Year 7 History Introduction Lesson – What is History? | Source Skills & Chronology | KS3

This fully resourced Year 7 History introductory lesson is perfect for the start of the KS3 curriculum. Designed to spark curiosity and build foundational historical skills, this engaging PowerPoint explores the question: “What is History?”

Students are introduced to key concepts through a range of interactive and accessible tasks that establish core disciplinary skills, including chronology, inference, and source analysis.

** What’s included?**
A full lesson PowerPoint covering:

• Frayer Model Task: Exploring the definition and meaning of “History”
• Chronology Activity: Understanding BC/AD (BCE/CE) and ordering key historical events
• Source Skills Investigation: A fun, personal “What can we learn from Mrs W-B’s bag?” source analysis task that models how historians interpret the past
• Exercise Book Set-Up Instructions: Editable to suit your department’s format
• Think-Pair-Share prompts and challenge boxes to stretch all learners
• Learning outcomes are clearly displayed and student-friendly
• Promotes discussion, inference, and critical thinking from the very first lesson

Perfect for:

• Year 7 first history lesson of the year
• KS3 History introductions
• Establishing routines and expectations while building core historical skills

Why teachers love it:

• High engagement, zero printing required
• Easy to adapt to suit your own school/department
• Builds confidence in students new to secondary History