Accessible History resources for secondary age students of all abilities but with lots of challenge too - differentiation from the top-down.
All resources created by an experienced HoD at a 11-18 non-selective secondary school.
Aiming for fair prices - costs reflect the effort behind the resource. For everything with a price tag there should be a free resource on the same topic or theme to show the standard / style etc before you buy. Hope this makes sense.
Accessible History resources for secondary age students of all abilities but with lots of challenge too - differentiation from the top-down.
All resources created by an experienced HoD at a 11-18 non-selective secondary school.
Aiming for fair prices - costs reflect the effort behind the resource. For everything with a price tag there should be a free resource on the same topic or theme to show the standard / style etc before you buy. Hope this makes sense.
Christmas Quizzes 1 & 2
Christmas Quiz 1: For younger secondary students - designed for KS3.
Christmas Quiz 2: For older secondary students - designed for KS4 and above
Both quizzes are mixed bags, see summary of rounds at the bottom, and tried to cover as many bases as possible over many rounds. Lots of multiple choice questions and answers follow after each round.
Hope it helps at the end of term!
Quiz 1 example questions…
Rd. 1 -Christmas Geography
Example: In Canada, Santa has been given his own postcode - ‘HOH OHO’. True or false?
Rd. 2 - Christmas History
Example: In the court of King Henry II (1154-1189), what unusual form of entertainment did a jester called Roland perform for the king every Christmas?
a. Farting
b. Burbing
c. Picking his nose
Rd. 3 - Name that creature (that is loosely connected to Christmas)!
Example: In The Simpsons, what is the Simpson’s family dog called?
Rd. 4 - Christmas Sport
Example: In ten pin bowling a ‘turkey’ is the odd term for how many strikes in a row?
Rd. 5 - Christmas Movies
Example: In the film Elf, Buddy says elves stick to four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns - and what else?
Rd. 6 - World Christmas! Match the tradition to the correct country.
Example: Hide your broom! People hide brooms as they believe witches come out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on! (Norway)
Rd. 7 - Christmas Music!
Example: In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, what did a true love give on the 6th day of Christmas?
a. 6 pipers piping
b. 6 drummers drumming
c. 6 geese-a-laying
Rd. 8 - Collective nouns! Match the collective noun to the correct Christmas animal.
Example: A caravan or train of… (Camels)
Rd. 9 - Christmas Science & nature
Example: Which scientist, born on Christmas Day, discovered the law of gravity? Clue: He saw an apple fall from a tree!
Rd. 10 - Christmas Potluck
Example: What colour was Santa’s suit until Coca Cola rebranded him in red?
Quiz 2 example questions…
Rd. 1 -Christmas Geography
Example: In which country do people traditionally eat KFC for Christmas dinner?
a. USA
b. Japan
c. South Korea
Rd. 2 - Christmas History
Example: In 1647 Christmas festivities were banned in England. Who was the 17th Century ‘Grinch Who Stole Christmas’?
Rd. 3 - Christmas Sport
Example: American sprinter Wilma Rudolph (see the Christmas link!?) won three gold medals at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. What colours are the Olympic rings?
Rd. 4 - Christmas Movies
Example: Name one of the bumbling burglars in Home Alone.
Rd. 5 - Collective nouns. Match the collective noun to the correct Christmas creature.
Example: An aurora or celebration of … polar bears.
Rd. 6 - Christmas Music
Example: Who first released ‘‘All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 1994?
Rd. 7 - Christmas Science & Nature
Example: What is the only element in the periodic table which has no letters in common with “Christmas Present”?
Rd. 8 - Christmas Potluck
Example: If you were born on Christmas Day, what is your star sign?
Rd. 9 - Christmas Maths
Example: There are 60 baubles on a Christmas tree. Their colors are red, gold, and green. 1/3 of the marbles are green and 1/4 of the marbles are gold. How many red baubles are there on the tree?
Christmas Quiz 2023 No.2
Christmas quiz for older secondary students - specifically designed for KS4 and above (if you want a quiz for younger students please have a look at my alternative - Christmas Quiz No.1).
Music round? Check! Sport round? Check! Science questions? Check! A bit of geography? Check! Movies? Covered!
A mixed bag of a quiz, see summary of rounds at the bottom, but tried to cover as many bases as possible over nine rounds. Lots of multiple choice questions and answers follow after each round.
Hope it helps at the end of term!
Rd. 1 -Christmas Geography
Example: In which country do people traditionally eat KFC for Christmas dinner?
a. USA
b. Japan
c. South Korea
Rd. 2 - Christmas History
Example: In 1647 Christmas festivities were banned in England. Who was the 17th Century ‘Grinch Who Stole Christmas’?
