The burden on a history teacher is enormous, although many do not recognise it. At primary school, one is virtually teaching culture, ethics, reality, giving the pupils their identity.
Badly taught history is worse than complete ignorance. The children might grow up thinking their country is the only one which…and all other nations are inferior. Often, in the Third World, the history is that of the previous colonial power so the views are almost anti the nationality of the students.
To teach history correctly one needs to bring in the World. Exactly what was happening in the world at the time your country was moving from point A to point B.
I will use American History for this example because it is just over 500 years long, but this template works with nations which have far longer histories.
Break your term into years; hence if there are 38 teaching weeks in your term, (removing various holidays and breaks and pauses for revision and exam preparation) devote a week of classes to the World at 1400, the World at 1500 and on and on to the World at 2000.
In this way, the student will get an understanding that their country is not the only one in the world.
Make sure to bring each student ‘into’ the lesson. The effect of the Moors being driven out of Spain on the Jews and their participation in settlement of the New World. The post-slavery situation in South America and the Caribbean which brought many East Asians to the Western Hemisphere.
African history is not just slavery or a touch on a few Empires, North Africa is part of Africa, and the power of North African Corsairs must be emphasised.
The world at 1800 would bring in the African Corsairs, the new American Republic in the Tripolitan war, going to the War of 1812 when the British offered freedom to all American slaves who joined their cause, moving to Napoleon’s conquest of Algeria.
The history teacher has to know the ‘episodes’ as well as those on a soap opera. Just as the students may watch a particular program from week to week and be able to retain that ‘history’, the teacher must be able to instill that ‘story arc’ in each episode of history so that the students can remember and understand.
Children taught history with a world view, who are exposed to many different ideas will often pursue little bits of facts and increase their knowledge.
Using good historical movies is an excellent teaching aid, for it helps the child to remember and understand, and gives a basis for the teacher to expand on a scene.
As I said, the burden on history teachers is enormous.