Explores crime and punishment in the Middle Ages. After defining a few key terms, the students watch a 3 min YouTube video and then describe some medieval torture techniques and punishments. The teacher then explains how the trials by ordeal worked. Next, there is a paired activity where the students use a worksheet to look at change and continuity from the early to later Middle Ages. The lesson ends with a wrtitten task to bring it all together. Enjoy!

Explores the way Norman castles were attacked and defended. Features included are battering rams, catapults, trebuchets, seige towers, keeps, moats, drawbridges, portcullises, arrow slits and murder holes. The starter asks the students to identify features of a Norman castle. The main task involves describing different features and saying whether they were used to attack or defend. I have included a gap fill version of the worksheet for students who you think may need a little extra assistance. The slides with the information can be delivered by the teacher or stuck around the classroom for a carousel activity (that’s how I do it). The lesson ends with a written task to show their knowledge. Enjoy!

Explores the work of Joseph Bazalgette and John Snow to improve public health in Victorian London and stop the Cholera epedemic. There is 2hrs+ of material here and I tend to do it over two or even three lessons. After a picture starter and a brief fact file on each character, the students watch a 50 minute video with a question sheet. I have put three links to the video in the notes of the slide, just in case one gets taken down. I have my own copy, which can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seven-Wonders-Industrial-World-DVD/dp/B0006B15JI I also use the Transcontinental Railroad episode from this DVD in a different lesson so if you find this lesson works well I would recommend buying a copy. I tend to pause the video every 15-20 mins so the students can feed back and I can check for understanding. After another picture starter for lesson two, there is a worksheet with some information, sources and activities. Depending on the group, I sometimes drop some of the more difficult activities but it is all easy enough to tweak for your class. Finally, there is a ‘How far do you agree?’ exam question with some guidance for structure and sentence starters. Depending on how long we spend on the video, I sometimes drop this but it’s there if you need it. This works well with both my KS3 and GCSE groups. Enjoy!

This lesson explores medicine in the Middle Ages. It begins by looking at some amusing and surprising medieval treatments. The students then carry out some research around the physician, the apothecary, the barber surgeon and the housewife. The groups of students then teach each other what they have learnt (this is easily changed if you don’t want to do it as group work). After a quick AfL task they then compare medieval medicine with modern medicine in a written task. I have provided a structure strip for this which you might want to use with some of the students. Enjoy!

This lesson explores the Triple Trawler Tragedy in Hull in 1968. The tragedy was followed by a campaign by many of the trawlermens’ wives, known as the Headscarf Revolutionaries. I plan on uploading a second lesson about this in the future. This lesson focuses on the actual events of the tragedy and the sinking of the three ships. It includes a starter, a film clip with a question sheet (and answer sheet) and a selection of written tasks differentiated at different levels. Enjoy!

This lesson looks at castles built by William after his victory at Hastings. It works well for GCSE or KS3. The lesson includes labelling the features of a Motte and Bailey castle, considering the effect of these castles on the local population and a task where the students explore how to attack these castles and the features of their defence. Enjoy!

Explores the highs and lows of the life of Bishop Odo. The lesson includes a picture starter, a storyboard task and an exam question. Please note - The Pearson textbook - Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is used to add extra information in this lesson. If you use a different textbook, you will need to alter the page numbers on the slides accordingly. Thanks, enjoy!

This lesson explores the changes to the church after the Norman invasion, looking at the differences between Stigand and Lanfranc. It includes a starter, a video, a Venn diagram task and a written task. It works well for GCSE and KS3. Please note - The Pearson textbook - Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is used to add extra information in this lesson. If you use a different textbook, you will need to alter the page numbers on the slides accordingly. Thanks, enjoy!

This lesson explores how England changed after the Norman invasion in 1066. It includes how the Normans introduced the feudal system, built castles, changed everyday language and many other changes. The lesson starts with a quick identification starter. There is then a task involving categorising factors. This is then brought together in a comic strip task and the lesson ends with a true or false quiz. Enjoy!

