Description

Hands on History – Discover the Past Through Stories That Matter

Hands on History is a four-level world history reading series developed for upper elementary to middle school students. Designed to bring global history to life, the series presents complex historical events and eras in a way that is both engaging and easy to understand.

Rather than simply listing dates and facts, the series tells the stories behind the events — highlighting the people who shaped history and the choices that led to pivotal changes around the world. Each volume focuses on a distinct period: Ancient Times, the Middle Ages, the Age of Exploration, and Modern History.

What Makes Hands on History Unique?

This series transforms what can often be a dry or difficult subject into an exciting learning experience through storytelling, visuals, and reflective thinking. Each unit opens with a background introduction to set the scene, followed by a main story that delves into the historical topic in a narrative style. Students also explore how these world events connect with their own country’s history — helping them see the global and local impact of historical change.

To deepen understanding, students complete a Journal activity at the end of each unit — a personalized writing task that encourages them to reflect, summarize, and connect with what they’ve read.

Key Features:

• Historically accurate content, reviewed and verified by a history professor from the University of Ottawa, ensuring academic integrity.
• High-quality visuals: Paintings, illustrations, and photographs that stimulate imagination and help explain abstract or complex ideas.
• Graphic organizers: Included in each unit to support comprehension and help students organize key ideas clearly and effectively.
• Interactive vocabulary practice: Fun word puzzles and activities designed to build vocabulary naturally as students read.
• Global perspective: Explains major world events and then links them to local historical contexts, helping students make meaningful connections.
• Reflective journaling: Encourages critical thinking and emotional engagement with history.

Unit Structure at a Glance:

1. Topic Introduction
   Sets the historical context with clear explanations and images to engage prior knowledge.
2. Main Text
   Tells a compelling story based on a real event or figure in history. Written in student-friendly language, it brings history to life through character-driven narratives.
3. Global Connection
   Describes how the event influenced different parts of the world, including ties to the student’s own country or region.
4. Journal Section
   Offers writing prompts suited to different levels to help learners process what they’ve read, express their thoughts, and explore personal responses to history.
5. Supportive Activities
   Vocabulary puzzles, discussion questions, and comprehension tasks reinforce learning and make each unit more interactive.

Hands on History is more than a history book — it’s a window into the past through the lens of storytelling, allowing students to not only learn what happened, but understand why it matters. By focusing on real people, events, and connections to the present day, it gives students the tools to think historically and engage meaningfully with the world around them.

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