The aim of the lesson is for the students to judge how much Chairman Mao Zedong changed China. It is useful as a stand-alone lesson on China, as part of a greater Cold War scheme of work, or in conjunction with my other China lessons (where this forms the first part). Lesson begins with a source analysis of the carving up of China. Then students’ knowledge of China is discussed with a Round Robin activity. Students will then learn about the background of Communism in China, with the Century of Humiliation (including colonisation, the Opium Wars and China in WWII) being analysed. The main task is looking at the problems the ‘New China’ faced and how Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party set about fixing them. This looks at economic growth in the First and Second Five Year Plans, analyses GDP growth and military threats to China, including the Korean War and US involvement in Vietnam. The lesson concludes with an extended writing activity with the students writing about the changes they have seen under the leadership of the CCP in a letter; allowing students to make their own assumptions and judgements on the class content. Some key words and phrases from the lesson: Century of Humiliation Opium War Ideology Economy Five Year Plan GDP Korean War Vietnam War This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint as well as documents for printing.

This lesson asks the question 'Were the Mujahadeen ‘freedom fighters’ or ‘terrorists’? The lesson uses Cold War movies such as Rocky IV and Rambo III to show how the US framed the Mujahadeen. Student then investigate, was that accurate? (This lesson has a lot of content and could be split over two lessons). This lesson is useful as a stand-alone lesson on the Soviet-Afghan War, on propaganda, media, or as part of a greater Cold War scheme of work. Lesson begins with Cold War retrieval practice questions. Key words are explicitly taught with the focus of the lesson being put in the students’ minds. Students will then investigate the key question with an analysis of Rocky IV and Rambo III, making a judgment on how the Americans portrayed both the Mujahadeen and the Soviets. Students will then research the war itself, this can be done as a teacher-led activity, individually or as group work. Using the information the students have put together, they will make a reasoned judgment in an extended writing task. Some key words and phrases from the lesson: Cold War, proxy war, Mujahadeen, terrorist, freedom fighter, bias, propaganda, communism This is a fully resourced lesson including a PowerPoint with videos embedded.

This is a full lesson with resources, including videos embedded. It works with any exam board investigating Stresemann’s foreign policies and made with Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Weimar and Nazi Germany 1918-39 in mind. This lesson looks at: ‘How did Stresemann improve Germany’s international position?’ Lesson outline: Begins with retrieval practice questions on issues from 1918-1920s. Students then are given key words to study. Comprehension task recapping economic recovery, rentenmark, reichsmark, Dawes Plan, Young Plan. Students practice GCSE skill analysing a primary source answering a mock question. Investigation task into the main elements of Stresemann’s foreign policy: Locarno Pact, League of Nations and the Kellogg-Briand Pact. Analysis of the effect on domestic politics Writing task to consolidate knowledge on Stresemann. Key points recapped; teacher-led Plenary quiz