Explores the role of monasteries in the Middle Ages. After a quick starter to get them thinking the students evaluate the different roles of the monastery in society. After a differentiated written task the students then carry out some quick AfL. The lesson ends with a second written task. Enjoy!

Explores the Domesday Book - what it was and why it was created. After a quick starter to get the students thinking and a brief video, they move onto the main task. This involves carrying out their own Domesday survey based on five villages detailled in the information document. These can be stuck around the classroom for the students to move around or you could adapt it if you do not wish to deliver it this way. There are two versions of the survey sheet, one is slightly easier to complete to aid with differentiation. I have also included a completed copy for the teacher so that you can go through the answers. The lesson ends with a written task to bring it all together. I always find this to be a fun and engaging lesson. Enjoy!

Explores life in a village in the Middle Ages. The starter involves labelling a picture of a village. They then look at villeins, freemen and the Lord of the Manor. There are two written tasks, both of which can be assisted with the handout I have included. The lesson ends with a quick AfL task. Enjoy!

Explores the Harrying of the North 1069-1070 by William I and the Normans. After a picture starter and some information, the students carry out a task which involves analysing a collection of sources. The written task is in the form of a newspaper article either from the Saxon or Norman point of view to further develop their understanding of bias. There are printable templates of the newspaper in the slides and also a differentiated version for the students who you think may benefit from a slightly easier version. You end with a Harrying of the North crossword (answers on the slideshow). Enjoy!

Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self isolation, school closure or revision - Types of Clouds and Rain - KS3 Geography. This lesson covers cirrus, cumulus and stratus clouds and then moves on to relief, convectional and frontal rainfall. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the information over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed and links to videos are included to help them understand. Enjoy!

Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self isolation, school closure or revision - Nazi Racial Beliefs and Policies - GCSE Germany. This lesson covers the Nazis’ racial hierarchy, source analysis, eugenics and antisemitism. It has many tasks for the students to complete including defining keywords, analysing sources, taking notes and creating a timeline. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the information over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed is included to help them understand. Enjoy!

Two lessons exploring Nelson Mandela. Lesson 01 focuses on apartheid in South Africa before introducing Nelson Mandela. Lesson 02 explores the highs and lows of Nelson Mandela’s life. I created this for KS3 but it will work well with all ages. Activities include: Starters (one image-based, the other a quick word game) Source enquiry Written tasks Videos (1 included plus a link to a second video on YouTube) Fortune graph task Chronology task Enjoy!

Explores the life of Leonardo da Vinci and considers both his achievements and limitations by mainly focusing on his inventions, along with some of his art. I produced this lesson for KS3 but it will work well with all age ranges. The lesson includes a starter, a link to a video, an A3 information sheet for the main task, a ‘carousel’ version of the information sheet if you wish to stick the info around the classroom, a ‘positives and negatives’ task and an exam question. Enjoy!

This lesson explores the battle of Thermopylae and the legend of the 300 Spartans. It uses three sources: a documentary clip, a film trailer and a primary source from Herodotus’ The Histories (this has been differentiated to make it easier for KS3 students to understand). All of the resources needed for this lesson are included in the download. My students really liked this lesson - enjoy!

Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self isolation, school closure or revision - How useful are these Whitechapel sources? - GCSE Crime and Punishment. This is a double lesson with both sessions being based around the ‘How useful is this source’ question on the Whitechapel paper. It gives guidance on how to answer the question and then a variety of sources to practice. The students use the information and video links to answer the questions on the worksheets. This is designed to be set remotely but I have also found it works well in the classroom with a few small tweaks. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the worksheet over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed and links to videos are included to help them understand. Enjoy!

Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self isolation, school closure or revision - Tropical Storms - KS3 Geography. This lesson covers what tropical storms are, their different names and how/why they form. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the information over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed and links to videos are included to help them understand. Enjoy!