History Through Stories

Overview

Collection of stories for teaching history in primary schools with a set of follow-up activities for each topic. Stories cover commonly taught topics and are designed to be learned and retold orally by students. Each story comes with engaging and inclusive ways to link that story to history teaching, English literacy skills and other subject areas. A one stop shop for primary history teaching with stories that have been tried and tested in the classroom.

Reviews

This book focuses on History, which we won’t be covering for a while yet with The Bundles as we are taking a relaxed approach to academics until age 7. It does, however provide an ideal opportunity for me to get refreshed on all things History in order to bring it to them when we are ready! I really like the storytelling approach to teaching, I’m a big story fan and I think this approach really engages children and brings the learning to life. If you are unfamiliar with the Storytelling Schools approach, this book has the first chapter dedicated to explaining the approach and a guide on how to use the book. Each chapter in the book focuses on a different historical time/event and comes complete with a story, tips on telling the story, songs, ideas for ‘Ways to Work with the Story’ and extensive information on other areas of the curriculum that can be linked to the story. This is a fantastic new resource which I would highly recommend to other families, it’s certainly an invaluable one for the home ed bookshelf. - - https://adventureswithmonster.wordpress.com

Teachers in the 100 storytelling primary schools in England who have already wholeheartedly embraced the Storytelling Schools cross-curricular topic-based approach will rejoice at this latest volume, which this time focuses on teaching primary history. Using the tried and tested HMSS method – hear, map, step and speak – the authors have compiled 37 hand-picked stories designed to engage young learners in the exciting world of history. Their enthusiasm for encouraging children to work together and find ways to tell and retell a story, helping them use their imagination to put themselves ‘into the shoes’ of people living at a particular time in history, shines through this whole volume. Each story forms a launchpad for creative ideas throughout the curriculum, linking subject areas in surprisingly effective ways. The grace, courage and unselfishness of significant individuals whose actions changed the course of world history – Rosa Parks, Nelson Mandela and Sir Tim Berners Lee being examples – together with the stories of the likes of Boudicca, Henry VIII and Blackbeard, whose motives may have been less honourable but still reflective of their personal beliefs.Stories of life in Stone, Bronze and Iron ages showing how humans have impacted on the natural environment would be useful to Montessori teachers working with the Timeline of Man as the cross-curricular resources listed demonstrate perfectly how each subject area can be integrated and explored using the story as a creative springboard.Ancient civilisations are also well represented with stories and legends showing how legal systems, the concept of democracy and mathematical fundamentals originated, together with the Islamic legend about the invention of chess, all designed to pique the curiosity of primary students.This is history as it needs to be taught – inspiring children with stories of individuals and events to get them thinking and imagining. The only dates in this book are contained in the clear and comprehensive chart of the stories and topics in chronological order at the beginning of the book.More please. - Sue Briggs -

Author Biography

Chris Smith is a storyteller, musician, trainer and founding director of Storytelling Schools, where all children learn to be storytellers and transform their learning.Adam Guillain, BA (Hons) PGCE, is an experienced primary school teacher.Nanette Noonan is a teacher and Storytelling Schools’ trainer and mentor. “Since being introduced to storytelling, six years ago, my teaching has been transformed. I can’t imagine teaching any other way.” She is currently an assistant head teacher in Tower Hamlets, London and works regularly supporting schools that are developing the storytelling method.