What Students Can Learn From Studying Urban Legends

By Benjamin Barbour at Edutopia

Urban legends, featuring ghost stories, unsolved mysteries, and the like—every community has them. They might be fun for students to learn about, but do such incredible tales have any authentic educational value for history students?

I discovered recently when I taught a lesson on our hometown’s urban legends in a local history course that these tales of the fantastic and macabre do indeed offer students something more than just fun stories—they can provide a variety of important lessons. 

Psychology and sociology teachers, as well as anyone teaching about culture, can incorporate regional urban legends into their curriculum. Even if we don’t realize it, urban legends can fulfill deep human needs or teach important lessons. They may caution listeners to avoid certain places or behaviors, or the stories can convey unique cultural norms or universal values.

Read More:  What Students Can Learn From Studying Urban Legends

Check out Christopher Balzano’s books, including the newly released Haunted Objects, 2nd Edition.

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