Middle school history resources

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y8.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y8.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7. Link to video in the notes on the PPT.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

Fully resourced lesson which has been taught to Y7.

The lesson starts with a task aimed at getting students to recall what they already know about Theseus through the study of his labours. Next the lesson focuses on the three versions of the Ariadne myth with a set of questions designed to look at the myth from their own perspective, but also through the eyes of an ancient Athenian. After this students are introduced to Theseus’ significance as king of Athens and then are presented with an extract from Plutarch’s Life of Theseus and asked 5 questions (can be printed as a handout) designed to get students thinking more deeply about primary sources in Classical Civilisation. Finally they need to consider why Plutarch decided to parallel Theseus to Romulus, even though their roles in terms of founding their respective cities are different. Students then read through the relevant parts of Euripides’ Heracles (included) and are asked 3 questions to answer for each part. Students can be assigned a different character and the relevant part of the play for students is split into six- From when Heracles learns he has murdered his wife and children, to the end of the play. This allows the play to be accessible and a chance for the teacher to address any misunderstandings or misconceptions. Obviously there is a focus on Theseus despite the name of the play, since it is Theseus who proves the greater man at the end of the play. 1 and 2 mark questions then follow based on their learning in the unit so far and finally there is an 8 mark comparative exam question. Students can recall their prior knowledge of Heracles’ association with Olympia from earlier in the course, and compare it to Theseus’ association with Athens. There is an extension task added on which involves students imagining they are at Theseus’ public funeral and writing an appropriate eulogy for him. This is designed for students to summarise their knowledge of Theseus’ life and demonstrate their ability to highlight the most significant moments.

The lesson starts by asking students what the lesson might be about based on a set of abstract images. It assumes some prior knowledge about the basics of Theseus’s life e.g. How he was born and who he was. Included in the powerpoint which can be printed A3 or A4 is a worksheet which students can fill in with information about each of Theseus’ labours as you go through them on the board. Students are introduced to the kylix depicting the labours of Theseus housed in the British Museum. As a prescribed source for the GCSE, it is crucial that students know which labour is depicted where on the kylix itself. This powerpoint provides rotated and enlarged versions of each depiction at the appropriate points in the lesson. This ensures that students are constantly thinking not only about Theseus’ labours, but also how they are depicted on the kylix at all times. All the information students need to know about each of Theseus’ labours for the new Classical Civilisation OCR 9-1 GCSE is included. Having already studied Heracles earlier on in the course. There are questions to prompt comparisons with Theseus’ contemporary hero – in particular in the labours that they undertake and the way in which they go about doing them. This comparative thinking will help with the exam question at the end of the lesson. There is a link to a short animation (appropriate for all ages) included to his final labour: the defeat of the Minotaur which students can use to enhance their understanding of this story. The kylix is then referred back to as students are asked to contemplate how appropriate each depiction on the kylix is based on what they know about their labour, followed by a ranking and justification task. Finally, an 8 mark comparison question is included. It is designed to take them 8 minutes as per the timings on the paper at GSCE, and as a support there are sentence starters and helpful tips available to those that might need it. An extension task is also included which encourages the comparison with Heracles.

A series of fun and impactful revision games. These make revision fun and lead to student led learning.

Andrew Marr - History of the World - Age of Industry - Episode 7 Supporting worksheet for independent/enrichment/extension activity. Best used with topics to do with the Industrial Revolution. How Britain’s Industrial Revolution created the modern world. Segments: George Stephenson and the construction of the steam locomotive 1825; the Opium Wars in China 1839-1860; serfdom and Leo Tolstoy in Russia 1853; Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War 1860; the end of the Samurai and the development of modern Japan 1877; Leopold II and the Scramble for Africa 1881-1914; the First World War and Arthur Zimmermann 1914-1918.

Lesson focussing on what the problems were with Public Health and how John Snow helped the cholera outbreak of 1854. This is tailored to a Year 7 group, but is easily adaptable throughout the Key Stages. Excellent resources are provided, and the plenary starts to look into source utility (briefly - but can be used as a starting point)

This is a PPT and worksheet about the Medieval Manor. It is suitable for mixed ability classes for KS3 and Junior Cert. It has a series of lower order questions based on the functions of important buildings around the manor and then a longer question for the students to design their own manor. If you liked this resource, please review and have a look at my other resources!

This guide is aimed at both teachers and students to help them study, revise and be prepared for the AQA Elizabeth I 1568-1603 Historic Environment question for 2019. I have included 5 possible examination questions and broken down the main details of the Globe into manageable chunks using what I call the 5 P’s. This guide, using many p words for simplification, also focuses on the main concepts of location, function, structure, design, people connected to it, the culture, values and fashions of the time and how the site links to important events of the period. I have also collaborated with Carmel Bones and teachers who attending the AQA course in London on 18th June this year to write this guide of whom I am extremely grateful for their inspiration. Carmel Bones is a leading specialist and writer for Elizabethan England and delivers AQA courses on Elizabethan England as well as for Hodder Education and has written for BBC Bitesize. I would welcome any reviews on this resource which would be much appreciated. If you like the resource, please check out my AQA Elizabeth Revision Guide, c.1568-1603 which can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-gcse-9-1-revision-guide-elizabethan-england-c-1568-1603-11806156 You can also download my free copy of the previous Historic Environment Question on Hardwick Hall for 2018 which can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/aqa-gcse-9-1-revision-guide-historic-environment-hardwick-hall-2018-11810703

Engaging starter of key questions about general beliefs, linked to those of the Nazis. Link to a clip on the impact of the treaty of Versailles Anagrams of main Nazi demands Worksheet to complete on the main Nazi ideologies Source analysis of a farmer who became a Nazi supporter.

