Inspirational and Significant People – KS2 History (and PSHE) Two-Lesson Pack

Introduce your pupils to the lives and legacies of influential figures past and present with this engaging two-part lesson pack. Designed for KS2, these interactive lessons combine discussion, categorisation, vocabulary building, and independent research to help learners explore what makes someone inspirational or historically significant.

What’s Included:

• Two fully resourced ActivInspire flipchart lessons (PDF included).
• Interactive games and discussion prompts.
• Printable/editable name/field categorisation game.
• Vocabulary building slides (e.g., significant, influential, legacy).
• Research profiles task (6 key figures) with optional extension.

Figures Studied (Session 2):

• Taylor Swift – Artist
• Albert Einstein – Scientist
• Marie Curie – Scientist
• Nelson Mandela – Leader/Activist
• Marilyn Monroe – Artist
• Leonardo da Vinci – Artist/Scientist

Key Features:

• Encourages critical thinking about influence and impact
• Introduces complex vocabulary in a KS2-friendly way
• Adaptable for History, PSHE, or English/Literacy cross-curricular links
• Supports speaking, listening, and independent research
• Suitable for individual work, paired activities, and whole-class discussion

Perfect For

• KS2 History/PSHE /Citizenship lessons
• Used as part of the IPC (International Primary Curriculum) unit ‘They Made A Difference’.
• Themed weeks/Black History Month/International Women’s Day
• Cover lessons or enrichment sessions