Rd. 3 - Christmas Sport
Example: American sprinter Wilma Rudolph (see the Christmas link!?) won three gold medals at the 1960 Olympic Games in Rome. What colours are the Olympic rings?
Rd. 4 - Christmas Movies
Example: Name one of the bumbling burglars in Home Alone.
Rd. 5 - Collective nouns. Match the collective noun to the correct Christmas creature.
Example: An aurora or celebration of … polar bears.
Rd. 6 - Christmas Music
Example: Who first released ‘‘All I Want for Christmas Is You” in 1994?
Rd. 7 - Christmas Science & Nature
Example: What is the only element in the periodic table which has no letters in common with “Christmas Present”?
Rd. 8 - Christmas Potluck
Example: If you were born on Christmas Day, what is your star sign?
Rd. 9 - Christmas Maths
Example: There are 60 baubles on a Christmas tree. Their colors are red, gold, and green. 1/3 of the marbles are green and 1/4 of the marbles are gold. How many red baubles are there on the tree?
No. 1 Christmas Quiz 2023!
Christmas quiz for younger secondary students - specifically designed for KS3 (if you want a quiz for older students please have a look at my alternative - Christmas Quiz No.2!).
Music round? Check! Sport round? Check! Science questions? Check! A bit of geography? Check! Movies? Covered!
A mixed bag of a quiz, see summary of rounds at the bottom, and tried to cover as many bases as possible over ten rounds. Lots of multiple choice questions and answers follow after each round.
Hope it helps at the end of term!
Rd. 1 -Christmas Geography
Example: In Canada, Santa has been given his own postcode - ‘HOH OHO’. True or false?
Rd. 2 - Christmas History
Example: In the court of King Henry II (1154-1189), what unusual form of entertainment did a jester called Roland perform for the king every Christmas?
a. Farting
b. Burbing
c. Picking his nose
Rd. 3 - Name that creature (that is loosely connected to Christmas)!
Example: In The Simpsons, what is the Simpson’s family dog called?
Rd. 4 - Christmas Sport
Example: In ten pin bowling a ‘turkey’ is the odd term for how many strikes in a row?
Rd. 5 - Christmas Movies
Example: In the film Elf, Buddy says elves stick to four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns - and what else?
Rd. 6 - World Christmas! Match the tradition to the correct country.
Example: Hide your broom! People hide brooms as they believe witches come out on Christmas Eve looking for brooms to ride on! (Norway)
Rd. 7 - Christmas Music!
Example: In the song The Twelve Days of Christmas, what did a true love give on the 6th day of Christmas?
a. 6 pipers piping
b. 6 drummers drumming
c. 6 geese-a-laying
Rd. 8 - Collective nouns! Match the collective noun to the correct Christmas animal.
Example: A caravan or train of… (Camels)
Rd. 9 - Christmas Science & nature
Example: Which scientist, born on Christmas Day, discovered the law of gravity? Clue: He saw an apple fall from a tree!
Rd. 10 - Christmas Potluck
Example: What colour was Santa’s suit until Coca Cola rebranded him in red?
End of Year Quiz 2022/23!
An end of year quiz for secondary students.
TV & music round? Check! Sport round? Check! Science questions? Check! A bit of geography? Check! Movies? Covered!
A mixed bag of a quiz, see summary of rounds at the bottom, but tried to cover as many bases as possible over 10 rounds.
When I trialled the quiz recently it appealed to a broad range of students, probably because it is a mixed bag, but tended to work better with Y8/9 or older (13/14 years old and up). My KS4 and A level classes got right into it - they’re all competitive but all mixed ability classes in a non-selective UK comprehensive secondary.
Lastly, in terms of time, the quiz fits nicely into a 60 minute lesson - 4/5 minutes a round leaving enough time for the answers.
Hope it helps at the end of term!
Rd. 1 - Name that country?
Example: Which African country has the largest population?
Rd. 2 - Collective nouns. Match the noun to the animal…
Example: An embarrassment of…?
Rd. 3 - TV & music
Example: Which Netflix show was the most streamed of 2022?
Rd. 5 - Movies
Example: Who played Bruce Wayne / Batman in the 2022 superhero movie The Batman?
Rd. 6 - Name that child?!
Example: The Prince of Wales, William, and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, have three children. What is the name of their youngest child?
Rd. 7 - Sport
Example: How long is a standard game of netball?
Rd. 8 - General knowledge
Example: Which European city is known as “The Eternal City”?
Rd. 9 - Maths
Example: What is the highest common factor of 30 and 132?
Rd. 10 - Who said what?! Match the quote to the person…
Example: Who said, when talking about still wanting to be the UK Prime Minister, October 2022? “I am a fighter and not a quitter.”
