Making History Come Alive

Dramatization In The Classroom

Abstract

People of all ages Jove a story that involves heroes and villains. They particularly like to observe characters confronted with difficult choices and personal decisions over issues with relevance to their Jives. That is why biography is popular with students of all ages. It provides a personalized account of the past through the humanized perspective of a single historical figure. Even more engaging is a Jive dramatization, especially for students. It enlivens history by making the dead past come alive.¹ In presenting the life and times of people and events through dramatization, a teacher can bridge the gap in the battle between the "old" and "new" history.² We believe a teacher should emphasize both political and social history, allowing students to pose questions to historical figures addressing the full realm of historical conditions.