Americans
around the country are pretty bad at history. Not advanced history topics likehow
the Aztec civilization came to an end, but basic American history like who it
got independence from, and why Abraham Lincoln is important. Labelled boring
and irrelevant, history is often the least popular subject in school. But
history is not to be blamed. History is full of life, replete with fascinating
stories of courage, cunning, endurance, treachery, bravery, magnanimity,
jealousy and so much more. It is about people just like us who were born into a
different time and place and who shaped the world as we know it today. It isn’t
history itself, but how history is taught that is the problem.
History is about people like us who were born
into a different time and place.
Photo by
Mt. Hood Territory
Very often
in schools, history is presented as a large collection of names, places and
dates with no relevance to students’ lives. Failing to see how the information
is important to them, students give it only as much attention as is required to
pass the exam, and forget everything once this is accomplished. Fortunately,
the solution is not far off. By bringing history to life, by transporting
students to the settings in which historical events occurred, teachers can make
history the most interesting subject of all. This may not sound very easy, but
it is. Fun learning games for kids that revolve around historical
themes do precisely that, with no further effort required on the part of the
teacher.
The
internet has manykids’ learning games that are perfect for teaching history. These
games take children back in time to historical events like World War II, or
periods like the pre-Civil War period, and let players experience first-hand
the lifestyle and events of that time. Here are some of the most popular
learning games focusing on historical events in the United States as well as
other parts of the world.
The Oregon Trail – This classic game is one of the most
well-known and popular learning games for kids across all subjects. Designed by
a student teacher to teach a grade 8 history class, the game is set in the 19th
century when emigrants used the Oregon trail to migrate east. The player
assumes the role of a leader among a group of settlers migrating to Oregon.
Kids are introduced to the difficulties the migrating families had to face, and
the decisions they had to make along the way, gaining an insight into what it
meant to cross the Oregon Trail in the 1800s.Modern versions of the game are
now available for Wii and 3DS, and have improved graphics and gameplay.
Photo by
david_jones
Mission US: Flight to Freedom–This learning game for kids gives
them an understanding of what it was like to be an African American in the
pre-Civil War period. Players take on the role of Lucy, an African American
teenager working as a slave on a plantation. When things go wrong, she is
forced to flee for her freedom, leaving behind her family and heading out into
the unknown. The decisions that players make shape the course of the game,
define Lucy’s personality and ultimately decide how the story will end.
On the Trail of Captain John Smith–John Smith was an English explorer
who joined an expedition to what is now the United States of America in the
year 1606. He played an important role in the establishment of the Virginia
Colony, England’s first permanent settlement in the New World. However, he had
to face many hardships along the way. ‘On the Trail of Captain John Smith’ is
an interactive learning game for kids that follows the course of events faced
by John Smith during his first years in America.
Roman Town – This engaging learning game is perfect for
teaching students about world history. Kids assume the role of an archaeologist
and learn about life in Rome in 79 A.D. through their
archaeological discoveries. The game lets students understand how
archaeologists work, while giving them an understanding of the daily life,
technological advancements and art forms of ancient Rome.
With
engaging learning games like these to bring history alive, children will find a
lot more sense in those names, dates and places they are expected to remember
in history classes.
