History: Mysteries & Unusual Stories
Unusual tales and mysteries from nearby and far-off lands, exploring the unknown, unsolved, and sometimes very strange or scary happenings. These classes involve discussion, interaction, creativity, and critical thinking throughout.
Academy of Wonder: History FNAF Gaming Film Coding
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(975)
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Imagine campfire-style stories with rich historic details, tension builders, and suspense. Truth can indeed be stranger and spookier than fiction. Please note: This class can often be scary and is not suitable for all students. Check the classroom and this page for week-by-week class information. Class Experience Each week, we will discuss a mystery or interesting story from history. Some stories may be creepy, while others are simply unusual. Students will be encouraged to think critically about what happened and, when applicable, infer what might happen next. Example Mystery: Why were two lost children found wandering, speaking a different language than the locals, and, more surprisingly, why were the children green? We will use pictures, watch video clips, examine evidence, and discuss various theories. Please read the Parental Guidance section below for more information on the content of this class. I dedicate 10-16 hours each week to researching and preparing for this class. Weekly Topics Each week, we will explore a new topic. This class is not a good fit for all students. We will cover scary stories, review events, and discuss historical periods where murder and death occurred (history is filled with such events). Scare Factor Green: Little or no scare for most students. Yellow: Moderate scare; some students may be more frightened or upset than others. Red: Naturally scary or upsetting topic with most students experiencing feelings of suspense and fear. If the range is Green-Red, it means that all students react differently to topics. Some will have no negative reaction, while others may be more upset. If you are unsure about the content, feel free to message me or perform a quick Google search of the topic to get an indication of what to expect. Class Layout My classes are talkative and interactive, thriving on student engagement. The class includes: Sharing time Theories and discussions Videos More theories and discussions Some sections are very happy and chatty, while others are more serious. If one section is not a good fit, let me know, and I will transfer you to one that better matches your student's learning style. As always, if a student or parent is uncomfortable with a topic, you may skip that week for a full refund, provided you notify me in advance. If I find a topic too inappropriate during my research, I may change the subject for that week. I will message parents if this happens. Fall 2024-Spring 2025 October 14 - October 20 The Tootsie Roll Men Green October 21 - October 27 The Hindenburg Crash Green October 28 - November 3 Haunted Dolls Red November 4 - November 10 The Catacombs of Paris, France Red November 11 - November 17 Dumb Ways to Die: Death by Potato November 18 - November 24 The Battle of Los Angeles Yellow-Red November 25 - December 1 Unusual Places around the World Green December 2 - December 8 The Great Fire of London Green December 9 - December 15 The Vanishing Village of Anjikuni Lake Green-Yellow December 16 - December 22 Christmas and Winter Traditions around the Globe Green December 23 - January 5 NO CLASSES January 6 - January 12 Creepy Places Around the Globe Yellow-Red January 13 - January 19 The Nazca Lines and Crop Circles Green January 20 - January 26 The Bridgewater Triangle Yellow January 27 - February 2 King Ludwig II of Bavaria Green February 3 - February 9 The Hinterkaifeck Murders Yellow-Red February 10 - February 16 Emperor Norton I of the United States Green February 17 - February 23 Culper Spy Ring Green February 24 - March 2 The Old Vicarage, Sweden Yellow-Red March 3 - March 9 The Toxic Woman Green-Yellow March 10 - March 16 The Missing Declaration of Independence Green March 17 - March 23 The Battle of Castle Itter Green-yellow March 24 - March 30 Who Killed JFK? Yellow March 31 - April 6 Major Henry Rathbone’s Curse Yellow-Red April 7 - April 13 The Ghost Ship of Kilmore Quay Yellow-Red April 14 - April 20 The Green Mountain Boys’ Hidden Treasure: Green April 21 - April 27 The 47 Ronin Incident Green-Yellow April 28 - May 4 Mermaid Myths and Mysteries Green-Red May 5 - May 11 The Cicada 3301 Puzzles Green May 12 - May 18 The Ghost Blimp Yellow May 19 - May 25 The Dybbuk Box and other “Cursed” objects Yellow-Red May 26 - June 1 The Princes in the Tower Green-Yellow June 2 - June 8 The Circleville Letters Yellow-Red June 9 - June 15 GAME DAY Last Day of Classes. Classes will resume in September. There are some summer camps available. If I research a topic and realize it is TOO scary or does not have enough material for a full class I may change class topics. I will post this in the classroom. You can opt into and out of this class at any time.
Learning Goals
Students will try to solve some of histories biggest mysteries all while learning about different time periods, customs, and places.Connection with Peers: This class fosters a sense of community among students with similar interests, providing a supportive environment for sharing thoughts and ideas.
