Advice on Making History Lessons More Engaging for Middle Schoolers?

Hello there! Retired marketing prof here from Kennesaw State. These days, I'm dipping my toes into the history teaching pond with some local middle schoolers gotta keep myself busy in retirement, right? I'm looking for any advice on making history lessons bit more engaging for this age group. So yeah, They've got more energy than my usual university students and while managed to sell supply and demand like hotcakes back at KSU, ancient civilizations seem to be tougher sell! Any teaching veterans got suggestions? Are there immersive activities or captivating resources you've found effective?

Hey there! Totally get where you're coming from history can sometimes feel bit.

Engaging middle schoolers in history lessons can be fun challenge. Have you tried incorporating interactive activities like role-playing historical figures or organizing mini-debate on key events? Adding visuals like videos or primary source documents can also spark their interest. And hey, don't forget to bring in some hands-on projects, like creating timelines or building models related to the lesson. Making history feel alive and relevant to their lives is key to keeping them hooked! What strategies have you found successful in your classroom? Share some of your go-to methods with us!