How to Make a Boring Curriculum Exciting
Let’s be honest—some parts of the curriculum can feel downright dull. As teachers, we’ve all looked at a textbook or a set of standards and thought, How am I going to make this engaging? The good news? Even the most “boring” content can come to life with the right approach. Here’s how to turn dry lessons into dynamic learning experiences that capture students’ attention and spark curiosity.
Why Does Some Curriculum Feel Boring?
Before we tackle solutions, let’s look at why some lessons feel dull in the first place:
✅ Lack of Relevance – Students don’t see how the material applies to their lives. (Ever heard, When will I ever use this?)
✅ Overemphasis on Rote Learning – Memorizing vocabulary words, dates, and formulas without context is a quick path to disengagement.
✅ Teaching the Same Way for Years – If we’re bored teaching it, imagine how the students feel!
Now, let’s talk about solutions.
1. Connect Lessons to Real Life
Students are more engaged when they see how a lesson applies to their world. I teach U.S. history, and during election seasons or big Supreme Court rulings, I tie our discussions to the Constitution and Bill of Rights. This keeps students interested and helps them see why history matters.
In math, you can connect lessons to personal finance—budgeting, taxes, and tips. (Students suddenly care when they realize how much money disappears from a paycheck!) Gamification works too—fantasy football for statistics, March Madness for probability, and even video games like Minecraft to illustrate concepts.
2. Incorporate Student Interests
Find out what your students love and use it to your advantage. When I taught 6th-grade math, I added a simple game to timed tests: throwing paper into a trash can and calculating shot percentages. Suddenly, students were eager to participate. Whether it's sports, pop culture, or hands-on projects, tying content to their interests boosts engagement.
3. Use Active Learning Techniques
Active learning goes beyond getting students out of their seats—it immerses them in the material. When I taught 6th-grade math, I ran a semester-long simulation where students earned paychecks, paid rent, and even bought desks. Some became real estate tycoons, while others struggled with “finances,” reinforcing math concepts in a meaningful way.
Another example? A colleague uses Barbie bungee jumping to teach slope. Instead of worksheets, students experiment with rubber bands to see how far Barbie falls, then calculate the results. This kind of hands-on learning makes abstract concepts tangible.
4. Turn Lessons into Stories
Storytelling is one of the oldest and most effective teaching methods. I use a narrative-style quiz for the Bill of Rights, where students follow the story of “Fred,” a bank robber who gets arrested. As Fred’s case unfolds, students apply amendments to real-world scenarios.
Think of any way to weave content into a story—it makes lessons more memorable and engaging.
5. Acknowledge Student Resistance
Some students walk into class already convinced that a subject is boring. One way to break through? Be honest. If a lesson is dry, I tell my students, Yeah, this one’s a little rough, but we need to get through it so we can do something cool later. That transparency builds trust and helps them push through.
Another trick is offering limited choices. Instead of letting students pick from 10 different project formats (which can be overwhelming), give them two or three structured options. This keeps them engaged while maintaining classroom control.
Final Thoughts
Every subject has its challenges, but as teachers, we have the power to make learning exciting. By tying content to real life, incorporating student interests, using active learning, and telling stories, we can transform even the driest material into an engaging experience.
Remember—your enthusiasm is contagious. If you’re excited about teaching, your students will be more excited to learn.
What are your go-to strategies for making lessons engaging? Drop them in the comments below!
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👨🏫 About John VanDusen:
John has been teaching elementary and middle school since 2007 and serves as a coach and instructor for the U.S. Army Reserves. This podcast is here to give teachers fast, practical strategies for busy educators to enhance their classrooms.
See more at www.johnvandusen.com
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