hastings 1066, Tudors, Rebecca Riots, etc. (basically British history from 1066)
GCSE WWII, Medicine Through Time (prehistory, Egypt, Greece, Rome... right up to 20th century), Modern History (we did the Arab/Israeli conflict) and Local History (I'm in Wales... so mining)
AS / A Level More WWII, British History (politics - 1700-1900ish)

I stopped History after that - I decided on Egyptology and Ancient History for my degree (although I should have probably done Medieval History - it's much more interesting - or Music).

I agree that the History Channel (and others like it) are awesome though (although not too great for actual students like myself as they are too brief/broad!). Programs that look at things like history and biographies though always make them interesting. I know plenty about British monarchy, for example (since I was very young - my favourite book when I was a little girl was 'Cruel Kings and Mean Queens' by Terry Dreary(?)), but I still found Simon Schama's 'A British History' series awesome (so much that I even went out and bought the DVD box-set and the books!).

 

[katerkat]

I love the History Channel - not only because it was founded by a graduate of my college! We watch it all the time and I find myself learning stuff I never learned in school. I loved the one they did on the Russian czars, um, probably two+ years ago?

 

[NMAmy]

I love history.

Of course, I'm in the UK, so we study very different history to what you look at in the US.

I love this because DH is from the UK so I always kick his behind on American History questions on Jeopardy. I also took a lot of British history courses in school so I usually know more than he does about that, as well. Of course, he can do science and math so we both have our strengths. Together, we make one well-rounded person.

We love the History Channel and the National Geographic Channels. DD thinks we're the most boring people around. I did put my foot down when I caught DH watching Modern Marvels and the topic was, I kid you not, The History of the Stick. He'll never live that one down.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I love the History Channel.

I just wish I had cable again so I could watch it. But I otherwise watch a lot of PBS and American Experience is one of my fave shows.

History was always one of my fave subjects in school - which is why I minored in it at college.

 

[VSL]

I did put my foot down when I caught DH watching Modern Marvels and the topic was, I kid you not, The History of the Stick. He'll never live that one down.

 

[mookie]

My dh is a Modern Marvel nut! We have actually had the same conversation about History being so boring in school, and I have come to the conclusion that I was just "too busy" with high school gossip, what everyone was wearing, who was going with who to the football game, etc. to even notice how cool and interesting the shows really were. Boy, am I glad I grew up and got educated!

 

[mookie]

My dh is a Modern Marvel nut! We have actually had the same conversation about History being so boring in school, and I have come to the conclusion that I was just "too busy" with high school gossip, what everyone was wearing, who was going with who to the football game, etc. to even notice how cool and interesting the shows really were. Boy, am I glad I grew up and got educated!

 

[disneymom3]

DH and I say this all the time!! We both would know a lot more about history if it had been taught in an interesting way. We actually homeschool and one of the things I focus on is making history hands on and fun. Kids remember a lot better the fact that no one was found on Roanoke island if you play outside and one child hides while leaving only one partial clue of where they are than by just reading it in a book.

 

[grimley1968]

Looks like The Revolution will be Tivo-worthy! Thanks.

 

[agnes!]

Speaking of historically based mini-series...

I can hardly wait until HBO & Playtone(Tom Hanks' production company) make "John Adams" & (ultimately) "1776", both of which were David McCullough bestsellers.
History...yummmmmmmmmm .

agnes!

 

[pigletz]

Thanks for the heads up on the American Revolution series coming on the History Channel. I use their programs all the time in my classroom and my eighth graders love them. They definitly love anything that presents history as a story instead of just this happened on this day and that happened on that day which is why I never use the textbook. I found a really good series of books that are technically textbooks but the chapters are presented as stories without all of the questions and activities. It's called A History of US by Joy Hakim. It's really geared towards early middle school age but I love reading the chapters too.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

My dh is a Modern Marvel nut! We have actually had the same conversation about History being so boring in school, and I have come to the conclusion that I was just "too busy" with high school gossip, what everyone was wearing, who was going with who to the football game, etc. to even notice how cool and interesting the shows really were. Boy, am I glad I grew up and got educated!

I love Modern Marvels.

Has anyone seen the episode about WDW?

 

[VSL]

Thanks for the heads up on the American Revolution series coming on the History Channel. I use their programs all the time in my classroom and my eighth graders love them. They definitly love anything that presents history as a story instead of just this happened on this day and that happened on that day which is why I never use the textbook. I found a really good series of books that are technically textbooks but the chapters are presented as stories without all of the questions and activities. It's called A History of US by Joy Hakim. It's really geared towards early middle school age but I love reading the chapters too.

I think that's why I adored the Horrible History series when I was little (mostly about British/European history). They have some great comic strip bits in them and stuff.

I still love them!

 

[WeLuvDisney05]

DH and I say this all the time!! We both would know a lot more about history if it had been taught in an interesting way. We actually homeschool and one of the things I focus on is making history hands on and fun. Kids remember a lot better the fact that no one was found on Roanoke island if you play outside and one child hides while leaving only one partial clue of where they are than by just reading it in a book.

I totally agree!

We also homeschool & I'm finding out sooooooo much more about History NOW (at 29yo) than I ever had learned before (using her 1st Grade curriculum we read about History in Chronological order). We also add in some FUN hands on activities (like disneymom had mentioned).

I always thought History was boring in school too & it didn't make sense to me b/c it was taught to me in a "jumbled up" order....I enjoy reading about what has happened in the past, starting from the Very Beginning! My DD's FAV subject is History (mine too....Now!) It's amazing all of the things she retains by learning it this FUN way! I wish I had learned it this way to begin with!!

I also Love being able to turn on the TV & watch something that goes along with what we just learned about. Yes, I too think that the history channel is Great! For those of you with younger kids, if you get a chance....watch Little Einsteins! We were studying about Egypt, recently....afterwards, we turned on the TV, Little Einsteins was on & wouldn't you know it....They were taking a trip to Egypt! - Kewl!

Sorry if I started going a lil' bit off the path of the original topic!....History gets me all excited! I see it in a whole new light!

 

[WeLuvDisney05]

We also homeschool & I'm finding out sooooooo much more about History NOW (at 29yo) than I ever had learned before (using her 1st Grade curriculum we read about History in Chronological order). We also add in some FUN hands on activities (like disneymom had mentioned).

I'm such a nerd....I just noticed that this didn't make ANY sense! I was talking about my 6 yo DD's curriculum. It seemed like it made sense as I was typing....oh well Again! Hee, Hee!