What is the best way to promote retention of information presented in a history lesson?

Question

I am an English teacher, but occasionally I have to teach history to my classes as a way to provide background for the literature they read. My students usually have trouble remembering this information. Answers from other teachers are preferred.

I teach British literature.

Answer 1

Make them deal with the topic in an out-of-the-box way.

Keep a class timeline of the events that you study.  Have them give a report in character.  Have them write an essay from the viewpoint of one of the people involved, or as a bystander.  Have them debate some issue (slavery, child labor, orphanages, the changing monarchy, whatever) as people who were actually there.  Allow them to format a bulletin board in your room (remind them to keep it appropriate) regarding what they're learning.  

Some of these ideas might not work for your situation, but they might spark something that will.  I have to teach history as part of my Latin classes, and I've found things like this, as well as interactive visuals (anything from your drawings on the whiteboard to a PowerPoint) help them to catch on to and retain the information.

Also, be enthusiastic about it.  Show them how history is not just events, it's people, and social orders, and change.  Show them how it really does relate to why things are the way they are today.

Unfortunately, history classes have to cram in so much information that they become dry and many students never gain a love for it, which is really too bad.  Your enthusiasm, as well as unusual application assignments, should help them really "get" it.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Giving daily quizzes really targets retention of memory - students try to read and understand so much material because they do not know what will be on the quiz...it just self motivates them to make up their own notes, highlight key terms and make up their own acronyms for material that they are studying...this may sound like memorization but I do it in my graduate courses and it really works!!

Answer 3

Are you familiar with Glaser's control theory?

Take them to the Library and give each kid a topic to research.  Something short and tell them that tomorrow they have to present the information in class ( no more than 5 minute talk).  

Giving kids control over their learning makes them resposible for others remembering it as well.  They can present it by poster, rap, or short powerpoint.

Gail