History class does NOT have to equal drudgery. While teaching history in your homeschool is a must, there are ways to keep it interesting. Check out this compilation of fun games to use for history class, because encouraging your students to learn about history doesn’t need to be a battle. Unless, of course, it’s a board game battle!
Fun Games to Use for History Class
American Trivia Family Edition
The American Trivia Family Edition game includes 1,440 expert level questions in four categories (geography, history, arts, general) and 1,080 junior level questions in three categories (geography, history, general). Great for 2-8 Players. Recommended for Ages 9 and up.
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Lewis & Clark: The Expedition
Lewis & Clark: The Expedition is a boardgame themed around the adventures of Lewis and Clark. Players manage cards representing characters who will help to gather resources, recruit Indians and move forward in this race to discover the route from sea to shining sea.
Lewis and Clark: The ExpeditionBuy Now
Discoveries: The Journals of Lewis and Clark
Discoveries: The Journals of Lewis and Clark is a dice rolling strategy game that builds on Lewis & Clark The Expedition.
Asmodee Discoveries: The Journals of Lewis and ClarkBuy Now
Way Back When in History
In the Way Back When in History board game, players travel through five time periods in early America: Explorers, 13 Colonies, American Revolution, Constitution and the Civil War.
Way Back When in HistoryBuy Now
Professor Noggin History Games
Professor Noggin card games are a great way to reinforce history lessons. Several different versions are available, including US History and Canadian history!
Professor Noggin’s History of the United States – A Educational Trivia Based Card Game For KidsBuy NowProfessor Noggin’s History of Art – A Educational Trivia Based Card Game For KidsBuy NowProfessor Noggin’s Ancient Civilizations – A Educational Trivia Based Card Game For Kids – Ages 7+Buy NowProfessor Noggin’s American Revolution – A Educational Trivia Based Card Game For KidsBuy NowProfessor Noggin’s Medieval Times – A Educational Trivia Based Card Game For KidsBuy NowEducational Trivia Card Game – Professor Noggin’s History of CanadaBuy Now
Asmodee Timeline
The Asmodee Timeline decks are great for learning/reinforcing historical dates. Each card has a different historical event and on the opposite side its associated date. Use a deck as a stand alone, or combine the decks for more game play. Be warned, though, these cards are smaller than a standard deck of playing cards.
Asmodee Timeline: AmericanaBuy NowAsmodee Timeline: American History GameBuy NowTimeline: DiscoveriesBuy NowTimeline: InventionsBuy NowAsmodee Timeline ChallengeBuy NowTimeline: DiversityBuy Now
Precious Cargo
For hundreds of years, merchants sailed to faraway lands in search of untold wealth, bringing Precious Cargo that was worth a fortune – if they could find the right port at which to sell it. In Precious Cargo you start with a single ship and one sail. By making clever choices about what goods to trade, which ports to visit and colonize, and when to invest in improving your fleet, you could build an empire and make a fortune!
7 Wonders
While not specifically a history game, 7 Wonders is a strategy game in which players become the leader of one of the 7 great cities of the Ancient World.
This game would be great for discussing the strategies used by historical leaders to establish and maintain their reign. There are expansion sets for the 7 Wonders game that increase game play and build on the fun.
Asmodee 7 Wonders: Leaders ExpansionBuy NowAsmodee 7 Wonders: Cities ExpansionBuy NowAsmodee 7 Wonders: Babel ExpansionBuy NowAsmodee 7 Wonders: Wonder Pack ExpansionBuy Now
Chronology
The Chronology game is a fun twist on timelines. There are 429 double-sided cards with 858 events, and players test their knowledge by guessing where events should fall in their timeline. Get it correct, keep the card, and grow your timeline. First to 10 wins!
Buffalo Games CHRONOLOGY BOARD GAME by The Game of All Time!Buy Now
Wit’s End
Wit’s End is a game of riddles and brain teasers. It includes 1200 questions about popular culture, geography, arts, history, science and more.
Ticket to Ride
Ticket to Ride is a cross-country train adventure in which players collect and play matching train cards to claim railway routes connecting cities throughout North America. This game is based on “Around the World in 80 Days.” This would be a FUN addition to your American History lesson plan.
Be sure to check out the additional country specific versions of the game, as well.
Days of Wonder Ticket To Ride: Map Collection Volume 1 – AsiaBuy NowDays of Wonder Ticket To Ride: Map Collection Volume 2 – IndiaBuy NowDays of Wonder Ticket to Ride: Map Collection Volume 3 – The Heart of AfricaBuy NowDays of Wonder Ticket to Ride: Map Collection Volume 4 – NederlandBuy NowDays of Wonder Ticket to Ride: Map Collection Volume 5 – United KingdomBuy NowDays of Wonder Ticket to Ride: France/Old West Map 6Buy Now
Brain Box for Kids
Brain Box for Kids are fast paced game of concentration that uses game cards, game dice, and an hourglass timer.
