When one fifth grader was given a writing assignment for history, he spent some time thinking outside the box. Who could he write about that no one else in his class would think of? Then the Tuttle Twins books came to mind. What about Frederic Bastiat? Talk about an unsung hero of history! The fifth grader excitedly sought and received his teacher’s approval — even though she had never heard of Bastiat! As he penned his living history report, Bastiat came alive on the page. This was one history — and writing — lesson he would never forget.
PHOTO: Tuttle Twins
Why History and Writing Go Together
History presents an excellent lens for teaching writing because you’re rolling two important subjects into one. When you intertwine these two subjects, you transform history from a list of events and dates that must be memorized into a living, breathing entity. Writing also pushes kids to process complicated events from the past, and having them delve into the context of history provides a plethora of topics for research, debate, and analysis.
Writing about Frederic Bastiat, whose essay “The Law” was the basis for the book The Tuttle Twins Learn About the Law from the Tuttle Twins series, helps with teaching kids free market economics. There are also several other Tuttle Twins books about freedom for kids.
The Tuttle Twins history books also present a wide array of potential topics if you want to wrap history lessons in writing. The Tuttle Twins history books tell the story of the past in narrative format, engaging kids and keeping them learning about the context of history instead of just memorizing facts.
When reading the Tuttle Twins history books, kids don’t just learn what happened. They also learn why things happened the way they did and receive the opportunity to think critically about what could have been done differently to bring about better outcomes for all.
History Assignments that Also Teach Writing
Here are some ideas for history assignments that also teach writing.
· Time Traveler’s Blog – Send your child back through time by pretending they are a time traveler visiting another time in history. Have them keep a diary, keeping in mind that they want to post those entries on a blog when they return to the modern day.
· Investigative Journalist’s Expose – Have your child investigate an event from the past, diving into the mysteries and questions left in the wake of what happened. Then they can write an article about what they discovered.
· Living History Report – Your child will research an unsung hero of history like Bastiat and then write a first-person monologue from the point of view of the person. If they like role-playing, you can even encourage them to dress up and deliver this monologue to you and the family. Role playing always creates unique family moments your kids will remember forever!
With America 250 still fresh on the minds of Americans, this is the perfect time to teach writing through the lens of history. Kids’ books about freedom like the Tuttle Twins series that help with teaching kids free market economics and individual rights provide the platform for diving into the past!
