#2 Cop Stops The Traffic In New York So A Mother Cat Holding A Kitten Can Cross Safely C.1925
#3 The Swedish Warship Vasa
Luke Rosa, a former history teacher and founder of Students of History, a website full of engaging teaching resources and lesson plans on U.S. History, World History, Civics, Government, and World Geography, tells Bored Panda that his passion for history was sparked by a mix of curiosity and rebellion.
"I remember sitting in my college history class thinking, 'This could be so much more interesting than how it’s being taught.' It’s more than dates and documents. I became a history teacher because I feel that all kids deserve a place to belong and see themselves in honest and encouraging lights by learning about our history."
Similarly, history teacher Brooke Rogers shares that she became fascinated by history once her teacher showed her that it's more than just what meets the eye.
"It started in high school when my history teacher, Mr. Susank, showed me that history wasn’t just dates and battles. He helped me see that history is real people with inspiring stories, not just textbook timelines."
#7 A Young Couple At Waterhen River In Saskatchewan, Canada, Taken In 1931
#8 Man Sits At The Same Spot His Grandfather Did In 1944 During Ww2 In Florence, Italy
#9 American Athlete Jesse Owens In London After Winning Four Gold Medals At The 1936 Berlin Olympics. London, England. 1936
What helps these educators keep their curiosity for history alive is letting themselves wander and fall into all sorts of rabbit holes.
"History is the ultimate 'choose your own adventure.' There’s always a new angle, a hidden voice, or a story you haven’t heard yet. One week I’ll be deep into the politics of the Gilded Age, and the next I’m reading about Polynesian wayfinding or women in the French Resistance," Luke says.
"I keep my curiosity alive by letting myself wander. I follow questions, not just timelines. And since I create lessons and resources, I’m always asking, 'How would I make this spark for students?' That challenge keeps me exploring."
#12 An Early Example Of A Successful Cranioplasty (Peru, Ca. 400 Ce). The Patient Survived, As Evidenced By The Well-Healed In Situ Cranioplasty Made From A Gold Inlay
Meanwhile, Brooke says, "History is full of rabbit holes, and I don’t mind going down them. If a student asks me a fresh question, I am happy to say, “I don’t know, but let’s find out!” Even if that wasn’t exactly what I was supposed to be covering for the day. Curiosity is contagious."
Following their curiosity, these experts learn new things every day. This got us wondering how they retain so much information. It turns out, the secret lies in finding connections.
#13 Ancient Roman Dog
#15 The World's Oldest Undeground Station, Baker Street, England. 157 Years Apart
"I don’t treat history as something to memorize. I think of it like a web. Every fact connects to a person, a place, or an idea. The more connections you see, the more personal it can become and the easier it is to remember," Luke explains.
"I approach history through storytelling. If I can connect a fact to a story, an image, or a seemingly random detail… it sticks. Teaching middle school history definitely inspires me to research and learn more," Brooke shares.
#16 The Lifesaving Ancient Arctic Snow Goggles
#17 An Early Edwardian Woman Taking A Mirror Selfie With A Kodak Brownie Box Camera In 1900
Even though these educators have a lot of passion for history, unfortunately, the same can't be said about a lot of people. They agree that what makes learning about the past so intimidating is the many misconceptions that surround it.
"History is often presented as a massive book of facts. You either memorize them or you don’t. You either get it or you don’t. Of course, that would feel overwhelming!" Brooke says.
#19 Camouflage Trees Like This One Was Used To Spy On The Enemy During The First World War