This is a Y7 outline scheme of work which includes a brief overview of every lesson for the Autumn term. Included are two student assessments and markschemes (based on GCSE examination style questions) and two homework booklets where the emphasis is mainly on short learning homeworks for a weekly fact test and including revision activities to complete. There is also a baseline assessment with mark scheme for Y7 to assess knowledge and skills at the beginning of KS3. The Topics studied are Medieval History and Historical skills.

Every year, I keep getting asked if I am creating another quiz because everyone seems to love them. As we finish school on the 22nd of June this year, I have been able to get this one made during times when the kids are involved in end of year activities! I was lucky as it is so time consuming! The music round alone took me 4 hours to create and I was able to do it whilst kids were on a out of school visit! This will fill a full hour including the marking, but you must be tight on timing. I would suggest for each picture in the places round - 10 seconds. For the personalities round 2 minutes and for the wotz dat?? round 3 minutes maximum. The conundrum round should have no more than 10 minutes, but they should be able to do it in 5 as the focus is English punctuation and there are only so many forms of punctuation. The music round takes 15 minutes (video I have created). My quizzes usually prove to be very popular and the kids love them! Enjoy!

Power point using David Low’s “they salute with both hands now” and a Goebbels extract to test students understanding of source analysis. Gap fill and activity on the causes and consequences of the Night of the Long knives and a brief overview of Hindenburg’s death.

A power point presentation, a worksheet and an information sheet for your students to complete several activities and be quiet ;)

A power point and 3 worksheets for a whole period on British empire. A good introduction for your students of any level

Custom Books is a resource created for a project with children who were in KS2-KS3. The resource may be useful for local history studies and as a stimulus for children to create their own chap book about a topic of their choosing. The project was awarded National Lottery funding, through the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and as part of our agreement we said we would create and share this resource. Context Children became researchers, finding out about the history of The Customs House and chap books. Chap Books were an early type of book made from a folded piece of paper. We were helped by The Word (National Centre for the Written Word) in South Shields and the National Libraries of Scotland. The young people used their research to create their own book, working with a heritage-arts educator, sharing their history of The Customs House with our community. Content The resource includes: Our research into chap books using The Word; National Centre for the Written Word local history collection in South Shields and information from The National Library of Scotland. Pages from our chap book about the history of The Customs House in South Shields and it’s impact on the town. Further Research • www.customshouse.co.uk/learning-participation/ • https://theworduk.org • https://www.nls.uk/ Written by Elizabeth Kane Learning Officer on behalf of The Customs House (2018) If you wish to offer any feedback please email Elizabeth@customshouse.co.uk With thanks to Catrin Galt from The Word and Dr Anette Hagan from NLS. Version 1 uploaded 21/6/2018

1 hour-long lesson, cross referenced with 3 revision guides.

1 hour-long lesson, cross referenced with 3 revision guides.

The aim of this lesson is to introduce the concept of ‘Black Power’ to pupils. The lesson begins with pupils inferring and discussing a source of evidence showing a black man tied down by the non-violent events which has happened so far during the Civil Rights Movement - this leads into the introduction of the need for violence to achieve black peoples aims. Pupils watch a short video on the Mexico Olympics of 1968 to help introduce this – before being introduced to the Black Panthers through a listening activity from an interview with Huey Newton and a study of the Panthers 10-point programme. The main task involves pupils studying a card sort and categorizing the successes and failures of the movement. Pupils could mix - pair - share to help do this or simply working individually or in pairs before forming an overall judgment on the success of the movement. Pupils then consolidate their learning with a short video before answering an exam style balanced answer statement question. Further advice can be found in the description of the presentation - all videos are embedded (links also provided).

Students read through the background notes before using this knowledge to help them create a physical timeline in the form of a road map. Click the link to watch just how powerful a teaching strategy this can be for raising chronological awareness as well as boosting subject knowledge significantly. I hope your students enjoy the lesson as much as mine do!

In this lesson your students will read through background knowledge before using this to complete a chronological card sort activity. I hope your students get as much out of it as I know mine do. Leads in ever so nicely to my follow up lessons on failures of the 1930s and allows for students to give more textured and two-sided responses.

A colourful Early Elizabethan England A3 Revision sheet containing a detailed overview of the knowledge needed for the Edexcel History GCSE 1-9 course

A power point presentation and two video activities with a set of question will keep your students occupied for a whole period

This is a colourful A3 revision sheet containing an overview of all of the knowledge used in the Weimar and Nazi Germany unit in the Edexcel History GCSE. USeful for student revision

In this lesson students read through precise and carefully selected knowledge in the background notes before attempting a colour-coordinated hexagonal card sort. This helps them break reasons for the Key Question down into factors and also offers them the opportunity to make and explain links between the evidence they choose. My students really enjoy this lesson and I hope yours get just as much out of it as mine do.

Saint George Handout - 24 pages

A power point activity about Equiano’s life.

In this lesson students read through a really detailed set of background notes before completing a colour-coded hexagonal card sort to show both factors and links. Please watch the video attached to see how my students use these materials to help them master the key question. I hope your students get as much out of this lesson as I know mine do. And if you enjoyed this free resource feel free to browse through my shop where I have loads more lessons for you to download!

During this lesson students work their way through a fantastically precise and detailed set of background notes before completing a 33 piece evidence sort. Students are asked to arrange the evidence firstly into industrial and agricultural, and then into successes and failures. This is a brilliant lesson which suits many learners’ needs and in particular which appeals to high-end learners. I hope your students get as much from this set of activities as mine do. If you watch the short video clip attached you can see some of my students putting this knowledge to good use.