History Mysteries & Unusual Stories: Weird, Strange, Fun Tales
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:(976)
Popular
What's included
1 live meeting
50 mins in-class hours per weekClass Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
Experience the Thrill of Mystery with 'History Mysteries & Unusual Stories' Class Overview Imagine campfire-style storytelling infused with rich historical details, suspense, and edge-of-your-seat tension. This is not your average history class—this is where the line between truth and fiction blurs, and you’re left wondering how such bizarre, creepy, and unusual events could be real. Be warned: some tales are spooky and unsettling, making this class unsuitable for all students. Check the classroom page for weekly topics and details on scare factors to ensure it’s the right fit for your learner. Class Experience Each week, students will dive into a new historical mystery or strange story. Some tales are eerie and unsettling, while others are simply bizarre or mind-boggling. Students will be encouraged to think critically about the events, analyze evidence, and, when applicable, predict what could have happened next. Example MysteryWhy were two lost children found wandering, speaking an unknown language, and—most shockingly—why were they green? To bring these mysteries to life, we’ll use engaging visuals, video clips, and evidence-based discussions. Students will be guided to think like detectives, piecing together clues and exploring wild theories. Please review the Parental Guidance section to ensure the topics are suitable for your student’s comfort level. Each week, I dedicate 10-16 hours of research and preparation to create an unforgettable experience. Weekly Topics Each week’s mystery is a stand-alone story, so students can join at any time. Stories may include accounts of murder, disappearances, historical conspiracies, and other events that showcase the darker side of history. Here’s a preview of what’s ahead: Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 Schedule December 2 - December 8: The Great Fire of London (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) December 9 - December 15: Vanishing Villages and Towns (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) December 16 - December 22: Christmas and Winter Traditions Around the Globe (Scare Factor: Green) December 23 - January 5: NO CLASSES January 6 - January 12: Creepy Places Around the Globe (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) January 13 - January 19: The Nazca Lines and Crop Circles (Scare Factor: Green) January 20 - January 26: The Bridgewater Triangle (Scare Factor: Yellow) January 27 - February 2: King Ludwig II of Bavaria (Scare Factor: Green) February 3 - February 9: The Hinterkaifeck Murders (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) February 10 - February 16: Emperor Norton I of the United States (Scare Factor: Green) February 17 - February 23: The Culper Spy Ring (Scare Factor: Green) February 24 - March 2: The Old Vicarage, Sweden (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) March 3 - March 9: The Toxic Woman (Scare Factor: Green-Yellow) March 10 - March 16: The Missing Declaration of Independence (Scare Factor: Green) March 17 - March 23: The Battle of Castle Itter (Scare Factor: Green-Yellow) March 24 - March 30: Who Killed JFK? (Scare Factor: Yellow) March 31 - April 6: Major Henry Rathbone’s Curse (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) April 7 - April 13: The Ghost Ship of Kilmore Quay (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) April 14 - April 20: The Green Mountain Boys’ Hidden Treasure (Scare Factor: Green) April 21 - April 27: The 47 Ronin Incident (Scare Factor: Green-Yellow) April 28 - May 4: Mermaid Myths and Mysteries (Scare Factor: Green-Red) May 5 - May 11: The Cicada 3301 Puzzles (Scare Factor: Green) May 12 - May 18: The Ghost Blimp (Scare Factor: Yellow) May 19 - May 25: The Dybbuk Box and Other “Cursed” Objects (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) May 26 - June 1: The Princes in the Tower (Scare Factor: Green-Yellow) June 2 - June 8: The Circleville Letters (Scare Factor: Yellow-Red) June 9 - June 15: GAME DAY! (A fun, interactive review of the mysteries we’ve explored) Note: Summer camp offerings will be available after this session ends. Class Layout This is an interactive, discussion-based class that thrives on student engagement. Each week, students can expect: Sharing time: Students share their thoughts, ideas, and even personal creations like artwork, props, and costumes. Theories and discussion: Students engage in group discussions, analyzing evidence and debating theories. Videos and visual aids: Engaging video clips and visual representations bring historical mysteries to life. More theories and discussion: The second half of the class is often driven by student curiosity and debate. Some sections are light-hearted and fun, while others are intense and spooky. If a particular week’s tone doesn’t fit your student’s preferences, I can transfer them to a better-suited section. Scare Factor SystemNot all mysteries are created equal. To help parents and students gauge content, I’ve created a scare-factor system: Green: Minimal or no fear for most students. Yellow: Moderate spook factor; some students may find it unsettling. Red: Highly intense or naturally scary content. Most students will feel a sense of suspense or fear. If a week’s scare factor is listed as Green-Red, it means that different students react differently. Some may find it fun, while others might feel uncomfortable. I encourage parents to message me or search for the topic if they’re unsure about a particular week’s content. Parental Guidance and FlexibilityIf you or your student ever feel uncomfortable with a topic, you’re welcome to skip that week and request a refund (as long as I’m notified in advance). Occasionally, while researching a topic, I may find it’s too intense or lacks sufficient material for a full class. In these cases, I’ll notify parents and select a new topic. Flexibility is key to making this class a great fit for all students. Join UsStep into the world of history’s strangest mysteries, weirdest wonders, and most unusual tales. Each week is a new adventure filled with surprises, suspense, and spirited debates. Will you solve the mystery before class ends, or will it haunt your curiosity? Don’t just learn history—experience it!
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:
Sources
This class uses a lot of video clips to help with story telling. It takes me between 10-16 hours to research each class, watch all the videos and then find what I'm going to utilize for class. This is a lot more work than when I simply share a story from history which generally takes an hour or two to craft. If you do not want your child watching videos this is NOT a good class for you.
Joined March, 2020
4.9
976reviews
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
Nicole Pauling, M. Ed: Certified History Teacher and designer of this curriculum. "I love these classes and these students. Each week we connect, we engage, and we explore history in a unique and fun way."
Les Pauling, MS: 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 M. Ed:
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, Bachelors:
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 1970 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-13
2-13 learners per class
