Publish at February 06 2017 Updated November 28 2024
History may be fascinating, but there comes a time when it seems far away, almost a dream. No matter how much we bring it into the classroom, in books, films, on the Internet, in 3D, its real nature often escapes us, unless we go a little further, into the field, questioning places and people, seeing traces, gauging distances and masses, understanding tools and organization, discussing interpretations...
History happened somewhere. History is written with tools and materials in a context. Associative memory works with physical anchors, which is why it's a good idea to go and see things in situ, feel artefacts or copies of them, or re-enact situations. Sometimes history is even being written now. Many entrepreneurs have good stories. There's no shortage of possibilities.
Linking history to our cultural and social environment enriches us. There are history buffs everywhere, and they're eager to share their interest. You'll find them in museums, where they're often professionals accustomed to receiving school groups. You'll also find them in historical societies and other heritage groups; they're mostly volunteers, and they'll go wherever it's interesting, if there are people to listen. They can also be found in historical re-enactment groups, where you can literally taste and feel what was going on.
They may be passionate about their part of the world, about the evolution of objects, techniques or practices, or about the people who left their mark in one way or another. It's perhaps in this way that the anchors become the strongest; by the models from which we can draw inspiration...
Let's get inspired!
Some reference resources
France
Quebec and Canada
Switzerland
Belgium
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