Education Through Entertainment

Now Introducing: A Better Way to Teach History

Posted on Mon, Jan 30, 2023

Now Introducing: A Better Way to Teach History

We watch history unfold every day through notifications pinging our cell phones, emails landing in our inboxes, and news anchors sharing breaking news. We even document our personal histories every day by taking photos and sending emails and texts. Modern technologies can record, share, and disperse information nearly instantaneously. In the age of never being “offline”, our curious minds can learn new information with a few clicks on a keyboard. Some might consider it a privilege to have such easy accessibility to the past. 

From hieroglyphs sketched on cave walls, to tales spoken around a fire, to ancient texts stored in museums, humans have been documenting and sharing history for thousands of years. Using tools and research, historians solve the puzzle of the past by weaving together a narrative of decisions, identities, and consequences. In history class, we teach about the transformation of human identity and civilization over time in a way that is relevant and comprehensible to today’s students. There are several reasons why studying history is fundamental to our students’ education, but here are just a few: 

  1. Informs students about the present
  2. Prepares students as citizens and members of society
  3. Helps students form stronger identities
  4. Teaches research, reading, and writing skills
  5. Encourages critical thinking
  6. Creates empathy in students 
  7. Influences students’ values
  8. Teaches students to problem solve

As educators, we recognize learning history has a plethora of benefits, but the question is: how are we teaching it? Mobile Ed designs programs for students that make lessons engaging, entertaining, and personal. Our team has experienced the most powerful and effective history lessons through storytelling. 

Reading facts and using charts have their place in education, but our brains process stories at a more complex level than logistics. Story processing stimulates the motor and sensory cortices in the brain as well as the frontal cortex. These neural networks become strengthened when feelings of anticipation for the resolution arise. Because of the way the brain processes, stories are more memorable and can more easily influence attitudes and behavior in the consumer. The simplest way to put together a story is to include the elements of storytelling:

  1. Character
  2. Setting
  3. Theme
  4. Plot
  5. Tone
  6. Conflict
  7. Point of View

The graphic below describes how each of these elements can be found in a history lesson. Weaving these elements together could create a more effective (and entertaining) lesson for you and your students.

 

Mobile Ed designs assembly programs for schools that use the elements of storytelling to teach students the most important figures and events of history. Our most popular historical programs include: 

Women in History

Students will get to know several crucial women in history who paved the way for modern science, politics, and health care. Some important women that your students will learn about include Amelia Erhart, Harriet Tubman, Florence Nightingale, Annie Oakley, and more! Each performance will bring fantastic costumes, powerful storytelling, and insights into how women have influenced our modern lives.

Thomas Edison

Watch as students become more curious learners as they experience Edison’s childhood curiosity, fascinating inventions, and inspirational performance. Students will see live demonstrations of Edison’s inventions during this program. There is also a hands-on workshop available as part of this program if requested. 

Abraham Lincoln

Students will travel on an “educational odyssey” as Abraham Lincoln “himself” tells the story of his life from early childhood to his final days. This program is geared toward students of all ages to teach them about the 16th president and the Emancipation Proclamation, and you may catch a few laughs and tears in the audience in this emotional program along the way.

Information about all of Mobile Ed’s historical programs can be found here.

Have questions? 

Contact our team on our website