Here’s a fantastic world history resource for kids who like pop music and music videos.
The Music for History Lovers channel on you-tube uses modern top 40 hit songs to teach about important people and periods in world history, from the French Revolution (set to a remix of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”) to The Crusades (set to a remix of “Eyes Without a Face” by Billy Idol).
The videos are surprisingly well done, and lyrics are printed along the bottom so students can read along.
An example of some lyrics, from The French Revolution:
Don’t want no taxes
I’m paying too much
Let them eat cake
We had a banquet for lunch
I need my bread
Bread bread bread
Off with her head
(The author notes: “Marie Antoinette never said “Let them eat cake” but it’s a Lady Gaga song, so we had to have that line!”)
With a chorus of:
La la liberte
Egalite
Fraternite
French Revolution
The You-tube channel hosts over fifty videos on a myriad of subjects, including:
- Napolean
- King Arthur
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Black Death
- Shakespeare
- Attila the Hun
- Constantine
- Mummification
- Greek Philosophers
- Mary, Queen of Scots
- Nefertiti
- King Tut
- Joan of Arc
- Chinese Dynasties…
Note: Parents may want to screen the videos before watching with their younger children. Some images may be upsetting, such as a blood spattered guillotine.
This is a wonderful way to give kids the basics about these historic people and events, and kick off more in depth studies.
You can also follow Music for History Lovers on Facebook.
