Taking the Mystery Out of Teaching History in Your Homeschool How can you move beyond dry dates and dull textbooks and make history a favorite subject in your homeschool? In this episode of Vintage Homeschool Moms, Felice Gerwitz is joined by longtime friend and fellow homeschool mom Meredith Curtis to talk about teaching history in a way that sparks excitement and long-term retention—from the early years all the way through high school. You’ll hear practical ideas for using biographies, co-ops, timelines, cooking, music, art, original documents, and a Christian worldview to bring both American and world history to life. In This Episode, You’ll Hear About: History as “His Story” Why Felice sees history as God’s story unfolding through time The importance of teaching historic facts without revisionist or secular spin How a biblical, creationist worldview changes the way you approach history resources Why Just Reading the Textbook Isn’t Enough Why most students won’t remember much from simply reading and answering end-of-chapter questions How Felice and Meredith both started with textbooks but quickly realized they needed more How to use a solid textbook as a jumping-off point for unit studies, hands-on work, and deeper discussion Hands-On History in the Early Years Using biographies and picture books (even with teens!) to make historical figures feel real Simple ways to add fun: Coloring pages or doodling during read-alouds for kids who focus better while their hands are busy Simple crafts, skits, and pretend diaries written in the voice of a historical character Themed days such as “Pioneer Day” or “Christmas in Colonial America” How Meredith’s family used cooking as history in their co-op: Geography year: authentic foods from each country American history: recipes from different eras (including an authentic turtle soup recipe!) Ancient history: foods that would have been eaten in the ancient world Using Christmas unit studies tied to specific time periods and having your kids: Make historically themed wrapping paper Plan menus based on the era you’re studying Bake cookies and foods that match the culture and time What Is a Homeschool Co-op (and Do You Need One)? A clear, simple definition of a homeschool co-op: A group of three or more families learning together, with parents sharing teaching responsibilities. How Felice and Meredith have homeschooled: Just their own family With one other family over many years (which eventually grew into a church co-op) With larger, more structured co-ops Examples of memorable co-op activities: A medieval or colonial feast with costumes, bread-as-plates, eating with fingers, and “bones on the floor” to mimic the era Weather stations and student “broadcasts” Outdoor activities like jousting and historical games Planning Your Week for History Success How Felice structured her week in the early years: Half-year focus: American history first half, science second half—then later alternating by days instead Monday & Wednesday – History Tuesday & Thursday – Science Friday – Catch-up and field trip day Why it’s okay to skip a day and then catch up with a synopsis instead of feeling “behind” How field trips bless both kids and moms with community and shared experiences Timelines, Dates, and Maps: Pegs for Memory Using timelines in notebooks or all around the room so kids can “see” history across the ages Doing a giant floor-length timeline and assigning each child a century to fill with key events Marking history with Christ as the focal point: Creation Major biblical events (Noah, Abraham, David, Jesus) Key turning points like the fall of Rome, the Battle of Hastings, Magna Carta, the Reformation, exploration, and more Ending the timeline with “Jesus returns” to remind students that history has a beginning and an end Why Meredith has her students memorize a small set of crucial dates as “pegs” for everything else Using maps to: Track explorers (Columbus, Balboa, Cabot, etc.) in different colors Notice that cities and civilizations grow around water and fertile land Connect geography to culture, trade, and war Moving into Middle & High School: Going Deeper Keeping everyone in the same time period while assigning more advanced work (projects, papers, and readings) to older students Beginning to emphasize the “why” behind events: Laws and changes in light of the U.S. Constitution How different cultures’ worldviews shape their decisions, art, laws, and daily life Using original documents and primary sources: Reading real accounts of events like the Salem witch trials instead of relying on modern commentary Looking at historic speeches, letters, and newspaper articles Encouraging teens to evaluate current events through the lens of the Constitution and Scripture Music, Art, Architecture, and Fashion in World History Exploring how philosophy, literature, and worldview show up in: Architecture Paintings and sculpture Music styles (Gregorian chant, Renaissance, Romantic, etc.) Clothing and everyday objects Comparing different periods: Why Renaissance art is breathtaking but some students find Renaissance music hard to enjoy How Romantic art, literature, music, and architecture all share a recognizable “feel” Introducing teens to Francis Schaeffer’s classic series on culture, art, and philosophy to see how ideas shape civilizations Literature + History + Writing Pairing your history spine with: American literature for U.S. history British and world literature for world history Using classics like Anne of Green Gables and C.S. Lewis to: Stretch vocabulary and appreciation for language Practice worldview evaluation and discussion How Felice uses writing curriculums like WriteShop to strengthen high school writing in the context of history and literature studies Creation vs. Evolution and Choosing Resources Wisely Why Felice had to set aside a secular world history textbook that started with “ancient man” and evolutionary assumptions Using creation science resources to compare claims and expose fallacies in evolutionary timelines Encouraging teens to think critically about: Fossil evidence Assumptions in secular history texts How worldview drives the story we tell about the past American History & Government Courses for Homeschoolers Use code: VHM50 to save $50 off of the American History video class. Felice shares about the Media Angels American History and Government video classes: Taught by AP-level instructor and award-winning professor Robert Woodrow Wilson Recorded with a live audience Heavy use of visuals, timelines, and “fabulous facts” Students match key inventions, events, and people to the correct presidents and eras How these classes help: Build a solid chronological framework Encourage parent-led worldview discussion Train students to evaluate political candidates and current issues using the Constitution Field Trips, Local Museums, and Everyday Opportunities Using local history (like Edison's museum in Fort Myers, FL, or Victorian homes and pioneer villages) to make the past feel close and real Finding “day trip” guidebooks for your state and exploring: Hands-on museums Historical homes Small but meaningful local sites Why field trips are worth the effort—even if some destinations turn out a little “lame”—because your kids remember the experiences forever. Resources Mentioned (Always check the sites for current specials and updated offers.) Media Angels – Homeschool science, history, American history & government video classes Website: MediaAngels.com Vintage Homeschool Moms podcast archive & show notes Website: VintageHomeschoolMoms.com Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network – Home of Vintage Homeschool Moms and many more homeschool podcasts Look for the Vintage Homeschool Moms and Finish Well shows Powerline Productions (Meredith Curtis) – History cookbooks and Christian history resources American history and ancient history cookbooks with recipes, activities, and study guides Finish Well Podcast with Meredith Curtis – Encouraging teens and parents to live for Jesus and think biblically about life and culture Stay Connected Host: Felice Gerwitz – author, publisher, and homeschool mom Website: MediaAngels.com Guest: Meredith Curtis – pastor’s wife, worship leader, homeschool mom, and owner of Powerline Productions; host of the Finish Well podcast Have a question about teaching history in your homeschool or ideas for future episodes? You can usually reply directly to Felice’s email newsletter or contact her through MediaAngels.com or the Vintage Homeschool Moms page on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network. Happy history teaching! RECOMMENDED BOOK LIST for Teaching History in Your Homeschool TeachingHistory-VintageHomeschoolMoms Let’s Talk About Teaching History with your co-hosts, Felice Gerwitz & Meredith Curtis History is about a bunch of dead people and stuff that happened long ago or so I thought when I was a kid.