You have to change it up - it's not in the challenge, it's in
the presentation. Power points are very 'now' but would you
want to see one every single day??

What drew you into history? Power points? What excites you
about history? I'd say - put the textbook away for a day or
two or three. Take your next topic and just do it - no
powerpoints, no textbook.
Tell them why it's important to you -(is it?) Maybe take a
broader concept not one of the smaller details and ask this
question after briefly explaining its importance to history -
'what would happen if we took this out of history? Would
history as we know it tumble down? Is history an a chain of
events that are dependent on each other?"
(is it?)
If you Really want to get their attention, show them as an
illustration the Simpsons episode that discussed just that -
yes, the Simpsons' buffoonery sometimes had a thought
provoking message. Homer sticks a fork into the toaster, goes
back in time, sneezes and the dinasaurs drop dead one by one
and when he returns to the present, everything is different.

Is that how it would work? What is the real significance of
your next topic on the present - and on the future to come?
Don't teach the past as if it is the past - teach is as if
it's the present for it just that.

Ask your students to name one thing now that has not been
impacted by the past. If your kids are truly bright, they
won't say the future for the future is designed by the past.

But is it controlled by it? Does the past absolutely dictate
what happens next?

Think about history as a living, breathing entity rather than
a chain of dead events. At least, that's how I see it and
it's why I like, no love, history.

Why do you love history? Figure that out and tell them so but
allow them the right to disagree. They don't have to love it
but if you're truly passionate about it, they should
recognize that.
If you're not truly passionate about history, I'm not sure
why one would be teaching it. It's the great drama of the
human experience. What's their favorite book or play?
Guarantee them that history is even the more exciting and
then show them how.
Maybe without a powerpoint. I don't think you're
underchallenging' them - I think they might be a bit bored
with powerpoints. Let them do the talking - have discussions.
If they're bright, they might have very bright things to say.
> I am a first year (middle school) history teacher and I
> need much guidance! I have tried teaching the lesson in
> numerous ways. For example, I do power points for almost
> all of my lessons, I have tried story form, reading aloud,
> group readings you name it. My students however, show
> little interests in the above. In addition, we do projects
> for almost every unit. Today, one of the students
> commented "Oh no, not another power point"! Any
> suggestions? They are extremely bright, and I feel as
> though I am not challenging them enough.

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