Nearly 1,000 students learn Vietnamese history through games

Through games, students are reminded of historical knowledge. According to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, this method is more effective than teaching history through dry facts and numbers.

On December 15, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training organized a festival for primary school students with the theme I love Vietnamese history at Le Duc Tho Primary School, Go Vap District. This is the first time the Department has organized a large-scale experiential activity in History.

With the participation of nearly 1,000 primary school students from all over the city, Le Duc Tho school yard was bustling and colorful with traditional costumes. After watching the folk dance performance, students visited the stations, learning about each historical period through pictures and artifacts.

Students guess the names of historical sites through pictures. Photo: Le Nguyen — Students guess the names of historical sites through pictures. Photo: *Le Nguyen*

The first station focuses on the founding period, followed by dynasties in Vietnamese history. The third station takes students through the resistance wars against foreign invaders, and finally the period of nation building after peace and unification.

Each station is elaborately decorated and shaped with 1-2 games such as ring tossing, tearing paper to make puzzles, looking at pictures to guess the names of historical sites and events. After visiting the stations, students can also watch cartoons such as Con rong chau tien, anh Kim Dong... and participate in the Golden Bell contest.

Waking up early to participate in the festival, Bao Ngoc, a student at Le Anh Xuan Primary School, District 7, was excited to participate in the folk dance and golden bell competition.

"Although I was a bit sad to leave the stage after the second round, I hope there will be more historical festivals with many games and performances like this," Bao Ngoc said.

Le Hoang Phong, a student at Song Lo Primary School in Phu Nhuan District, was delighted when he stopped at station number three. The rugged caves and flickering oil lamps were arranged to recreate the period when our army "dug mountains and slept in tunnels", creating the Dien Bien Phu campaign in 1954 that shocked the five continents. Phong said he stayed for a long time, engrossed in reading information and pictures about this campaign.

Students learn about the Dien Bien Phu campaign through information boards in caves. Photo: Le Nguyen — Students learn about the Ho Chi Minh campaign. Photo: *Le Nguyen*

Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training, said that one of the five qualities set forth in the new general education program is patriotism. But teaching history through dry facts and figures is difficult to convey this spirit. On the contrary, through skits, historical reenactments or physical games, students will be excited to learn.

"Through organizing experiential activities like this, we hope to change the way of teaching and learning, so that students can understand more about the traditions of the nation, thereby fostering love for their homeland and country," said Mr. Hieu.

This is also an opportunity for teachers to exchange and share better methods of teaching History.