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Games for High School History

As you try and teach your high school students the most important aspects of history, you may find that they start to lose interest in the topic at hand. To avoid this lapse in your students' concentration, try giving them a reason to enjoy history by playing some entertaining high school history games.

Historical Figures
- Prior to the game, think of several historical figures related to the time period you're covering in class. For instance, if you want to cover the Roman empire, figures like Caligula, Augustus and Alexander the Great work well. Write each figure's name on a separate index card. Tape one card to every player's forehead, making sure the person does not see the name written on it. Tell the students to start mingling with each other and asking each other yes or no questions to figure out the person written on their respective cards. The game ends when everyone finds out their historical figures.
Pictures from History
- On small slips of paper, write down the names of important events that correspond to the history lesson. After you've given the lesson, have each of the students select a piece of paper from the bowl, and then hand out some drawing supplies. The students have to draw their interpretation of the event as they remember it from your lecture without including any words in their drawing. Give everyone about five minutes to draw their pictures. Then, tell them to hand their drawing to a nearby person. Everyone writes on the back of the picture they received their guess as to what event it depicts. The game ends when everyone has wagered a guess. See which people accurately depicted their events and which people guessed correctly.
History Timeline
- Prepare for the game by writing down names of events on separate pieces of paper that occurred during a certain time period. For instance, if you're currently teaching your students about the American Revolution, write down the names of the different battles between the British and the 13 Colonies. Hand each student an event. The players all have to line up according to the chronology of the events each of them received, but they have to do it without speaking. Check the students' line up once they believe they have assembled themselves in the right order. Make them try again as many times as it takes for them to order themselves correctly.

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