*Really* creative history teaching

About this episode

This episode explores innovative and engaging strategies for teaching history in the classroom.

Want to try creative history lessons that students won’t forget? Hear expert teachers bring history alive in the classroom. From 'Top Secret' source investigations and historical group chats, to escape rooms, courtroom trials, video games, and history festivals. Ideas that spark curiosity, deepen thinking, and get students genuinely engaged. If you haven’t listened to Creative History Teaching , start there first. Then dive into this episode for more ambitious, high-impact ideas you can adapt for your own classroom. Resources and tipsheet First Fleet Database : University of Wollongong Convicts research guide National Library of Australia Epic Escape Rooms ebook by Chad Cary Chad Cary’s Instagram: Innovative and Engaging Teaching Strategies Chad Cary’s Facebook group: Innovative and Engaging Teaching Strategies Teaching the World Peace Game by John Hunter: TED Talk Ben Lawless’ board game for grade 6+ Earthcraft Free professional development tipsheet for this episode (in Teacher Downloads ) Voices Educators: Ben Lawless (Victoria), Chad Cary (New South Wales), David Boon (Tasmania), Paul Foley (South Australia), Natalie Fong (Queensland), and Sarah Coleman (Queensland). Host…

People in this episode

Hosts: Professor Anna Clark, Sarah Coleman

Topics covered

• creative history teaching
• engagement strategies
• classroom activities
• educational resources
• history lessons
• student engagement

Keywords

• history education
• creative lessons
• student engagement
• teaching strategies
• classroom activities
• history resources

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: History Teachers Association of NSW, University of Wollongong, National Library of Australia, UTS Impact Studios

Books & works: Creative History Teaching, Epic Escape Rooms, Teaching the World Peace Game

Places: Gadigal Country, Sydney Australia

More episodes of Hey History!

• Teaching The Australian Wars · April 29, 2026 · 1h 14m
• Teaching First Nations history · April 22, 2026 · 32 min
• More than facts: teaching complexity in history · April 16, 2026 · 30 min
• Teaching difficult histories · April 9, 2026 · 32 min
• Creative history teaching · March 25, 2026 · 29 min
• Advice for new history teachers · March 18, 2026 · 25 min