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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:
(967)
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Class
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What's included

1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per week

Class 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

September 9 - 15
The Lewis and Clark Mystery 
Green-Yellow

September 16 - 22
The Great Stink of 1858
Green

September 23 - 29
Nellie Bly (Updated)
Green-Yellow

September 30 - October 6
The Taured Mystery
Green

October 7 - October 13
Hoia Baciu Forest, Romania Yellow-Red

October 14 - October 20
The Curse of Timur’s Tomb
Yellow-Red

October 21 - October 27
The Battle of Los Angeles
Green

October 28 - November 3
Salem Witch Trials
Yellow-Red

November 4 - November 10
The Catacombs of Paris, France Red

November 11 - November 17
The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine Green

November 18 - November 24
The Hindenburg Crash Green

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 Japanese Holdouts of WWII
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.
learning goal

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:
    4.9
    967reviews
    Popular
    Profile
    Teacher expertise and credentials
    Master's Degree in Education from University of Phoenix
    Kristi Myers
    Master's Degree in Education from Moreland University
    Nicole Suzanne Pauling
    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!

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    Live Group Class
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    $18

    weekly
    1x per week
    50 min

    Completed by 1917 learners
    Live video meetings
    Ages: 8-13
    2-13 learners per class

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