HISTORICAL FICTION TEACHERS GUIDE
Lois Donovan 2013
www.loisdonovan.com
We study the past to understand the present; we understand the present to guide
the future." -- William Lund
What to look for in great historical fiction.
 Accurate and adequate research evident in the depiction of events and
historical figures
 Accurate setting
 Characters who act and speak in a way fitting the time period
 Avoids a lot of stereotypes
 Compelling story
 Students are able to relate to the protagonist
Historical fiction is about living the history. Students get to be eye-witnesses to a
particular piece of history. Non fiction history books are about what happened.
Historical fiction is about what it was like to live during a particular event and/or
time period.
ACTIVITIES:
Rewrite history. Play the What-If game with students. Students imagine, what-if a
particular historical figure made a different decision? What impact would that have
on the historical event? (e.g. What if the Acadians were not deported from Nova
Scotia. Describe the Canada that would be in existence today.)
Have students write a particular scene from a different point of view. E.g. write the
deportation scene from the point of view of a soldier? A child? A Mi’kmaq observer.
Write a dialogue between two historic characters.
Write a radio broadcast.
Artifact story: Write a story about the significance of a particular artifact to you or
your family. (Lesson plan available at www.loisdonovan.com/blog . Click on
Presentations and find the Historical Fiction link.)
Draw or paint a scene from one of the descriptions in the book.
Compare the fictional story with the non-fiction books. What did you learn from
each? How was the style different? What kind of impact did each have on you and on
your view of the event?