If children aren’t particularly interested in history, it’s not their fault. History, while potentially an exciting subject, hasn’t traditionally been treated as interesting a subject as math and reading. They are often given only a glimpse into a historical events or customs into context, so it’s no wonder children don’t often think of history as a subject that excites them and makes them know more.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. History has the power to come alive if it’s just presented to children in the right way. I was reminded of this when I took my daughter and her friend to visit Colonial Williamsburg. It’s a living museum which features hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings staffed with costumed interpreters who tell the stories of the 18th-century city.
The two 9-year-girls I was accompanying around town got to dress up in relatively authentic period clothes, ask whatever questions came to their minds, and leave behind the trapping of modern life for a day while they discovered that sheep are shorn to create cloth and printing presses have to be put together letter by letter. Thanks to a guide, they also discovered much more about the horrors of slavery than they could ever have learned from a text book.
As a writer, I have personally described Cobblestone, our American history magazine for kids 9 through 14, as a place where history comes alive. Now, I won’t claim that a magazine can make a subject come alive like Colonial Williamsburg, but having road some of the articles did a great deal to helping us gain some much needed context fro our trip. If you are planning a trip with any sort of historical aspect, from a visit to a national park to a trip to place like Colonial Williamsburg, Cobblestone could act as your personal guide to the trip.
Of course, for a complete historical view, be sure to subscribe to Cobblestone so you can get awesome history all year long. Here are some popular family trips with an historical component and a back issue that might help your family get the most out of the experience.
29. Children show little interest in history mainly because .
A. they are forced to learn such a subject
B. it’s less important than math and reading
C. the events or customs always discourage them
D. the information isn’t presented in the right way
30. Why does the author mention Cobblestone in the text?
A. To make it better known to Americans.
B. To call on more readers to subscribe to it.
C. To stress its practical use in historical trips.
D. To help people plan historical trips correctly.
31. What will be talked about in the following paragraph of the text?
A. The process of subscribing to a magazine.
B. The tips for a complete historical view.
C. The introduction of some family trips.
D. The details of a personal guide to the trip.
32. What can be the best title for the text?
A. A Magical Place
B. Living History
C. Learning History Well
D. Historical Trips