Why is History Boring?
Determining what makes history boring is the first step you must take to make history fun. The things that make history boring for someone is personal. They can differ depending on a person's interests. For example, some people find learning about buildings boring while others find buildings extremely interesting. Therefore, some of what determines whether you will enjoy studying a particular history topic depends on your personal interests.
How do you make history fun if you cannot choose the topic?
Making history fun to learn is often challenging when teachers have to focus on a specific curriculum. There is less flexibility in the classroom to cater the topics to each student, because teachers have to make sure they make it through their lengthy curriculum before the end of the year. When you have the chance in class to pick your own research topic, even if it still needs to be related to a particular class and curriculum, there are still some choices that you can make to create a more interesting research experience. Whatever topic you choose try to approach your chosen topic with an angle that allows you to connect your personal interests with your project. For example, if you are researching a topic that needs to pertain to the Civil War era and you have an interest in music, then you could research how music during the Civil War reflected the feelings and attitudes in society during that time in American history.
The trick to making history fun to study and research, even when you don't have much control over your topic, is to combine your personal interests in some way with your required topic. Now, this will not always work because you will sometimes be required to read certain books or papers for class that you might not feel like you have any personal connection with. However, that is the time when you need to use your time outside of class to learn history in new ways that interest you. Try visiting a local museum in your area. Museums offer great ways to approach studying history that teachers are sometimes unable to do within the restrictions of a classroom environment. Presentations and reenactments can help bring history to life for visitors in a way that history textbooks are unable to do without further lessons that engage students.
How can you find historic sites or museums in your area to visit?
A simple google search can help you locate wonderful museums and historic sites in your area, some of which you may not have known were there. So, the next time you feel like history is getting old and boring try these tips and hopefully they will get you started on your way to enjoying history! :)
The trick to making history fun to study and research, even when you don't have much control over your topic, is to combine your personal interests in some way with your required topic. Now, this will not always work because you will sometimes be required to read certain books or papers for class that you might not feel like you have any personal connection with. However, that is the time when you need to use your time outside of class to learn history in new ways that interest you. Try visiting a local museum in your area. Museums offer great ways to approach studying history that teachers are sometimes unable to do within the restrictions of a classroom environment. Presentations and reenactments can help bring history to life for visitors in a way that history textbooks are unable to do without further lessons that engage students.
How can you find historic sites or museums in your area to visit?
A simple google search can help you locate wonderful museums and historic sites in your area, some of which you may not have known were there. So, the next time you feel like history is getting old and boring try these tips and hopefully they will get you started on your way to enjoying history! :)
