There is a delicate but necessary balance between updating students on current history and stressing them out. Students, while ready and even eager to learn, can become overwhelmed with current events of today that are stressful, scary, or fear-inducing. While learning about history can be sad or scary, students engage with historical events with a sense of finality. History, though scary, is in the past. Learning about current events provides a new and fearful insight on the world as the events have no resolution. The outcome is unknown. This can create an anxiety in our students that we should avoid if possible.
Though teaching current happenings in history can be anxiety-inducing, we should not shy away from teaching them. Instead, we must find an appropriate way to teach current events without overwhelming students. This can be done with empathy and understanding that empowers students rather than incites fear. We can also go about this in different ways to where students learn what they learn to learn at their academic and emotional level. Follow these tips to teach current events appropriately.
Tips for Teaching Current Events
Teach the Geography
With recent changes in standards, students are lacking in their basic geography knowledge. Teach the events through a geographical lens, which can actually help to calm students’ anxiety, as it places physical distance between the student and the event.
Teach with Biographies
Instead of laying out the day to day occurrences that can be frightful, let students investigate the key players in those events. Use biographical inquiry lessons or practice basic compare and contrast skills as students investigate current leaders and those from the past.
Teach with Historic Events
If we learn anything from history, we learn that history repeats itself. Teach comparable events from the past where you can show your students how they end and how the world was able to recover and continue. Show students that an end is in sight.
Whether you are teaching about current wars (such as the invasion of Ukraine), immigration issues, or racism that is alive and well in America (and around the world), you can use these strategies to help students be aware while not being afraid. Empower students with knowledge instead of inciting fear. By using these methods, students can learn objectively and without stress.
Peaceful Teaching,