Impact of WWII? Check. British atrocities? Yes. Kwame Nkrumah & Ghana? Yup. Mau Mau Rebellion? Included. Suez Crisis? Tick.
All these causes and more are mentioned on an accessible worksheet that summarises multiple reasons behind the big question: Why did the British lose their empire?
Tried to ensure all abilities can access the main causes - core ideas are straightforward and concise - whilst also including information that will stretch the most able and prompt further research and/or thinking. For example, the Atlantic Charter of 1941 or Eden’s resignation after the Suez Crisis. Lastly, offered some questions at the bottom of the worksheet around categorisation and prioritisation of causes as well as a ‘what if…’ style scenario question: If Britain had remained neutral during WWII would the empire have survived?
Part 2 of a very straightforward presentation on how Britain gained controlled of India. However, the second part offers more analysis of the methods used by the British to gain & consolidate control over India.
The aim of the presentation was to build on the ideas covered in part 1 whilst the worksheet was created so that all my GCSE students could explain in some detail how & why the British expanded their empire in India.
The worksheet covers a range of factors (Sepoys, Robert Clive, fighting the French, a belief in imperialism, instability within the Mughal empire & a lack of unity between different Hindu princes…) and very simply differentiates the evidence (one-star for ‘straightforward’ through to three-stars for ‘think about it carefully’) so that all students can quickly see the challenge offered by each idea and choose their starting point accordingly. A key gives the worksheet a simple focus - categorise the reasons Britain gained controlled under themes such as force, negotiation & greed. There is also space for students to think of their own categories.
Lastly, the presentation tries to take students beyond the core textbooks by bringing in a couple of thoughts from Sashi Tharoor’s brilliant book ‘Inglorious Empire’.
Suitable for many GCSE History specs:
AQA GCSE History: Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day (an option in Section A of Paper 2 - Thematic studies).
Edexcel GCSE History. Probably not essential but offers perspective to issues within the ‘British America, 1713–83: empire and revolution’ unit (a period study option in Paper 2) and would help more able students understand what the British were up to in India as a comparison to the colonisation of north America.
OCR GCSE History A. Links to the section on the growing trade with India and China and role of the East India Company within the Paper 3 British depth study - Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730.
OCR GCSE History B - Schools History Project. Links to the Early Modern Britain c.1500–c.1750 section within the Paper 1 thematic study - Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present; difficult to do an overview of ‘the growth in world trade’ without mentioning India & EIC.
Part 1 of a very straightforward presentation on how Britain gained controlled of India.
With simple learning objectives…
Describe India a) before the Europeans arrived and b) shortly after the Europeans arrived
Describe the EIC
… the presentation offers a brief history of India from the 15th to 20th century, using simple maps, before describing the importance of trading stations and the East India Company.
The aim of the presentation was to summarise British expansion in India so that all my GCSE students could get to grips with the main ideas; it’s an introduction not a detailed analysis of British imperialism in Asia!
Suitable for many GCSE History specs:
AQA GCSE History: Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day (an option in Section A of Paper 2 - Thematic studies).
Edexcel GCSE History. It will offer some perspective to issues within the ‘British America, 1713–83: empire and revolution’ unit (a period study option in Paper 2) and help students understand what the British were up to in Asia whilst colonising north America.
OCR GCSE History A. Links to the section on the growing trade with India and China and role of the East India Company within the Paper 3 British depth study - Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730.
OCR GCSE History B - Schools History Project. Links to the Early Modern Britain c.1500–c.1750 section within the Paper 1 thematic study - Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present; difficult to do an overview of ‘the growth in world trade’ without mentioning India & EIC.
A multiple choice quiz to help my GCSE students revise the key content for the Weimar Republic, 1919-33, section of their AQA Paper 1 unit on Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy & Dictatorship.
10 questions in total.
Quiz would also work really well with these specifications...
- Edexcel GCSE History: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 (an option in Paper 3 - Modern depth studies).
- WJEC GCSE History: Germany in Transition, 1919-1939 (an option in Unit 2: Studies in Depth - History with a European / world focus).
- OCR GCSE History A - Explaining the Modern World: Germany 1925–1955: The People and the State (a non-British depth study option in Paper 1 - International Relations, 1918–c.2001).
A multiple choice quiz to help my GCSE students revise the key content for the Weimar Republic, 1919-33, section of their AQA Paper 1 unit on Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy & Dictatorship.
20 questions in total split into two parts:
- Part I: Weimar crisis of 1923 (answers on slide 7)
- Part 2: Weimar recovery - Stresemann (answers on slide 14)
Quiz would also work really well with these specifications...
- Edexcel GCSE History: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 (an option in Paper 3 - Modern depth studies).
