teaching history

the Bismarck, a World War II, German ship

When teaching history to children, you can inform them of names, dates and empires, insisting they memorize this important information from the past, or, you can do as my mother did, and whet their appetites towards learning.  Long before my siblings and I were old enough to understand that there was a time before us, that our grandparents were once children, or that the world is much bigger than the area we had traveled, she was teaching us the names and stories of important leaders and explorers.  We learned to respect Winston Churchill, Jim Bridger, Abraham Lincoln and the pioneers, before we knew what ‘history’ was.  She did this first and foremost with songs.  Songs of bravery.  Songs of valor.  She also read true stories aloud.  She took us to museums.  She sang while she worked, and told related stories while we canned or washed dishes.

When we first encountered these names, coming from text books, we were all ears.  We could not wait to hear more of these hero’s, who had so long danced before our minds eye.  From there, we were eager to find out more about their world.  We wanted to know about the times they lived in, the wars they fought and the people they lead.  We wanted to know about their enemies, and whether they should be considered friend or foe, today.  History was real and alive.

Because of Johny Horton, we learned about the Bismarck, and Churchill’s triumph.  We learned of Johny Reb, the Civil War, and Abraham Lincoln playing Dixie once more.  We learned of General Washington, and the victories he won; of Jim Bridger, and the lands he helped to tame.  We learned of Yellow Stone, and the Indian tribes that roamed the plains. [All of the links above have excellent related pictures.]

Laura Ingalls told us about the pioneer days, and settling the plains.  The hardships and the joys were hers to share.  We talked to the elderly in our community, and learned what it took to build a town.  We learned about steam engines, from an old man who had driven them, in his younger years.  We learned about one-room school houses from those who were educated in them. 

Our love of horses was used to teach us about the Pony Express, the breeds from other lands, and native customs.  These studies lead to studying the automobile, the industrial age, medieval times, and the Roman Empire.  We learned of the steel millionaires, and the great fire in Chicago.  About labor laws and the formation of unions.

One of my Grandfather’s was a World War II army veteran.  He told us about the Battle of the Bulge, where he was injured, and D-day, where he scaled cliffs on the shores of Normandy.  He also told us about the folk’s back home, and how hard it was for a farm boy to become a soldier, as growing food was so essential to keeping the country healthy and the war efforts going.  Songs like Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition, The Marine Hymn, and Coming in on A Wing and A Prayer, taught us about the social norms of the time. 

C. W. McCall introduced us to other social issues and historical items, such as the Silverton train, in Colorado.  John Cash and others like him, told us about the Vietnam War, and the disrespect the veterans of that war suffered. 

I could go on and on about the things we learned, beginning with unlikely sources.  However, instead of boring you, I want to challenge you.  Challenge you to introduce your children to something of value today.  Sing with them.  Read to them.  Take them to the nursing home, where some children of the pioneers still live.  Make history come alive!

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