This is a resource for GCSE students. I have used it with the new GCSE spec for US History. Students are encouraged to look at Hoover’s and FDR’s beliefs on the causes, course and remedies to the Depression. They use the quotes and info on the powerpoint to help them decide which were Hoover’s / FDR’s ideas. This can lead to a discussion on who would be the better presidential candidate and why. On p2 of the worksheet, students choose up to 3 reasons why FDR won, based on their respective campaigns. This can be done individually, or a paired thinking skill. With the Hoover’s solutions worksheet, students match up the problems that Hoover faced to the solution that he came up with. Answers are on the Hoover’s solutions ppt. As an extension students can decide why Hoover’s solutions were too little, too late. This can lead to class discussion. It can be used as a reference point when you start the New Deal, as many of Hoover’s policies served as inspirations for FDR’s solutions. Students can watch the YouTube link on the Bonus marchers and explain how big an impact it had on the election outcome. Without it, would FDR still have won? Why / not?

A lesson featuring a chronology activity for students and an opportunity for extended writing and source analysis. Students can cut up the cards and have students arrange them into the correct order. Answers: B, F, E, A, G, C, H, D YouTube link covers causes more than events - but a great lead-in. Potential questions to ask students either orally or as written answers:- Questions – answer in any order: Do you think that the peasants were right to march to London and attack the city? Or should they have protested differently? Why? Was there a point where it became a real threat to the monarch’s power? Why? / why not? What do you think of King Richard tricking the peasants at the end? Why? Should the peasants have gone home when they were promised what they wanted? Why? / why not? This could be turned into a storyboard or article afterwards.

This is a lesson to explain the meanings of Communism and capitalism. Students decide on the worksheet which of the statements apply to which ideology. Emphasise the different meaning of democracy to higher (and middle) ability students. This leads to a debate and analysis of which system is best, and why they caused problems in European relations. The sheets are differentiated for high, medium and lower abilities. The powerpoint concentrates on the impact of Communism prior to WWII and can be used to gain a foothold into Hitler. It comes with a link to YouTube embedded which discusses the Spartacist rising in Munich in 1919 and can lead onto a module on Hitler which makes his hatred and German fear of communism more understandable. The second powerpoint is more relevant if you are teaching a Cold War theme afterwards as it has a cartoon of Churchill and the Iron Curtain. Students can analyse the cartoon and explain its meaning, or why it is hostile to the USSR.

This is a resource for the new GCSE section on Elizabeth. Students are to put the events of the Essex rebellion in order. They are to then answer the scaffolded questions at the bottom of the sheet. More able students can be invited to consider turning points and the overall position of Elizabeth after the rebellion - was her position strengthened or weakened? An exam Q can be set after the activity, or as a homework. The powerpoint allows a fully-taught lesson, and the consequences worksheet allows students to weigh up evidence to decide whether Elizabeth was stronger or weaker for the rebellion’s failure. This can lead to extended writing or a debate.

This is a role play and chronology lesson for KS3, possibly KS4. Students are assigned a country to play the part of. These are differentiated as resources, but also within each resource: weaker students read about Austria and Serbia, middling students can have Germany and Russia and more able students can have France and Britain. Students are shown the July Crisis unfolding on the powerpoint. They must decide what they would feel, advise or actually do on each of the 6 dates / events shown. There are many opportunities for class discussion through the exercise, as students can be asked what they feel so far, whether they have taken any actions or merely advised one action or other to their allies. There is a seperate worksheet for students who would not react well to the role play aspect. As an extension, (more able?) students can explain whether their country triggered war, willingly went to war or were dragged unwillingly to war. The second activity is a chronology activity to decide what order events happened in as countries slid to war. Students look at 12 events and decide the order in which they happened. This can be done as a card sort or numbering activity. Answers can be shown later on the powerpoint. Students can also be asked whether Franz Ferdinand’s murder simply brought forward a war than was inevitable at some point.

This is a whole lesson for KS3. There are linked youTube videos explaining how the Troubles began, and defining key terms. For higher ability students, there is a link to a YouTube clip on gerrymandering. Part of it is useful. Students are invited to match key terms up, and then have an extension to decide whether the IRA’s aim was a good one. Students then are invited to complete a diamaond 9 ranking. Categories are marked on the powerpoint - historical/political/social/other factors. They have extensions to judge key causes, which can be given at teacher discretion, and to give their own thoughts on the Troubles’ beginnings. This can easily lead to class debate.

