Make History Personal: How Teachers Use Historical Pen Pals to Craft the Ultimate History Lesson for Kids of All Ages

At Dear History, we’re passionate about making history an unforgettable experience for kids. We believe that history should be accessible to every child, not just because it's important for their education, but because it plays a pivotal role in their development as curious, critical thinkers. History isn’t just about memorising dates and events—it’s about connecting with the stories that shape our world, learning from the past, and inspiring the next generation to create a better future.

That’s why we’ve created Dear History—a service designed to make history come alive through the power of personal connection. With Dear History, students get to write to famous historical figures, receive personalised replies, and engage with the past in a way that’s meaningful, interactive, and exciting.

History Delivered to Your Classroom

Dear History lets children write letters to renowned historical figures—from Cleopatra to William Shakespeare, to Charles Darwin—and receive authentic, personalised replies. Each letter is crafted by AI that’s trained in the UK curriculum, ensuring that the responses are not only historically accurate but also tailored to spark curiosity and learning. The best part? These letters arrive in the post, giving kids a tangible connection to the past, which is far more exciting than a digital message on a screen.

It's not just history lessons...classes in many subjects can be enhanced using Dear History.

But Dear History isn’t just a fun, engaging activity; it’s a powerful tool for teachers to enhance history lessons and help students form a deeper understanding of the world around them. Here’s how you can incorporate Dear History into your teaching to enhance learning outcomes and make history accessible to kids from 6 to 14.

How teachers can use historical pen pals: Ages 6-9

For younger students, the goal is to introduce them to the excitement of history and help them form connections with notable figures. Here’s a simple yet engaging lesson plan:

1. Introduction to the Historical Figure:Begin by introducing a famous historical figure like Florence Nightingale or Abraham Lincoln. Use simple, fun activities like storytelling or videos to capture the children's attention and get them excited about learning.

2. Writing the Letter:Have the children think of fun and interesting questions they’d like to ask their historical pen pal, such as: “What was your favourite part of being a nurse?” or “How did you feel during the Civil War?” The aim here is to help them connect with the figure in a personal way, so the questions should be child-friendly and spark imagination.

3. Sending the Letter:The kids will then “send” their letter to the Dear History Time Machine Postbox, where it will travel back in time to their chosen historical figure. This creative concept adds an extra layer of excitement and anticipation to the process.

4. Follow-up Lesson:When the response arrives, share the personalised letter with the class. Encourage students to reflect on the content, asking questions like:

   • What surprised you about the letter?

   • What did you learn that you didn’t know before?

   • How do you think it would have felt to live in that time period?

For younger children, this lesson is about igniting curiosity and fostering a connection to history through personal interaction.

Lesson Plan for Ages 11-14: Critical Thinking and Deeper Analysis

For older students, the focus shifts towards critical thinking and understanding history from a more analytical perspective. Here’s a more in-depth approach:

1. Introduce the Historical Figure with Context:Start by introducing a more complex historical figure like Winston Churchill or Ada Lovelace. Have students conduct some preliminary research on the person, exploring their impact on history and the challenges they faced during their time.

2. Writing the Letter:Ask students to think deeply about what they would like to ask their historical figure. These could be questions that encourage reflection, such as: “How did you balance personal sacrifice with your professional commitments?” or “What role do you think innovation plays in social change?” Encourage students to ask questions that challenge their understanding and provoke thoughtful responses.

3. Sending the Letter:The letters are sent off to the Dear History Time Machine Postbox, awaiting the historical figure’s reply. The anticipation builds as students await a response that will be thoughtful, historically accurate, and full of insights.

4. Follow-up Lesson:When the replies arrive, have students critically examine the letters, focusing on the tone, content, and historical accuracy. Ask them to reflect on the figure’s perspective, and encourage a group discussion with questions like:

   • What were the key themes in the letter?

   • How does this figure’s response align with what you’ve learned about their life?

   • What do you think their response reveals about the time period they lived in?

This lesson plan for older students helps develop critical thinking and encourages students to connect with history on a deeper level, fostering a greater understanding of the complexities of the past.

Lessons based on letters from history can be a fun and engaging addition to any classroom.

Why Dear History Works for Teachers

At Dear History, we’re not just passionate about teaching history—we’re committed to making it accessible to all kids, no matter their background or ability. History is such an important part of a child’s education, and we believe that it should be taught in a way that sparks curiosity, fosters empathy, and encourages critical thinking. With Dear History, you can:

• Engage students more deeply: Instead of memorising facts, kids interact with history, asking questions, thinking critically, and forming their own opinions.

• Save time: Planning a lesson around a letter from the past is easy. Dear History gives you a rich, interactive experience that can be seamlessly integrated into your curriculum.

• Create lasting memories: When students receive a personal letter from someone like Leonardo da Vinci, they’ll remember it far longer than a traditional history lesson.

  
  

Sign Up for Early Access

We’re so excited about the impact Dear History can have on classrooms that we’re offering a free version for educators when we launch! It’s our way of ensuring that every teacher can bring history to life, regardless of budget. So, if you want to be among the first to use this incredible tool, make sure you sign up today for early access when we launch mid-2025.