You’ve been asking how to use our thoughtful methodology—reading, writing, Big Juicy Conversations, and thinking critically—to teach your kids history.

Ready, set, GO!

In most traditional history classrooms, students memorize a pre-packaged set of dates, facts, and stories. The actual work of the historian is rarely explored.

We’re flipping history on its head and letting YOUR teens take on the role of historian. 

This is higher-order thinking at its best!

Class Overview

Made With You in Mind

A laboratory is a space where new ideas are always taking shape! In this inquiry-based history lab, your teen will conduct experiments, do research, investigate historical events, and communicate their analysis. 

Historians examine and analyze evidence to present an interpretation of past events. It’s a provocative and thought-provoking role that most of us never get to witness because we only see the end result. 

We want students to engage with the past and emulate the process historians use to think critically and interpret history.

Teens consider

  • How historical accounts can show different or contradictory perspectives
  • Why knowing the creator of any text or image matters
  • The interrelatedness of events—when it matters, when it doesn’t
  • The difference between chronology vs. causality
  • Why a certain version of history might not hold water today
  • How to account for bias (and is bias a bad thing?)

Students will apply their newfound historical thinking skills to dive into a topic of their choosing. They’ll set up their own History Lab with:

  • An effective question to guide historical inquiry
  • A variety of sources to interrogate
  • Insights into the nuances of text, context, and subtext
  • An interpretation based on evidence

This class has bang for its buck! 

Repeat steps learned in class at home with new historical explorations as their focus. Students can continue to practice the skills of historical thinking with any historical event they choose.

Week by Week

Week One

Gaining Perspective. Students begin the study of historical thinking with their own personal history. The focus this week: noticing the varying perspectives brought to any historical event. 

Week Two

What's at Stake? Questioning sources requires students to engage in critical thinking as they determine the biases both participants and historians interpreting past events bring to any text. 

Week Three

When a Line Isn't Straight. Students choose a topic and activity to consider the essential skill of chronological reasoning. How do events impact each other across time? 

Week Four

History Lab. Our culminating project. Students bring their new historical thinking skills to bear as they set up an investigation of a history topic of their choosing. 

Registration Details

Join Us!

Tuition:
$239 per student
Recommended Ages:

13 - 18

Class Size:
25 students
Class Length:
4 weeks
Class Type:
  • High School

Select from the available class dates below to register for that session:

–
Hanne Bjornstad   Register

Word on the Street

[This class] helps to teach you how to dig deeper into history and the meanings behind the words and images available to you to find what is trying to be said and claimed by the author, and what the facts actually may be. 

Dalia, 17

I will never look at historical documents the same way. There is so much more to them than meets the eye.

Hanna, 18

Writing history essays or theses is a daunting task, but now I feel I have a step by step guide and these steps are manageable and make sense. This class is exactly what I needed to not feel overwhelmed by history writing. Thank you!

Sameera, 15

I learned that history and writing can go together like bread and butter. History has been documented and recorded through writing for a long time, and learning the ins and outs of historical writing helped me appreciate it even more. 

Joaquin, 15

More Information

Sample class login

Want to see how our classroom works? Test drive a sample class complete with real class readings, assignments, and instructor comments!

Follow these instructions:

  1. Navigate to class.bravewriter.com. If you are a current student, you’ll need to log out in the upper right corner before proceeding.
  2. Log in using these credentials:
    Username: [email protected]
    Password: Brave1
  3. Next, you will land on our Family Dashboard. You'll find a Parent icon and a Student icon to represent classes where the parent or the student is the primary participant. Click on Parent to view parent participation classes. To find classes with direct student-instructor interaction, click on Student.
  4. Click on the class name of interest and start reading posts!
How Our Classes Work Download a class summary
Other options in High School Writing
Other options in High School
Nature Journaling

Nature Journaling

Ages 9 - 18

Early Elementary Family High School Middle School Upper Elementary