Helping kids find the treasures in history

This year marks the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War. That fact invokes a yawn from most people, especially children. It can be difficult to get kids interested in history. There are students who pass all the requirements for high school graduation exams and fail history. But you can build your child’s knowledge, and her interest, as she grows.

A great way to get kids interested in history is to teach them what life was like in the past. Can Have Grandma tell them about her childhood. Is some relative creating a family tree? There will be a wealth of information to tell your child. Did you have an ancestor who fought in the Civil War? Look up his military unit and read about the battles he fought in. When your child studies about the Civil War, she will have a personal connection.

Don’t neglect local history events. There are several in the fall, such as The Pine Hills Lantern Tour in Auburn on October 8 and 9. Volunteers guide visitors by lantern light through the cemetery, stopping at graves of early Auburn notables. One interesting Civil War connection is the grave of General James Henry Lane, whose men accidentally shot and killed the famous Confederate commander, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson. Only General Robert E. Lee, for whom our county is named, was better known. If you enjoy this cemetery tour, make sure you attend the one at Rosemere Cemetery in Opelika the fall of 2012. These two events are held on alternating years.

Did you know Alabama was once on the frontier? Your child can learn a lot about Alabama’s early history by attending Alabama Frontier Days November 2 through 6 in Wetumpka. Make sure you plan a picnic lunch at Fort Toulouse, a reconstructed French trading fort in Wetumpka. Walk down to where the Coosa and Tallapoosa rivers come together to form the Alabama River, one of my favorite geographical spots in the area. This was a very important trading route in the 1700s when rivers were the interstates of their day. At Alabama Frontier Days,  your child can interact with Native American and French Colonial re-enactors.

On November 10-13, the Battle For the Armory takes place. This includes special tours of the Confederate Armory  on Friday.  During this event, Civil War re-enactors portray life in the 1860s. In an age where we use Kindles and Nooks it is hard for children to visualize a world without electricity, one in which having a book was a luxury for common people.

With these experiences your child will have concrete examples to help her understand life long ago. When her teacher talks about history, it will be more than words to her, it will be a living thing.

by Janeane Barrett