Help your learners explore the difference between fame and true significance with this thought-provoking, two-part lesson pack. Through discussion, visual prompts, and collaborative activities, pupils will investigate what qualities make people historically important — and distinguish between those who are merely well-known and those who made a meaningful contribution to the world.
What’s Included:
Fully editable ActivInspire flipchart slides (PDF included).
Session 1 – What Makes Someone Significant?
- Interactive starter and discussion prompts: Are significant people special?
- Exploration of seven key qualities: wisdom, motivation, intelligence, courage, ambition, resilience, innovation
- Case study analysis: Einstein, Curie, da Vinci, Mandela, and more
- Group activity: apply key qualities to historical and modern figures
- Plenary: share findings and present most interesting case to the class
Session 2 – Famous vs. Significant
- Vocabulary and concept focus: significance, fame, celebrity, contribution
- Critical thinking discussion with visual Venn diagram prompts
- Class collaboration: build a shared Venn diagram
- Sorting activity: classify individuals as famous, significant, or both
- Plenary: watch and reflect on Shakespeare’s lasting impact
Key Features:
- Fully resourced and editable ActivInspire flipchart lessons
- Encourages high-level thinking and respectful discussion
- Ideal for History, PSHE or Literacy links
- Supports British values: recognising individual liberty, mutual respect, and contributions to society
- Links to the UK National Curriculum – adaptable for international frameworks
Perfect For:
- KS2/KS3 History, PSHE or cross-curricular Humanities
- Used as part of the IPC (International Primary Curriculum) unit ‘They Made A Difference’.
- Inspirational assemblies or project launch lessons
- Whole-class discussions or paired work
- Black History Month, Women’s History Month, STEM weeks, or end-of-term thinking activities
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