Fun and Easy History Activities for Kids

As teachers, we know how important it is to make learning fun and engaging for our students. One subject that often confuses and bores kids is history. However, history can be transformed into an exciting adventure with the right activities. In this blog, we will share some fun and educational history activities that will excite your students about the past.

Historical Time Capsule:

This is a fantastic way of giving your students a tangible connection to the past. Get a large jar or box and fill it up with artifacts, pictures, news clippings, and relevant objects from the time period you are studying. Ask your students to contribute to the capsule by bringing in items of their choice that they think will represent the era. Seal it up and store it away for a year or two. When you revisit it, you’ll get a glimpse back in time at what life was like.

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History Scavenger Hunt:

Scavenger hunts are an excellent way to get kids moving while still learning. Create clues and riddles based on key historical events, people, or eras. Hide the clues around the classroom or the school campus for children to find. Divide your class into teams and have them race to see who can solve the clues the fastest. You can also make the game more challenging by encouraging the use of historical books, maps, and the internet.

History Activity: Role-Playing:

What better way to learn about the past than to put oneself in the shoes of historical giants, saints, or heroes? Assign each student a historical persona to study and prepare a short skit or presentation for the class. Encourage students to dress up in character, bring in props, and recreate the scenes of the time period they are representing. This activity can be a lot of fun, and it’s also a great way to help students empathize with the people they have studied.

Building Historical Monuments and Models:

No historical study would be complete without a hands-on project. Give your students a blank slate to recreate historical landmarks or objects representing the time. For example, students can use clay, paint, or paper-mache to build the Athenian Parthenon, the Pyramids of Egypt, or a Viking Longboat. This activity can foster your students’ creativity while refining their research and critical thinking skills.

History Activities: Journals/Blogs:

Students can keep a journal chronicling major historical events we read about in class. They can create their own historical blog throughout the year, showcasing articles and trivia about the characters of their choice. This will encourage them to stay up to date on the topic, focus on writing skills, and join historical discussions.

Save time with Social Studies Integration

These five tips give you ideas on social studies integration without starting from scratch. And if you’re short on time or want some ready-made lesson plans, check out our History Curriculum Unit. It’s a great way to add social studies to your class without all the hassle.

Fun History Activities for Kids

History doesn’t only have to be a string of names, dates, and events in a course outline. Bringing history to life and making it relevant and exciting for children is a responsible approach to teaching. By engaging them in hands-on activities and games, they can become active and enthused learners who can gain confidence in their identities and understanding of their world. Engage your class with these fun, interactive history activities for kids, and you’ll likely find it to be a thrilling experience, both for you and your students.