Helping students care about history
As students navigate the challenges of middle and high school, one subject often feels less relevant than others: history. Many students may wonder why they need to study events that occurred long before their time or how it affects their daily lives. At The Juice, we aim to bring history class into the present with current events articles teachers can pair with history lessons to anchor the past in the present.
Understanding history is not just about memorizing dates and events — it’s about understanding the world we live in today. This blog explores why studying history is so important for students and how teachers can make history feel relevant, engaging, and essential for their personal growth. Learn more about anchoring history lessons to current events and help your students become more engaged in history class than ever before!
Knowing history helps students understand current events
History is the key to understanding how societies have evolved, how cultures have shaped our world, and why certain events occurred the way they did. For students, studying history helps them comprehend current events articles they read, predict future trends, and become informed citizens. Without an understanding of past events, students may struggle to understand the cultural, political, and economic dynamics that influence their daily lives.
Key benefits of studying history for students
Understanding Cultural Trends
History helps students understand how cultural movements and social changes evolve over time. It explains the roots of societal norms, traditions, and challenges, which allows students to see patterns and make connections to the world today when reading current events articles. For example, understanding the civil rights movement in the 1960s helps students contextualize discussions around racial equality, DEI initiatives, the Black Lives Matter movement, affirmative action legislation changes, and other current events issues.
Learning from Past Mistakes
Understanding history is crucial for learning from the mistakes of past generations. Wars, economic crashes, and political upheavals were all driven by decisions made in the past. Teens who study these events are better equipped to recognize potential risks as they read current events articles for students and make informed choices in the future.
Preparing for Informed Citizenship
In a democratic society, being an informed citizen is essential. Students need to understand historical texts AND current events articles to participate meaningfully in civic discourse. By learning about the structures of government, economics, and the impact of social movements, students can engage in conversations about politics and policy that will affect them.
Connecting the Past to the Present
Teaching history is not just about looking backward; it’s about making connections between past and present. For example, examining past pandemics like the Spanish Flu can give students perspective on current global health crises. Understanding past global conflicts allows them to see the global implications of today’s international relations.
Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills
History teaches students to think critically about complex issues. They learn how to analyze different perspectives, evaluate sources, and question the motivations behind decisions and actions. These skills are valuable in teaching current events history articles as well as deciphering historical documents.
“When will we ever use this???”
It’s not uncommon for students to express frustration with studying history. They may ask, “Why do we need to learn about events that happened so long ago?” or “How does this affect my life now?” The challenge for teachers is to make history feel relevant and engaging. Here are some effective ways to respond:
Relate history to current events
One of the most effective ways to make history relevant is by connecting it to current events. Students often have strong opinions about the world around them, so showing them how history shapes today’s headlines is an excellent way to capture their attention.
- How to Use: Incorporate current event articles for students into lessons that tie directly to the historical topics being studied. For instance, when teaching about the U.S. Civil War, link it to current discussions on race relations in America.
- Current Event Sites for Students: Websites like The Juice that offer news for students and current events for students are great resources for finding relevant articles for history class.
Use interactive current events in history lesson plans
Teachers can incorporate current events articles for students into their lesson plans to show how historical knowledge applies to real-world problems. For example, discussions about the history of environmental policies under Teddy Roosevelt can be tied to today’s current events for the environment or global climate change debates.
- How to Use: Use an ELA news article from The Juice to anchor discussions around a historical event to something happening today. Allow students to compare historical solutions to how we might solve a similar problem today.
Incorporate technology and digital tools
Many students today are digital natives. By using digital current event articles for high school and middle school students, teachers can make history come to life through interactive platforms. These tools allow students to access news written for kids and engage in discussions about real-world topics.
- How to Use: Encourage students to use current events sites for students like The Juice to research topics and present findings on how history impacts today’s political and social climate.
Highlight history’s impact on everyday life
Students are more likely to appreciate history if they can see how it affects their daily lives. Teachers should highlight the ways in which history shapes everything from government policies to pop culture.
- How to Use: Discuss current events for U.S. history and how modern events are often rooted in past developments. For example, analyzing the rise of social media can be connected to earlier forms of communication and political movements.
Focus on storytelling and personal narratives
Students respond well to stories. Teachers can use ELA news articles and current event articles for high school students to tell the story of historical events through the lens of personal experiences and narratives.
- How to Use: Assign readings about historical figures or events and have students create a modern-day equivalent using current events, helping them see the continuity between past and present.
Teaching history with current events: making history relevant
Connect historic events to present-day issues
One of the most engaging ways to teach history is to connect it with current events. Teachers can use current events history class articles to show how the past still influences issues like politics, economics, and social justice today.
- Example: Use current events for civics to explore the role of voting rights, civil rights, or government reform. Students can compare past struggles for equality to ongoing movements.
Native American Heritage Month Lesson Plans
Create text-to-text connections
Sharing text-to-text connections examples is a great way to deepen students’ understanding of historical events. This allows them to draw parallels between different periods in history and connect those periods to the present day.
- How to Use: Read a historical article on a topic alongside a related current events article on the same overall subject. Have students identify similarities and differences between the two.
Cross-disciplinary history lessons
STEM
History isn’t just about dates and events; it’s about understanding the intersections between politics, culture, economics, and science. Using science current events for STEM classes, teachers can show how history has influenced technological advancements, scientific discoveries, and modern-day problems.
ELA
Incorporating historical quotes into ELA lessons provides students with direct insights into the thoughts and feelings of historical figures while also improving their background knowledge. The importance of history quotes lies in their ability to make abstract events tangible, helping students connect emotionally with the people and moments that shaped our world.
The Juice’s historical quotes paired with short biographies offer a window into the values, struggles, and motivations of individuals who experienced history firsthand. For example, using Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech when teaching about writing speeches provides historical context while also talking about rhetoric. The importance of history quotes becomes evident when students engage in analyzing these words, fostering a deeper understanding of the complexities of historical events and the language historical figures used to talk about them.
Additionally, quotes provide opportunities for text analysis and vocabulary building, as students dissect their meaning and historical significance. By focusing on the importance of history quotes, educators can create richer, more engaging lessons that resonate with students.
Why studying history is crucial for students
For students, studying history provides a foundation for understanding how the world operates. It teaches critical thinking, cultural awareness, and decision-making skills that are essential for becoming informed, active citizens. By incorporating current event articles for high school and middle school students into history lessons, educators can create connections that make history feel more relevant and engaging.
By using tools like The Juice to bring news for students, ELA news articles, and current events into the classroom, teachers can create lessons that inspire students to see the value of history and its direct connection to their lives.
Incorporating these current events lessons will not only improve students’ understanding of the past but also prepare them for the future by helping them recognize the importance of being informed about the world around them.