BrainBox for Kids – World History Card GameBuy NowBrainBox: US PresidentsBuy NowBrainBox: InventionsBuy Now
Catan Histories: Settlers of America Trails to Rails
Use the Catan Histories: Settlers of American Trails to Rails game in your study of 19th Century America.
Catan Histories: Settlers of America Trails to RailsBuy Now
Ideal Our America Board Game
The Ideal Our America Board Game is a fun board game that will teach all generations about the history of the United States, its heroes and heritage.
Ideal Our America Board GameBuy Now
Founding Fathers Game
This game starts with George Washington as president. Each player is one of the statesmen. Together, players solve issues faced by our nation in it’s youth.
Jolly Roger Games Founding FathersBuy Now
The Presidential
Go inside the world of the Electoral College process as teams fight to have the most powerful job in the world.
Guess that President
Take turns guessing which president is featured on the card using both obvious and unusual clues.
Jr. RangerLand Guess That PresidentBuy Now
The Colonists Game
The colonists is a strategy and development game where players try to grow their settlement into the largest and most valuable in all the land.
Mayfair Games The Colonists GameBuy Now
Great Western Trail
The Great Western Trail is a great game for lessons surrounding 19th Century America. Players build their herd and drive it on the trail of their choice to Kansas City.
Great Western Trail Board GameBuy Now
Name Chase: Historical Figures
Name Chase: Historical Figures is a historical trivia game that gives you four clues to help you get each answer. The first clue is the most vague, each clue after that gets gradually more specific.
American History Memory Game
As a memory game, this one is self explanatory. It teaches kids the names of historical figures, events, and places, and it shows them what these items look like.
American History Memory Game By Classical HistorianBuy Now
Wonder Forge Eye Found It- Journey Through Time
The Wonder Forge Eye Found It- Journey Through Time game is available as either a board game or card game.
Wonder Forge Journey Through Time Eye Found It! GameBuy NowWonder Forge Journey Through Time Eye Found It! Card GameBuy Now
The Constitution Quest
The Constitution Quest game is a great way to teach and reinforce lessons about our Constitution.
Constitution Quest GameBuy Now
Through the Ages
This is a civilization building game. You begin with a small tribe and the will to build a great civilization. Expand your farms and mines to gain the resources to build your cities.
Through the Ages board gameBuy Now
The Classical Historian Go Fish Games
The Classical Historian has multiple Go Fish Games that are a fun way to reinforce lessons.
The Classical Historian Bible Go Fish GameBuy NowThe Classical Historian U.S. Presidents Go Fish with History BookBuy NowThe Classical Historian Medieval History Go Fish GameBuy NowThe Constitution Go Fish Game with Constitution BookBuy NowThe Classic Historian American History Go Fish GameBuy Now
Z-Man Games History of the World Board Game
Z-Man Games History of the World Board Game is a game where players forge their empire across five epochs in History of the World
Z-Man Games History of the World Board GameBuy Now
The Grizzled
In The Grizzled, players are tasked with surviving the trenches of WWI until Armistice.
The Grizzled Cooperative Card GameBuy Now
Innovation Game
This game by Carl Chudyk is a journey through innovations from the stone age through modern times. Each player builds a civilization based on various technologies, ideas and cultural advancements, all represented by cards.
Asmadi Games Innovation: Third Edition Card Game (4 Player)Buy Now
This game also has expansion packs available.
Innovation: Echoes of the Past Third EditionBuy NowInnovation: Cities of Destiny Third EditionBuy NowInnovation: Artifacts of History Third EditionBuy NowInnovation: Figures in the Sand Third EditionBuy Now
Trajan
Trajan is a game about building your influence across all facets of Roman culture.
Funforge Trajan Board GameBuy Now
Twilight Struggle
Twilight Struggle is a historical simulation game that requires strategy. The scope of the game covers the entire world as it was found in 1945.
GMT Games Twilight Struggle Deluxe EditionBuy Now
Memoir ’44
Memoir ’44 is a historial World War II game.
Days of Wonder Memoir ’44Buy Now
Axis and Allies
Axis & Allies is a series of World War II strategy board games, with nearly two million copies printed.
Avalon Hill Axis and Allies 1941 Board GameBuy Now
Risk 1959
This is the classic reproduction of Risk as it was in 1959. Its appeal is timeless. Make the right moves and you’ll conquer the world! What a great way to add a fun twist to studying the world.
Risk Europe
This enhanced game of conquest will excite gamers with hours of battle and strategic play to control Europe! Each player steps into the role of a medieval king and competes with a full army to expand their kingdom and take over Europe. Through shrewd tactical planning –and a little bit of lucky dice rolling- one player will conquer Europe and reign supreme!
Winning Moves Games Risk Europe
Each of these games will encourage a love of learning history through game play. When you inspire kids to learn in a fun way, there’s a higher percentage rate that the knowledge will remain embedded within their mind. These fun games to use for history class will help make history a subject that everyone enjoys!
For more game ideas, be sure to check out my Gifts for Family Game Night post as well as my Best Money Games for Kids post over at iHomeschool Network.
