Why Study History Lesson Plan: A Back to School Activity for History Class
Quick Summary: Unlock the profound significance of studying history with our compelling lesson. From understanding human behavior to shaping a future rooted in knowledge, delve into the vital reasons history holds a key to our collective progress. This fun history lesson for middle school and high school provides crucial insights for a more enlightened society.
WHY STUDY HISTORY? MAKING THE PAST RELEVANT FOR TODAY
Why study history? Beyond dates and events, this lesson unravels the powerful reasons behind delving into the past. As the American Historical Association points out in their foundational guides, history provides crucial insights into human nature, informs our daily decision-making, and shapes a society's trajectory. Join us on a journey that goes beyond textbooks, highlighting the invaluable lessons history imparts for a more informed and enlightened future.
Do you remember your middle school or high school history classes? What memories come to mind? Maybe excitement, stories of adventure, or maybe just day-dreaming as you were zoning off into your own little world! When I was in class, I remember thinking and asking myself:
"Why do we study history anyway?"
"When am I ever going to use this stuff in life?"
"Isn't history about a bunch of old, dead people and things that have already happened?"
“This was an excellent way to start the school year. The activities encouraged meaningful discussion, helped build classroom culture, and got students engaged from day one. Everything was well organized, easy to implement, and required very little preparation. A thoughtful, high-quality resource that I will continue to use each year.”
WHY ASK WHY? STUDENTS WANT TO KNOW WHY
Asking why is a vital part of learning and is actually a great question to ask! The question of why should not be dismissed, but instead, it should be explored. Developing historical thinking skills requires an inquisitive mind that asks why, and students who ask why are the students that truly want to learn.
Start the first day of school, or the first lesson of any history unit, with "WHY" because students always want to know why?
Right from the beginning of any unit, I like to start with why. I have found that the "WHY" must be answered before the "WHAT." When students know why, then learning can begin. If there is no why, then it seems like a waste of time to students.
So with this question of why in mind, I have developed and tweaked this back-to-school lesson for my classroom. This is a completely no-prep history lesson plan that includes both printable worksheets and digital Google Drive formats.
I begin the first day of any history class going through this classroom discussion to convince my students that history is truly important to their lives. This format has proven to be beneficial, and if you don't already have a resource like this, I encourage you to give it a try.
A FUN HISTORY LESSON FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL
This back to school activity is a must-have for any history or social studies class studying the importance of history. Teachers often ask for fun history lessons for middle school and high school, and this fits the bill perfectly. I typically use this for a first day of school, or the first day of any history lesson! I hope this resource helps your students as much as it has helped mine, and gets them excited about learning history!
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THIS WHY DO WE STUDY HISTORY LESSON PLAN?
A full set of notes to lead the discussion in a Google Slides format.
A note to the teacher that helps explain why history is so important.
Lesson ideas to incorporate before and after the presentation.
6 reasons as to "Why we study history?" to present to students (including learning from past mistakes and foreseeing future events based on historical patterns).
A link to an inspirational 4 minute video about history's influence.
Numerous discussion notes and evidences for each of the 6 points to help the teacher lead the large group discussion and/or lecture without having to do your own research.
A why study history worksheet PDF featuring a post-reflection writing activity and a simple quiz template to assess students on the 6 reasons why.
All resources are accessible in GOOGLE Drive format.
GOOGLE Drive version is completely editable if you'd like to change or add additional reasons as to why history is important.
This is ready to go with "NO PREP" and no research needed. Woohoo!
A FEW MORE DETAILS
This resource can be used at the start of any history related class - not just back-to-school! It covers the importance of knowing and studying history. It is meant to help students see the practical value in history. There is no specific era or time period represented. I use this lesson to introduce all of my history classes, and I have taught a variety of history courses including U.S. History, Western Civilization, and Ancient World History. Enjoy helping your students see the value in studying history with this practical, yet engaging resource!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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A "Why Study History" lesson plan is an introductory activity designed to show students the real-world value of studying the past.
It answers the common student question, "Why do we have to learn this?" before diving into historical content.
Perfect for a back-to-school activity or the first day of any history class!
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Yes! This fun history lesson is perfectly suited for middle school and high school students, featuring a presentation, guided notes, and a reflection worksheet.