A powerpoint designed to allow students to look for reasons that the slave trade, and slavery, ended. The powerpoint is differentiated for higher and lower abilities, and the higher ppt has a task to explain why some people liked slavery. Part of the powerpoint is about Wilberforce and Equiano, students have to match their achievements - these are listed. A worksheet differentiated for the higher-, medium- and lower-ability students, containing reasons for the abolition of the slave trade, and slavery itself. Could be used as a card sort or a colour-coded worksheet. Students can decide which factors help to end the slave trade, slavery itself, or both. There is a Venn diagram template as an option too. Students can sort for political, economic social and cultural reasons. Students are invited to make decisions on the most important 3 reasons at the end of the sorting. This can lead to lively debate. There is a research homework task with a vocab builder questions added.

This is a literacy task for Year 9 pupils to look at punctuation. They must add punctuation and capital letters where appropriate. The topic is the First World War.

This is a resource for students startijg the study of the USA. Students are invited to explain what the parties believe in via a serioes of pictures. they can then write definitions. Students then look at policies more carefully. They decide which are for eaach party. It can be done as a cut and stick, highlighting ar card sort activity. I prefer a card sort as it allows a ‘not sure’ pile initially. Students can idenitfy economic, social and other policies. Less able ones have a differentiated resource. there are extension questions at the bottom of each. This can lead to a debate, either straight away or following more extensive research as homeowrk or ICT facilities in lesson.

This is for KS4, and could be used at A level too. Students watch the videos to gain an insight into elements of the Black Power movement. Students then use the differentiated card sort activity to cut and stick, or complete in any other way, the venn diagram. The venn diagram categorises what attracted poorer people to Black Power, and What many people disliked about Black Power. It would be helpful to rtell students beforehand that: poorer, younger, working class black Americans were more likely to support the Black Panthers, and Black Power. Richer, older, middle class black Americans were more likely to support peaceful protest. This can lead to a class debate / extended writing / exam Q on whether Black Power was effective - either looking at it as a stand-alone, or copmparing it with prior knowledge on the peaceful Civil Rights movement.

A pair of resources, in the same document, to use on a GCSE field trip to RAF Cosford in Telford, and Hack Green Secret Nuclear Bunker near Nantwich. Questions are arranged in groups based around exhibits in the museums. Non-specialists supervising students on the trip can easily keep up with the answers.

An interactive decision-making sheet for students to fill in. They place themselves in the position of the League and decide what they would do in each scenario. Information on each scenario is provided, as is space for students to give an explanation of each of their choices. This could be done as a group, paired or individual activity.

This is a sample paragraph to supply students doing the SHP controlled assessment question on Quarry Bank Mill. Students are invited to read through the answers, and highlight what is done well in each They will find that the second question is far more thorough than the first, as it compares the importance of factors to the site / context and then to other factors. They can label on the second page where this happens.

This is a resource for GCSE students. I use it on the AQA course, but it can doubtless be used on others. Students arrange characters into chronological order, and explain the reasons that they are significant. This can be done as a role play, by cutting up the required number of cards and handing them out, and as a cut and stick / card sort. Cards can be arranged on the table sheet if you like - blow it up to A3 - or by drawing the table into their book. This can lead to debate and extended writing on the importance of individuals and factors. There is a differentiated version of the card sort to give out to less able students.

This is a resource for GCSE students. I use it on the AQA course, but it can doubtless be used on others. Students arrange characters into chronological order, and explain the factors behind them - e.g. war etc. This can be done as a role play, by cutting up the required number of cards and handing them out, and as a cut and stick / card sort. Cards can be arranged on the table sheet if you like - blow it up to A3 - or by drawing the table into their book. This can lead to debate and extended writing on the importance of individuals and factors. There is a differentiated version of the card sort to give out to less able students.

This is a resource for GCSE students. I use it on the AQA course, but it can doubtless be used on others. Students arrange characters into chronological order, and explain the factors behind them - e.g. war etc. This can be done as a role play, by cutting up the required number of cards and handing them out, and as a cut and stick / card sort. Cards can be arranged on the table sheet if you like - blow it up to A3 - or by drawing the table into their book. This can lead to debate and extended writing on the importance of individuals and factors. There is a differentiated version of the card sort to give out to less able students.

This is a differentiated revision resource for the Health and the People module. Students can make revision cards / lists / spider diagrams etc. from the notes given. there is plenty of scope for debate such as key individuals, factors etc.

This is a resource for KS3. Students discuss what would go into a town charter and why these things would be wanted by townspeople. Students take on the role of a freeman in a Medieval town. There are 7 different people, they do not all need to be used. Students must read through the information on their character, and then decide what their priorities are for what goes into the charter. A debate can then happen where each freeman plays a role in deciding what goes into the charter. I would suggest having strict rules where each person speak for a fixed period of time with no interruption, and the allotted character writing the charter. This can lead to a piece of extended writing. There are differentiated version of both activities.