World War II The aim of this lesson is to decide if Winston Churchill deserves the title as the ‘Greatest Briton’? When the BBC conducted a poll entitled ‘Who is the Greatest Briton?’ Winston Churchill came out on top, besting some strong competition. This lesson therefore challenges this assumption and evaluates the four areas the BBC cites as his fortitude; for being the greatest British Gentleman, for inspiring the nation, for symbolising the spirit and strength of Britain and for his comforting speeches. The evidence for this task is through radio broadcasts, video footage and source analysis (using a battery rating) from which students will conclude and either concur or not with the poll. A splat the bubble plenary will test their new assumptions. This lesson is ideal as preparation for GCSE if you are embedding source skills or teaching the interwar years or WWII at Key stage 4. It is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. The resource includes retrieval practice activities, suggested teaching strategies and differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

The French Revolution The aim of this lesson to be judge how much Britain had to fear from Napoleon. The first learning task for the students is to analyse a map of Europe in 1810, when Napoleon was considered at the height of his power, and work out which European countries were ruled over by France. There is some source scholarship on Napoleon’s army to give some context on why it was so successful. The main task is to decide how much Britain had to fear from Napoleon. Students have to emoji rate each part of Napoleon’s power, from battles, to his rule in France and his attempted invasion of Britain, before his defeat at the Battle of Trafalgar and subsequent imposition of his continental system. Students can give their overall judgements in a written task, with key words and a writing frame to help if required. As Napoleon’s power declined and therefore his fear factor, students are required to finalise his demise deciphering a dual coding task. The plenary requires them to choose the correct answers, which focus on Napoleon’s health problems and ultimate reasons for his failure and final exile to St Helena. The lesson comes with differentiated materials, suggested teaching and learning strategies and is linked to the latest historical interpretations, video clips and debate. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. It is fully adaptable in PowerPoint format and can be changed to suit.

Cold War The aims of this lesson are to explain how weapons developed during and after World War 2. The new destructive power of the atomic bomb is shown in a great video link and students colour code a worksheet (differentiated) with challenge questions to describe and explain the development of the arms race. Facts and figures are also given which students have to interpret, as well as key word tasks and source analysis, with help given if required. The plenary is literally an arms ‘race’ complete with interactive dice and bombs as board pieces. The central enquiry of this and subsequent lessons is to ask why did civilians fear for their lives? Students will map out their ideas each lesson (which can be plotted in different colours or dates to show the progress of their learning and centred around the key question) and build up a picture of how these and different countries in the world responded and acted in this new nuclear age. The resource comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change and is differentiated. I have also included suggested teaching strategies to deliver the lesson.

The Suffragettes The aim of this lesson is to analyse previous perceptions of women and their role at home and in the family (the Angel on the House). Students scrutinise how women were treated in Victorian Britain with discrimination from society as well as the law and give their own analysis and judgements using sources from the time. They can do this through discussion or through an extended writing task, with help given if required. There are examples of how women were treated and a case study of a wife in an abusive marriage. The lesson includes written sources and video evidence. The plenary requires the students to show their new knowledge and comprehension of life for women at the time. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

