How to Make History Fun for Your Homeschooler Who Hates It (Yes, It’s Possible)

Does your child groan every time you mention history class?

I have to be honest. I hated history as a kid; actually, up until Hamilton came out, I hated history. It was always lecture-style and just facts. So, how did I go from that to teaching history in our program? Hamilton. No, really, I was jealous that someone could love history so much they created a whole musical. I was also surprised by how much I loved the musical. But I’m a simple person, implement art, and I’m hooked.  I wondered if I could do the same thing for teaching history. If I made it more hands-on and less lecture-style, could I create a class that made history fun for even the kids who hated it?

But why do kids hate history?

According to the National Council for Social Studies, most students view history as the class they need to memorize facts for, not truly understand. You may have heard it’s just dates and dead people, or why does it matter? According to the Ohio Department of Education, History classes are supposed to prepare students to be participating members of society, so it does matter. But maybe the problem isn’t history but how history has continued to be taught.

How can we make history better?

First, we can shift the focus. History is storytelling

    History is stories about real people and real events. History can come alive when we change the focus to real people from the dry facts and timelines! When we teach that history is full of drama, decisions, dreams, mistakes, and emotions, it can become a lot more interesting for them.

In 2010, educational psychologist Daniel Willingham emphasized that learning based on narratives activates the emotional center in the brain. Narrative-based learning makes it easier to remember information and stay engaged. In short, the human brain is wired for stories, not the charts we force kids to use and memorize.

How are we bringing storytelling into our history class?

1. Graphic novels

Graphic novels are a great way to make history come alive. They hue the event's personality, humor, and visual context, which is great for reluctant readers and visual learners.

• Nathan’s Hales’ hazardous tales

• history comics by first second books

• Match by John Lewis

2. Podcasts

Sneak in history during car rides of quiet time. Podcasts to try

• The past and curious

• History chicks

• Forever ago

3. Historical fiction

Books that weave history into relatable characters and experiences can build deep connections

• I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis – Action-packed, perfect for middle-grade readers.

  
  

• My America and Dear America series – First-person diary-style accounts from different periods.

  
  

• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan – Rich historical context with powerful storytelling.

  
  

By weaving in these narrative resources, you’re giving your child a way to connect emotionally to the past—and that connection is the key to sparking curiosity.

Make history hands on with stem and art

If your child zones out the moment the history books opens, it maybe time to ditch the lecture style lessons and lean into hands on learning. According to the Buck institute for education, project based learning leads to deeper understanding, stronger retention, and better engagement- this is especially true for student who struggle with traditional instruction.

In our program, we blend history with STEM and art.  We aren’t just teaching facts, we are actively blending bridges between time periods, subjects, and the real world.

Adding art to history allows students to express what they’ve learned in meaningful and memorable ways. When history is woven into stem and art projects, it becomes more than just a timeline- it becomes a multi-sensory experience. Students are able to see how people in the past solved problems, expressed themselves, and shaped the world. Creating cross-curricular connections doesn’t just make learning fun- it makes it stick.

History doesn’t have to feel like a chore. With the right approach, it can be a launchpad for creativity, critical thinking, and even curiosity.

That’s exactly our approach in our archeology class. We combine art, storytelling, and stem challenges to bring the past to life in ways your child will never forget. Whether we are designing medieval castles, decoding ancient symbols, or bringing it to life through acting, students are actively engaged in the learning process.

If your child hates history now, it doesn’t mean they always will. Sometimes, all it takes is the right story, the right project, or the right spark to change everything.

History is full of invention, imagination, resilience, and real people. It can be a place where your child not only learns about the past but discovers their own creativity and confidence along the way.

Let’s reimagine history together.

Curious if this hands-on history class is right for your homeschooler?Come try it for free—no pressure, just fun!

Sign up below to grab your free trial class spot and see how we bring history to life with art, storytelling, and STEM challenges your child will actually look forward to.

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