Historical honor society Phi Alpha Theta will host a history faire for children in the Searcy community for the second year.
Last year, the event involved 10 informational booths featuring countries varying from ancient Greece to China to ancient world histories with activities for the kids. About 100 children attended even though it was the first year.
To engage with our history is a critical thing. We need an understanding of who we are and where we came from. – Julie Harris, professor of history
Julie Harris, professor of history, is one of the advisers for Pi Alpha Theta.
“There’s so many extracurricular things we do to get children interested in science, math, building, art, but where does history fall?”Harris said.“It kind of gets put off unless the parents are interested in it.”
This year, the event will have double the number of booths with representatives from organizations like the Black Student Association and the math department as well as students representing their home countries, all explaining their history to children while doing hands-on and interactive activities.
Phi Alpha Theta officer junior Anessa Bridges said events like the faire connect the children with real people and events from long before they were born.
“Through these experiences, people learn to see history, not as irrelevant facts about the past, but as a lens through which we, as humans, can better understand not only our current circumstances, but also ourselves,” Bridges said.
The children will all receive passports, so they can receive a stamp from each booth they visit.
History faire coordinator junior Larisa Pulley said this event can help children realize that learning can be fun.
“I think this event is super important,” Pulley said. “In general, when people think of history, they think it’s boring, but this event is perfect because it’s geared toward younger kids.”
Everyone has a story, and that story helps people understand who they are and who their family is, according to Harris. She said people today can learn from what their ancestors did differently and what they did that was valuable.
“To engage with our history is a critical thing,”Harris said.“We need an understanding of who we are and where we came from.”
This event is geared toward children ages pre-K to 3rd grade, but anyone is welcome to stop by and learn on Saturday, March 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. on the Front Lawn. There will be interactive games, crafts and re-enactors as well as an opportunity to see blacksmithing and to talk to former U.S. presidents at no charge.
