Summary
Tired of textbooks? Try learning about the past from historical fiction, a story genre that combines real places and figures from the past with imagined characters and events. To make their stories feel authentic, authors carefully research the setting, including the major events of the time, what society was like, and how people lived. Johnny Tremain depicts the lead-up to the American Revolution through the eyes of a young messenger for Boston's Sons of Liberty. The fictional protagonist, Johnny, interacts with real characters, like John Hancock, and gets involved in real events, like the Boston Tea Party. Bud, Not Buddy is set during the Great Depression, and Bud's experiences include real historical details, like his visit to a Hooverville. Historical fiction can bring history to life for readers—so long as you remember that some parts are made up! Press "play" to delve in further!
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Historical Fiction:
- What is one new thing you learned about historical fiction?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining historical fiction.
- Draw or give one example of your own.