What history activities work the week before winter break?
Short, arguable ones: one 15 to 20 minute evidence challenge a day, each ending in a class verdict, works better than a long project nobody finishes. The plan below uses the free cases in our app PastRush plus paper, and every day stands alone in case attendance is patchy.
Five days, five verdicts, zero grading over the break.
The 5-day history detective challenge
Warm-up: the deep-time sort
15 min
Run the sort at the top of this page on the board. Students argue the order before anyone checks. Then ask: why does BC count down?
Time keeperCase 1: The Stone That Spoke Three Ways
20 min
In PastRush, compare the Rosetta Stone with Champollion's 1822 letter. Which source supports which claim, and what does neither show?
Code breakerCase 2: The Disputed Day
20 min
On what day did Vesuvius bury Pompeii? Students note which exhibits were made at the time and which were written later, then decide how sure anyone can be.
Source checkedCase 3: Reading the Canyon Walls
20 min
How can rock layers show what came first? Stack paper strips as layers, then solve the case in the app.
Layer readerVerdict day: supported or going too far?
15 min
Run the Daily Evidence Check together: five claims, each supported, too far or contradicted. Finish with one claim students write themselves.
Case closed
Only have one day before the break? Run Wednesday. The Pompeii case has the best argument in it, because the date itself is disputed and students have to decide how much the evidence can really prove.
Each day ends with a sticker word, not a score. Students remember the verdict.
Who this winter break plan is not for
- Classes with no phones or iPads available. Monday and Thursday still work on paper; the other days need the app.
- Teachers who need standards-mapped lesson plans with rubrics. This is a light challenge week, not a unit.
- Younger elementary students. The cases expect reading at a middle school level.
Proof: what students will see
Honest limits
- Six cases are free. Cases 7 to 12 need Founder Lifetime, a one-time purchase that works with Apple Family Sharing, not a school licence.
- Class mode hides purchases and links; it does not open paid content.
- We list PastRush as an iPhone app. Check its App Store page against your school's devices before Monday.
- Story pictures are AI-assisted illustrations and are labelled as illustrations. Point that out to students: it is a source lesson in itself.
How to run the challenge in 3 steps
- Friday before: install PastRush on the devices you will use and open Case 1 once.
- Each day: 3 minutes to frame the question, 12 to 15 in pairs, 3 for the class verdict.
- Last day: students write one claim of their own and the class rules on it.
December social studies activities, compared
| Activity | Prep | What students do |
|---|---|---|
| Movie day | Low | Watch; thinking is optional |
| Holiday worksheet | Low | Recall and fill in |
| History escape room kit | High | Solve puzzles, often against a clock |
| This 5-day detective plan | Low | Order events, weigh sources, rule on claims |
Pick the one where students have to say "because".
Start on your iPhone
Install PastRush before Monday and open Case 1 once. Six cases are free.
PastRush: History Detective on the App Store · Updated November 2026
Teacher questions
What are good history activities for the last week before winter break?
Short ones with a clear finish: a chronology sort, a single primary source to question, or one detective-style case a day. Students are tired and excited, so 15 to 20 minutes with a debate beats a long worksheet.
How do I keep middle schoolers engaged before winter break?
Give them something to argue about. Putting events in order, or deciding whether a claim is supported, creates disagreement, and disagreement keeps a room awake far better than a word search.
Is PastRush free for classrooms?
Six of the twelve investigations are free for everyone: the Rosetta Stone, Pompeii, the Grand Canyon rock layers, Ötzi the Iceman, continental drift and the Norse in Vinland. The other six come with Founder Lifetime, a one-time purchase.
Does PastRush work on shared school devices?
Its Class mode hides purchases and outside links on shared devices. It does not open paid content. There is no account, no ads and no tracking, and progress stays on each device.
Does PastRush need the internet?
Cases, the Notebook, stories, the Album and ancient-Earth maps work offline. The satellite map, Dive's satellite views, Where in the World? and nearby places need a connection.
What is a primary source, in one line for students?
The Library of Congress puts it simply: primary sources are the raw materials of history, made during the time being studied.
Related
- History apps for homeschool middle school: questions answeredWhich history apps actually teach middle schoolers to weigh evidence? Answers for homeschool parents, a weekly-minutes planner and an honest comparison.
- PastRush: the history detective game with real evidencePastRush is a history detective game: order events, weigh sources and decide what evidence proves. Six cases free on iPhone, no ads, no account.
- Winter break screen time ideas for middle schoolersTwo weeks off and the tablet never sleeps? Pick your family's situation for a realistic screen plan, with CDC and Mayo Clinic guidance for parents.
- How to get into history as an adultNever liked history at school? Start with one question and real evidence. A 3-tap quiz picks your first case and builds 7 short evenings.