Other Details
Learning Needs
This class is designed for students who have ADHD, ASD, and other learning difficulties. All content is presented verbally and with pictures or videos to reinforce learning as well as conversation. There is no homework or writing.
Parental Guidance
Some topics may be sensitive, for instance since these stories are about historical mysteries most of the people featured have died, sometimes violently, mysteriously, or with lots of gore. Some stories are simple mysteries, while others are outright spooky or scary. This class has been described as "Edgy." We use a lot of humor in classes to keep things fun when possible.
This class is a good fit for thrill seekers or kids who want history classes that tell a story and have an adventure feel to them.
Students who don't like a lot of talking or interaction will not enjoy this class. Students who are shy may struggle. This class is very talkative, interactive, silly, and students connect with each other. We also watch a lot of videos that have been edited and selected carefully for the topic. We begin each class with sharing.
If you let me know in advance (by at least a day) that your child will not be attending due to the scare factor I will refund your cost that week. You can check a class rating in the description section of the page.
I will post a Green for Not scary for most learners with the topic, Yellow for moderate scare, and Red for Super Scary or more sensitive topic. Of course, some individuals find things more or less scary than others do so this is just a guideline. You know your child best.
I will discuss murder as needed or deaths if they are pertinent to the lesson or an integral part of the topic. For instance, you can't discuss the deaths of the Romanov family without discussing their execution. It is hard to teach a class about war without talk of fighting, violence, and death.
I also know that this is not a class for every student, I have a lot of fun and whimsical classes, and I suspect there are many of those classes to find. This class is specifically designed with thrill seeking history fans in mind. This class is for them! There may be sensitive issues in class including: Religion, marginalized groups, slavery, and other historically accurate issues.
I used to have this class starting at 7 years old but it became apparent pretty quickly that not all 7 year olds were a good match for the class so I changed it. Some kids will not be scared at all by a red level class and others may be horrified by what I thought was a green level class. This is very subjective. Every week I will post the following week's topic so you can make educated decisions about whether you think the content might be too scary for your child. I trust parents to know their children the best and judge for themselves. So if you believe this is a good fit for your child but they are outside the age range you may enroll them.. If it ends up not being a good fit you can unenroll at any time. You also can opt to "skip" a week that will not be a good fit and I can just refund you.
#history #academic
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined March, 2020
4.9
975reviews
Popular
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 teachers have a Graduate degree
Master's Degree in Education from University of Phoenix
Master's Degree in Education from Moreland University
Les Pauling: I love helping students learn how to connect with one another and live their best lives.
I have lived an adventurous life. I love to kayak, scuba dive, wreck dive, white water raft, and really do anything that just brings joy and fun into life. I balloon twist as a side gig, moonlight at festivals as "The Bad Advice Fairy," and generally think I'm funny.
I am a counselor by trade with a Master's Degree in Community Counseling and High School Guidance counseling and a bachelor's in psychology. I got my initial training as a guidance counselor and then went into 1:1 therapeutic work in schools and homes. I also have over a decade working with youth who have intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Some things I love to do are teach students logical thinking, decision making, goal setting, and life skills.
Kristi Myers:
Above all, I am a mom. I absolutely love my daughter, who is a musician, writer and artist. It has been my greatest joy to raise her and educate her. I have always loved working with kids, and I am the "cool aunt" in my family. I have tutored college students for 12 years across many subjects, and I am used to learning new material quickly and finding creative ways to teach it to students of all ages. Kids bring me immense joy, and watching them learn and have fun is the greatest feeling. I teach intuitively and meet students where they are. I am guided by the training I received in graduate school. I have a Master of Arts in Education with an additional 15 graduate credits in child and adolescent development. In my free time, I am a musician and artist and aspiring writer. I love to spend hours online learning random things, just for fun. I also love my cats.
Elizabeth Sanchez:
I like to go by Liz or Miss Liz. I'm a teacher, an actress, and an entrepreneur. I love history and the crazier the story the better I like it. I love to tell a good story and to really bring history to life through interaction. Hello, young historians! I'm Ms. Liz, a mystery lover and sleuth enthusiast! I’m so excited to share my fascination with history and the darker side of storytelling. Drawing from my studies in sociology and film, I aim to delve into the depths of the past, unraveling the mysteries of the human mind and exploring its impact on society. Merging my passion for people and up beat personality, my teaching style is approachable, interactive, and fun! Join me as we journey through the shadows of history and uncover its hidden truths together!Reviews
Live Group Class
$18
weekly1x per week
50 min
Completed by 1962 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
2-13 learners per class
