Weird History: The Bizarre, the Insane, and the Worst Decisions Ever

- Have fun learning all the strange, odd, and funny stories that make history interesting!
- Develop higher-order thinking and analysis skills as we learn to understand historical figures!



From the catacombs of Paris to armies that lost battles to themselves to the throne that sits on its own throne, history is full of examples of people doing really strange things. Each class we will discuss one of these weird anomalies of past human behavior, which often don't  make it into classes and textbooks. We will also take the time to empathize with these figures, trying to understand what made them do what they did, even if to us it seems confusing and self-destructive. Our examination is a mixture of teacher lecture and student discussion, and will include the examination of primary source material like letters, photos, and maps.

Each weekly session of class will cover a standalone topic, and students can join any time! With more than two years' worth of lessons there will never be a dull moment as students get the chance to explore history in a fun and engaging format.

October 2024: - Creepy Halloween-themed History!
- week of 9/30-10/6: The Princes in the Tower
- week of 10/7-10/13: The Cadaver Synod
- week of 10/14-10/20: The skeleton Queen of Portugal
- week of 10/21-10/27: The Red Ghost
- week of 10/28-11/3: The Salem Witch Hunts

November 2024:
- week of 11/4-11/10: Robert Liston
- week of 11/11-11/17: Alice Roosevelt
- week of 11/18-11/24: the Cannes Diamond Heist
- week of 11/25-12/1: Emperor Norton

December 2024:
- week of 12/2-12/8: Military Stink Bombs
- week of 12/9-12/15: the Strange Story of the Potato
- week of 12/16-12/22: Crow Dynamite
- week of 12/23-12/29: The Santa Robbery

January 2025: 
- week of 12/30-1/4: Off
- week of 1/5-1/11: Victorian Christmas Cards
- week of 1/12-1/18: The Great Halifax Explosion
- week of 1/19-1/25: The Life and Work of Xu Bing
- week of 1/26-2/1: Garbo Spy Ring

February 2025 (Black History Month): 
- week of 2/2-2/8: Wangari Maathai
- week of 2/9-2/15: Robert Smalls: Rags to Awesome
- week of 2/16-2/22: Bessie Coleman
- week of 2/23-3/1: Ida B Wells

March 2025 (Women's History Month): 
- week of 3/2-3/8: Nancy Wake
- week of 3/9-3/15: Florence Nightingale
- week of 3/16-3/22: Martha Gellhorn
- week of 3/23-3/30: The Pankhursts

April 2025
- week of 3/31-4/6: Dam Busters
- week of 4/7-4/13: 40 Thieves
- week of 4/14-4/20: The Battle of Castle Itter
week of 4/21-4/27: Frederick the Great and his father

May 2025:
- week of 4/28-5/3: Frida Kahlo

One last note: for the safety of all of our students, and to ensure that I can work with each student effectively, I do require students have their cameras turned on and be visible at all times. Students who cannot comply will be moved to the waiting room.