Creative history teaching

2026-03-25

What actually works when it comes to creative history teaching?

In this episode of Hey History Teacher, we go inside real classrooms to find out - from songs and dress-ups to protest reenactments, and even stomping on a cardboard box.

You’ll hear from experienced primary and secondary school teachers across Australia sharing practical, classroom-tested ideas that bring history to life, like:

using songs to help students remember complex contentsharing a colour-coded Scope and Sequence so students can see what’s coming and stay motivated, andsimple, low-prep activities.

We ask:

What does the research say about creativity and learning?How do you balance creativity with curriculum demands?And where do you start if you’re short on time?

You’ll hear how creativity helps students:

remember complex contentengage more deeply with difficult historiesand connect emotionally with the past

If you’ve ever wondered whether creative teaching is “worth it”, or how to be more creative in class, this episode is for you.

Resources, Scope and Sequence, and tipsheetTeach like a pirate by Dave BurgessTom Appleby, Convict Boy by Jackie FrenchNanberry: Black Brother White by Jackie FrenchChad Cary’s colour-coded Scope and Sequence Word doc (in Teacher Downloads)Free professional development tipsheet for this episode (in Teacher Downloads)
Lyrics of Chad Cary’s Ancient Rome song to the Brady Bunch theme song

It's the story of a man named Cato who was being such a big pain in the butts.

He was blocking legislation, with the Optimates, which made the Triumviirs sad.

It's the story of a man named Caesar who was rising up through the political ranks.

He wanted a triumph and to run for Consul. But he could not do both.

Until one day when Caesar called Pompey and Crassus.

And said, "Hey boys, we should all team up!

If we decide to pool our resources together."

That's the way that they became the First Triumvirate.

First Tri um vir ate.......... Tri um vir ate.....

That's the way that they became the first Triumvirate!

Research mentioned in this episode

‍Cole, B., Mooney, M., & Power, A. (2013). Imagination, creativity and intellectual quality. In G. Munns, W. Sawyer, & B. Cole (Eds.), Exemplary teachers of students in poverty (pp. 123-135). Routledge. In Golledge,C . (2026) Inside the History Classroom: Portraits of Exemplary Teaching Practice Routledge.

Manaf, Abdul & Dewanti, Sintha & Mam, Socheath & Susetyawati, Endang & Ernawati, Ika. (2022). Is there a correlation between creativity and learning achievement? A meta-analysis study. REID (Research and Evaluation in Education). 8. 78-89. 10.21831/reid.v8i1.51493.

Baartman LKJ and Prins FJ (2018) Transparency or Stimulating Meaningfulness and Self-Regulation? A Case Study About a Programmatic Approach to Transparency of Assessment Criteria. Front. Educ. 3:104. doi: 10.3389/feduc.2018.00104

Voices

Educators: Chad Cary (New South Wales), Catherine Baron (Western Australia), David Boon (Tasmania), Christine Abadier (New South Wales), Paul Foley (South Australia), Natalie Fong (Queensland), and Megan Tucker (South Australia).

Host: Professor Anna Clark

CreditsHey History Teacher! is supported by the History Teachers Association of NSW.Executive Producer is Professor Anna Clark.Producer is Jane Curtis at UTS Impact Studios.Sound engineering by John Jacobs.Made on Gadigal Country in Sydney Australia.

No. of episodes

17

Latest episode

2026-04-29

Where can you listen?

Apple Podcasts Spotify Podtail Google Podcasts RSS

For kids age 8-12, a series on Australian history with stories and music. For teachers, a professional learning series called Hey History Teacher!

Season 1 follows Stage 2 and 3 of the Australian curriculum, and of NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland. Students can listen in class and use our Learning Materials designed and road-tested by a primary school educator.

Go back in time to the Gold Rush. What happened at the meetings between Captain Cook and First Nations people at Kamay Botany Bay? Experience life as a convict kid, and hear how First Nations people learn on Country.

Season 2 is for teachers, teacher-educators and pre-service teachers. hear conversations and advice about over 8 episodes, including teaching difficult histories, creative history teaching, approaching First Nations histories with care and confidence, complexity in history teaching, advice for new history teachers, great history teaching, and teaching the Australian Wars.

These eight PD episodes are grounded in current research and features fifteen classroom educators and academics from around Australia.

Hey History! is made by history professors, so you'll hear from Australia's top historians and experts. It's produced by The Australian Centre for Public History and Impact Studios at the University of Technology Sydney, in partnership with La Trobe University.

Hey History Teacher! series is made with the support of the History Teachers Association of New South Wales.