The English Civil War The aim of this lesson is to decide why an audacious plot was hatched against James 1 and why might the plotters themselves be framed by the Government itself. This lesson is therefore split into two. The first half examines the men and their roles in the infamous plot to blow up the King in 1605. Students are introduced through talking heads to Guy Fawkes and King James. They also study sources from the time, including Robert Cecil’s account of the plot and analyse the words trying to make inferences between fact and fiction. A model answer is provided to aid their analytical skills. Furthermore they will evaluate the causes and consequences of the plot and its significance today. The second part of the lesson will require the interpretation of a number of sources to decide if the plotters were actually framed by Cecil and the government who allegedly knew about the plot all along and actively encouraged it. Students have to decide for themselves before reaching a judgement using key words to aid them. This is excellent groundwork for source analysis they will later tackle at GCSE. The plenary is to talk like an historian answering key questions using information from the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies and differentiated materials, and comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Germany 1890-1945: Democracy and Dictatorship This lesson analyses the reasons why Hitler executed the leaders of the SA. After a recap of the previous lesson, students start unpicking the events leading to the Night of the Long Knives. Students are put into Hitler’s shoes; who should he choose to lead him forward in his new Third Reich - the Brownshirts or the Army? The conclusions are never totally clear in favour of one or the other, making sure the students are challenged and have to think things through and justify their choices. The events are also explained through a text mapping grid which the students also have to decipher as well as video evidence. There is also a choice of two plenaries from Connect 4 to a talk like an historian quiz and some GCSE exam question practice to complete if required. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, retrieval practice, differentiated materials and comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Conflict and Tension 1918-1939 This lesson aims to question the purpose of the League of Nations and why it was set up in the first place. Students have a series of questions to think about and make inferred judgements on, before the answers are revealed. As they analyse a number of sources, video footage and statements, they build up a picture of the purpose as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the League of Nations. This gives them a great foundation to build upon, as they scrutinise the League’s structure and responses to world crises in subsequent lessons. Ultimately as they analyse the aims of the League of Nations, they will be able to evaluate if those aims were ever met throughout the course. The plenary requires them to sum up what they have learnt with a focus upon the strengths of the League of Nations. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, some retrieval practice, differentiated materials and comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to analyse the reasons why England went to war with Spain. A first part of the lesson is focused on Elizabeth’s policies in the Netherlands and how this antagonism finally led to war. The second part of the lesson analyses the reasons why the Spanish Armada failed. Whilst students appraise Philip’s plans for the invasion, they also have to make connections throughout its voyage as to why it was doomed from the start. Included is a significance activity to complete, where students rate how important each event is in relation to Philip’s decision to go to war. There is some exam practice to complete if required and a plenary which tests students’ ability to debate and counter argue. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

The Tudors The aim of this lesson is to assess if Henry broke with Rome for love. Henry VIII is on the TV show ‘Take me out’ with Paddy McGuiness. He is looking for love and has some questions for some eligible ladies. The students of course have to interview the ladies first (as Paddy always does) and then feedback to the class. Henry, complete with speaking voice, discusses his options and the reasons for his choices. At the same time he explains the consequences of his actions as the students fill in a grid. This is a fun, engaging lesson, but with the serious and challenging concept of the break with Rome at the fore. At the end of the lesson, students have to write an extended paragraph using key words to explaining the reasons for Henry becoming the Supreme Head of the Church. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, retrieval practice, differentiated materials and comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to question whether the breaking of the Enigma Code led to Britain winning the Second World War. Having watched the ‘Imitation Game’, I was fascinated to learn more about the story of Alan Turing and the injustice he received at the hands of the British Government. I was therefore inspired to write this lesson for my department especially after his contribution to the war effort and his brilliance of mind. The first task naturally is for students to crack the code and find out what they will be learning about in the lesson. They will also learn about the significance of Bletchley Park and how the code for the Enigma Machine was deciphered by Turing and his team in Hut 8, using a missing word activity. A thinking quilt will also test and challenge their understanding of his early life, his work during the war as well as his legacy. There are some excellent video links using the bbc website and an exert from the film above. The plenary will finally test their understanding of the lesson, using a true and false quiz as well as images to link to the key ideas of the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning. The resource includes retrieval practice activities, suggested teaching strategies and differentiated materials, and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 The aim of this lesson is to analyse the significance of the fall of the Berlin Wall and the impact upon Europe with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Students begin by recapping key facts about the Wall and how citizens of East Germany could travel to the west through Austria. They will learn how the fall and destruction of the wall came about an given significance ratings to ten consequences, which students can use to complete an extended writing task. There are some excellent video links to watch as well as images to decipher during the lesson. A GCSE question tackling the importance of the fall of the wall can be completed at the end of the lesson with help and a writing frame provided. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout this and subsequent lessons to show the progress of learning. The lessons in this bundle are therefore linked together to build up a picture of how diplomacy, propaganda and spying led two Superpowers with opposing political ideologies to create tensions, rivalries and distrust as well as subsequently forming mutual understanding and cooperation over the time period in question. The resource includes retrieval practice, suggested teaching strategies, differentiated material and GCSE question practice. It comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the role Henry VIII played in Europe and if he did indeed play third fiddle throughout. Students begin the lesson by recapping Henry VII’s foreign policy and are also introduced to the new players in Europe in their respective countries. They are given numerous facts and scenarios where Wolsey and Henry attempt to assert their authority and political craft in Europe, from which students decide how effective and far reaching their policies were. They will be required to justify their decisions at the end and ultimately decide if they were major players in Europe or just pawns of France and Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor. The plenary analyses an extract, from which students use their newly acquired knowledge to test its judgement. There is some exam practice to complete with writing frame and markscheme to use if required. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to assess the short and long term impact of the dissolution of the monasteries. Students learn about the role monasteries played in English society and how they became a fundamental part of the break with Rome. They are given the facts of the dissolution by numbers to help them evaluate the impact of the dissolution as well as the techniques Cromwell used to close them. There are some great video links included as well as shocking revelations brought to light. The plenary allows students to reflect on how various sections of society accepted or disputed the dissolution. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to assess the success of Mary’s marriage to Philip of Spain and the significance of the Wyatt rebellion. Students begin by deciding the pros and cons of marrying Philip and what Mary should consider before entering a union and alliance with a powerful Catholic ally. Furthermore they will be given details of the marriage and all its clauses and evaluate who benefited more from it both personally and politically. Students will also analyse the consequences of the marriage with the subsequent Wyatt rebellion and decide how significant and threatening it really was by plotting their thoughts on a grid. The plenary uses some differentiated questioning to check understanding and challenge their understanding in the wider context of the political situation at the time. There is an enquiry question posed at the start and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

