There is a substantial supply of elementary-level historical fiction, biographies, and special purpose reference works related to history. Teachers should work with their school media centers and public libraries to identify the titles of books that may be used to invigorate history learning. Such books should be displayed attractively, used frequently, and discussed as a part of the regular classroom routine. Instruction about the past is aided by the sounds and images of history offered through laserdiscs, videotapes, films, and filmstrips. Although overreliance on these resources is a fault, careful selection and meaningful integration of them with ongoing history instruction can do much to enhance students' knowledge of the past.
Special experiences pump life into children's history learning.
When students are properly prepared for such special history learning experiences, the depth of understanding gained more than justifies the extra effort entailed. With younger children it is important to begin teaching about history in the familiar contexts of their families, classroom, school, and neighborhood. Make timelines of their histories and help students include funny anecdotes and juicy details that will fuel interest in their stories. As you experience success in your teaching of history, consider attending a state, regional, or national social studies conference to share your adventures, gain new resources, and learn about other teachers' experiences. Join the National Council for the Social Studies and the National Council for History Education.