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This lesson covers 6 main reasons to present to your students. A few of these include learning from past mistakes, understanding human behavior, and being able to foresee future events based on historical patterns.
READY TO ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS? GET THE COMPLETE LESSON
Kick off the school year with the ultimate first-day breakthrough!
Every social studies teacher faces the exact same questions during week one: “Why do we have to study this stuff anyway?” “Isn't history just memorizing a bunch of old dead people?” “When am I ever going to use this in real life?”
Instead of dismissing these questions, address them head-on! The “WHY” must always be answered before the “WHAT.” When students know why their education matters, real learning can begin.
With this fully editable Why Study History Introduction Lesson, you will lead your class through a high-energy, zero-prep digital discussion designed to convince students that history is practical, alive, and essential for their futures. Tested and proven across middle school and high school classrooms, this mini-lesson establishes positive student engagement, sparks deep critical thinking, and sets an intentional culture for the rest of your school year.
🌟 What's Included inside This Digital Resource?
Complete Google Slides Presentation: A beautifully organized digital slide deck covering 6 Powerful Reasons to Study History (such as learning from past mistakes and foreseeing future events).
Teacher Evidences & Discussion Guide: Detailed talking points and historical examples mapped out for each of the 6 reasons, giving you the power to lead a vibrant large-group lecture with zero outside research required.
Inspirational 4-Minute Video Link: A hand-selected, highly engaging video clip embedded directly into the lesson to reinforce history's deep cultural influence.
Post-Reflection Writing Prompt & Assessment Quiz: A built-in writing template and quick quiz structure to evaluate student understanding of the core concepts.
100% Editable Google Drive Formats: Perfect for 1:1 digital classrooms or traditional paper printouts. Easily tweak, delete, or add your own custom reasons to match your curriculum!
🛠️ Perfect For Multiple Classroom Settings:
🏫 First Day of School / Week One Icebreaker: Establish your classroom expectations, eliminate behavioral issues, and capture immediate student buy-in before diving into your core curriculum.
🧠 Intro to a New History Era: Use this mini-lesson mid-year as a quick, refreshing anchor whenever you transition into a brand new historical time period.
📝 Secondary Source & Diagnostic Writing: Use the included reflection prompt as a robust diagnostic writing sample to gauge student writing capabilities during the first week of class.
🍎 Zero-Prep Substitute Lesson Plans: Highly structured and completely self-contained, making it a stress-free backup plan for your substitute binder.
"This resource is excellent. The layout and design is professional quality, as well as pedagogically sound. I used components during the first week of school to engage my World History students and build interest in the class. There was a visible, positive student response and visible engagement -- which means I had zero behavioral issues as a result. Can you give any higher praise than that?" - Ronald ★★★★★!
⭐️ Read more about this resource on my blog post
⭐️ Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers
⭐️ Have fun with these fashionable history t-shirts, stickers, & more
Thank You!
Thanks so much for stopping by. It's great to meet you! I hope this resource adds value to your classroom. I would also love to see how you've incorporated this product into your classroom. Feel free to post a photo of this resource in action and tag @misterharms so I can meet you!
Want More?
Start your school year off right and skip the late-night planning. If you want to convince your students why they should care about history without doing hours of research, this resource has everything put together for you.
Grab the completeWhy Study History Lesson Plan in the Mister Harms store today and get your students engaged from day one!
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
What other helpful things have you done at the beginning of the school year to hook your students and get them excited about History? I'd love to hear from you! Let me know in the comments below or contact Mister Harms directly.
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"If at first you don’t succeed, remember what you learned from your HISTORY TEACHER!”
A favorite among history teachers, this fun history t-shirt is perfect for any history teacher! Remind your students the importance of studying history with this epic message and fashionable look!
⭐️ This shirt goes well with the Why Study History lesson from Mister Harms!
This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for both men and women.
Premium Shirt Details
Bella + Canvas 3001
100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
Ash color is 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
Heather colors are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester
Athletic and Black Heather are 90% combed and ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester
Heather Prism colors are 99% combed and ring-spun cotton, 1% polyester
Fabric weight: 4.2 oz (142 g/m2)
Pre-shrunk fabric
Side-seamed construction
Shoulder-to-shoulder taping