Relevant History: Using Historical Fiction to Make History Engaging

This project sought to research effective ways in which secondary school teachers can use historical fiction in a history setting in order to better engage their students. Works of historical fiction were found to be a useful tool for engagement and relevance to the class, as long as they are used in the proper context, with special attention given to reading strategies, accuracy of information within the texts, and the allowance of student choice throughout the class. The curriculum itself gives a pattern, or template, that teachers can use to fit their classroom needs. Students rotate between reading historical fiction, discussing the text while unpacking the historical context, and learning about the time period or event mentioned in the text. It is my hope that this project will be useful for the academic work of educators in expanding student interest in history class