The aim of the lesson is to question if Japan was justified in attacking Pearl Harbour without a declaration of war against the United States. This question is revisited later in the lesson to see if the students have changed their minds. As this is a new theatre of war and not in Europe, the lesson sets out clearly where the war was fought in the Pacific, the location of Pearl Harbour and its significance to the USA. Students are required to discover what Japan wanted and the reasons behind their surprise attack with a choice of options available to piece the jigsaw together. An excellent activity of Pearl Harbour in numbers, which is an idea from KNNTeach, enables students to clearly recognise the initial damage done to Pearl Harbour by the Japanese attack. There are video links to film footage as well as a plenary activity from which the students have to make up questions to the answers given on post it notes. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format is there is a wish to change and adapt.

AQA GCSE 9-1 Britain: Health and the People, c1000 to present The aim of the lesson is for students to understand how attitudes towards Public Health finally changed in the Twentieth Century with a ‘new liberalism’ approach which recognised that being poor was not always the fault of the poor and that the government had to do something. Students begin by analysing the source, 'unqualified assistance’, evaluating its significance and then prioritising the main reasons for this new approach, as the Government reforms aimed to create a fitter and healthier Britain. Students have to fill in a grid which link the main reforms to the different groups in society and also evaluate the limitations of the reforms. The plenary focuses on a scrabble game and literacy skills to recap the learning of the lesson The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. The resource comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change. I have also included suggested teaching strategies to deliver the lesson and there are differentiated materials included.

The aim of this lesson is for students to analyse and evaluate the winning tactics used in by William in the Battle of Hastings Students commence by analysing the Bayeux Tapestry, sources of the battle and information on the leadership qualities of the two combatants. They then complete a differentiated task using a storyboard to map out the events of the battle before completing a summarising pyramid on William’s skills. There is also a chance to recreate the battle with suggestions of role play before the plenary requires some recall and retention skills. An optional homework suggestion is also provided. The resource is therefore differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. It comes in PowerPoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

The aim of this lesson is to assess the validity of four claimants to the English throne in 1066. It also includes a script for those students who prefer a more kinaesthetic approach to this topic. Each contender is introduced and students have to assess who has the best claim to the English throne, which on the face of it is a difficult choice, which each having a strong argument and motive. This can also be completed by colour coding thermometers and rating them out of ten before making a substantiated conclusion. There are differentiated questions to ask the students once this task has been completed. The plenary asks them to think outside the box and link pictures to the issues and contentions raised. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. It comes in PowerPoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.