The One Teaching Strategy You Need to Master to Make Ancient History Easy to Teach
Are you hitting a wall when it comes to teaching ancient history?
Do your students’ eyes glaze over the moment you mention Mesopotamia?
Do you feel like you’re winging it because, let’s be honest, you never really learned this stuff either?
It’s not your fault—most sixth-grade teachers are thrown into ancient history without much background knowledge, a textbook that’s older than their students, and no real plan for making it all stick.
But don’t panic. You just need one simple teaching strategy that will make ancient history structured, easy to teach, and (dare I say) enjoyable.
Grab your emotional support coffee, my fellow teacher friend, and let’s dive in.
Do your students’ eyes glaze over the moment you mention Mesopotamia?
Do you feel like you’re winging it because, let’s be honest, you never really learned this stuff either?
It’s not your fault—most sixth-grade teachers are thrown into ancient history without much background knowledge, a textbook that’s older than their students, and no real plan for making it all stick.
But don’t panic. You just need one simple teaching strategy that will make ancient history structured, easy to teach, and (dare I say) enjoyable.
Grab your emotional support coffee, my fellow teacher friend, and let’s dive in.
First, What Is Teaching History with Structure?
If you’ve ever ended a history lesson feeling like your students remember exactly nothing, chances are you’re missing structure.
Teaching history with structure means breaking it down into clear, organized pieces so students can actually make sense of it. Instead of dumping a bunch of dates and names on them (which they will immediately forget), you:
Think of it like building a house. If you just start throwing bricks around, you’ll get a mess. But with a solid foundation and blueprint? Now you’ve got something sturdy.
Here’s why structure is a game-changer:
Teaching history with structure means breaking it down into clear, organized pieces so students can actually make sense of it. Instead of dumping a bunch of dates and names on them (which they will immediately forget), you:
- Teach in a logical sequence (because jumping from Hammurabi to the Great Wall of China without context is confusing).
- Use timelines as your best friend (because even we get mixed up on what happened first sometimes).
- Focus on big themes (instead of drowning in random facts).
Think of it like building a house. If you just start throwing bricks around, you’ll get a mess. But with a solid foundation and blueprint? Now you’ve got something sturdy.
Here’s why structure is a game-changer:
- Students actually remember things. When events are connected and make sense, they stick.
- You stop scrambling for what to teach next. No more last-minute Google searches five minutes before class.
- It works for ALL students. Whether they love history or think it’s just a bunch of “old people doing old things,” structure helps everyone learn.
How I Started Using Structure to Teach Ancient History
Not to brag, but I used to be you. Overwhelmed. Drowning in random resources. Unsure how to fit it all together.
Then I discovered the magic of teaching with structure, and suddenly:
✅ My lessons became way easier to plan.
✅ My students actually understood how civilizations connected.
✅ I stopped waking up at 2 AM panicking about what to teach the next day.
I realized that most teachers don’t struggle because they don’t know enough history—they struggle because they don’t have a system.
That’s why I created the Free Ancient History Planning Guide—to give teachers a step-by-step structure to follow. No more guesswork. Just a clear, simple way to teach history.
Grab it here ⬇️
Then I discovered the magic of teaching with structure, and suddenly:
✅ My lessons became way easier to plan.
✅ My students actually understood how civilizations connected.
✅ I stopped waking up at 2 AM panicking about what to teach the next day.
I realized that most teachers don’t struggle because they don’t know enough history—they struggle because they don’t have a system.
That’s why I created the Free Ancient History Planning Guide—to give teachers a step-by-step structure to follow. No more guesswork. Just a clear, simple way to teach history.
Grab it here ⬇️
5 Simple Steps to Start Teaching Ancient History with Structure
Want to make your history lessons easier starting right now? Try these:
1. Always start with a timeline. No matter what civilization you’re covering, start with when and where it happened. This gives students a mental map before you dive into details.
2. Teach civilizations in order. Jumping around between ancient Egypt, Greece, and China without a clear sequence? Recipe for confusion. Stick to chronological order whenever possible.
3. Use key themes to make connections. Government, religion, trade, inventions—these pop up in every civilization. When students see patterns, they start thinking like historians.
4. Stop overwhelming students with dates. They don’t need to memorize 753 BC (founding of Rome) unless they’re on Jeopardy. Focus on big picture events instead.
5. Get your free planning guide. Seriously. It has a step-by-step breakdown of how to organize your units, teach in sequence, and make history easier for everyone.
👉 Click here to grab it now!
1. Always start with a timeline. No matter what civilization you’re covering, start with when and where it happened. This gives students a mental map before you dive into details.
2. Teach civilizations in order. Jumping around between ancient Egypt, Greece, and China without a clear sequence? Recipe for confusion. Stick to chronological order whenever possible.
3. Use key themes to make connections. Government, religion, trade, inventions—these pop up in every civilization. When students see patterns, they start thinking like historians.
4. Stop overwhelming students with dates. They don’t need to memorize 753 BC (founding of Rome) unless they’re on Jeopardy. Focus on big picture events instead.
5. Get your free planning guide. Seriously. It has a step-by-step breakdown of how to organize your units, teach in sequence, and make history easier for everyone.
👉 Click here to grab it now!
Case Study: Meet Emily, a 6th Grade Teacher Who Used This Approach
Emily was this close to quitting. Teaching ancient history felt like an impossible task, and her students were completely lost.
Then she found my Free Ancient History Planning Guide.
She told me: “I was drowning in resources and had no idea how to put it all together. Your guide gave me an actual plan, and now my students are making connections on their own!”
Now, Emily actually enjoys teaching history (gasp!), and her students? They can tell you the difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire—without looking at their notes.
Want to be like Emily?
👉 Download the Free Ancient History Planning Guide
Then she found my Free Ancient History Planning Guide.
She told me: “I was drowning in resources and had no idea how to put it all together. Your guide gave me an actual plan, and now my students are making connections on their own!”
Now, Emily actually enjoys teaching history (gasp!), and her students? They can tell you the difference between the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire—without looking at their notes.
Want to be like Emily?
👉 Download the Free Ancient History Planning Guide
Wrapping It Up
Look, teaching ancient history doesn’t have to be a hot mess.
With the right structure, you can make it easy for you to teach and your students to learn.
And because I know you’re busy, I already did the hard part for you.
👉 Click here to grab your FREE Ancient History Planning Guide
Go forth and teach history with confidence, my friend. You’ve got this. 🎉
With the right structure, you can make it easy for you to teach and your students to learn.
And because I know you’re busy, I already did the hard part for you.
👉 Click here to grab your FREE Ancient History Planning Guide
Go forth and teach history with confidence, my friend. You’ve got this. 🎉
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Welcome! I'm Hillary Midgley, a veteran 6th grade teacher.
I create educational materials and develop curriculum for other teachers. I specialize in teaching students how to learn through my Study Skills Curriculum. I have established fundamental classroom systems and structures for teachers to help them streamline their classroom. And my passion is teaching ancient history through engaging activities with foundations in academic skills. Here you will find resources on all of these topics and more. Learn more about me here.
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