- WJEC GCSE History: Germany in Transition, 1919-1939 (an option in Unit 2: Studies in Depth - History with a European / world focus).
...or as part of an introduction to WeimarGermany if you're teaching OCR GCSE History A - Explaining the Modern World: Germany 1925–1955: The People and the State (a non-British depth study option in Paper 1 - International Relations, 1918–c.2001).
A multiple choice quiz to help my GCSE students revise the key content for the Weimar Republic, 1919-33, section of their AQA Paper 1 unit on Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy & Dictatorship.
20 questions in total split into two parts:
- Part I: Early Weimar unrest (answers on slide 7)
- Part 2: Birth of the Nazi Party (answers on slide 14)
Quiz would also work really well with these specifications...
- Edexcel GCSE History: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 (an option in Paper 3 - Modern depth studies).
- WJEC GCSE History: Germany in Transition, 1919-1939 (an option in Unit 2: Studies in Depth - History with a European / world focus).
...or as part of an introduction to WeimarGermany if you're teaching OCR GCSE History A - Explaining the Modern World: Germany 1925–1955: The People and the State (a non-British depth study option in Paper 1 - International Relations, 1918–c.2001).
A multiple choice quiz to help my GCSE students revise the key content for the Weimar Republic section of their AQA Paper 1 unit on Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy & Dictatorship.
10 questions in total and answers on slide 7.
Quiz would also work well with these specifications...
- Edexcel GCSE History: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 (an option in Paper 3 - Modern depth studies).
- WJEC GCSE History: Germany in Transition, 1919-1939 (an option in Unit 2: Studies in Depth - History with a European / world focus).
...or as part of an introduction to WeimarGermany if you're teaching OCR GCSE History A - Explaining the Modern World: Germany 1925–1955: The People and the State (a non-British depth study option in Paper 1 - International Relations, 1918–c.2001).
A multiple choice quiz to help my GCSE students revise the key content for the Wilhelm II, Germany 1890-1918, section of their AQA Paper 1 unit on Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy & Dictatorship.
20 questions in total split into two parts:
- Part I: Wilhelm II, 1888- beginnings of WWI (answers on slide 7)
- Part 2: Wilhelm II & WWI,1914-18 (answers on slide 14)
Boston Tea Party? Check. Navigation Acts? Yes. Stamp Act? Yup. House of Burgesses? Included. Enlightenment ideas? Tick.
All these causes and more are mentioned on a very accessible worksheet that covers multiple reasons behind the big questions: Why did the colonists fall out with Britain? Why did the American War of Independence start?
Information is very simply differentiated (one-star for ‘straightforward’ through to three-stars for ‘think about it carefully’) allowing students to quickly see the challenge offered by each piece of evidence and choose their starting point accordingly. There is space for a key but it's not completely finished as prefer to ask students to devise their own categories/groups to develop their analytical skills / ability to think independently. Nevertheless, provided one example category to get them started - 'contributing factor – had an effect but the war would still have started without it'.
Finally, I've put a couple of extra factors (the Boston Massacre & French and Indian War) on the back to stretch their knowledge a bit further too.
Suitable for many GCSE History specs:
- AQA GCSE History: Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day (an option in Section A of Paper 2 - Thematic studies).
- Edexcel GCSE History. Definitely relevant to issues within the ‘British America, 1713–83: empire and revolution’ unit (a period study option in Paper 2).
- OCR GCSE History A. Worksheet links to the section on the political and social impact of empire (within the Paper 3 British depth study - Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730) as difficult to discuss the emergence of consumerism and its wider political and economic impacts on Britain without mentioning the loss of the North American colonies and subsequent re-focus on India.
- OCR GCSE History B - Schools History Project. Worksheet links to the Early Modern Britain c.1500–c.1750 section within the Paper 1 thematic study - Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present; difficult to do an overview of ‘the growth in world trade’ without mentioning the North American colonies. Worksheet would also be useful as part of an introduction to the Paper 3 period study - The Making of America, 1789–1900.
A very accessible worksheet that offers several pieces of evidence to help students consider the main question - was the colonisation of North America by the British a success?
Information is very simply differentiated (one-star for ‘straightforward’ through to three-stars for ‘think about it carefully’) so students can quickly see the challenge offered by each piece of evidence and choose their starting point accordingly. A key gives the worksheet a simple focus, links the evidence back to the question, whilst an extension question asks for some prioritisation - what might have been the main reason the colonies in North America were successful?
Suitable for many GCSE History specs:
- AQA GCSE History: Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day (an option in Section A of Paper 2 - Thematic studies).
- Edexcel GCSE History. A simple introduction or recap to some of the issues within the ‘British America, 1713–83: empire and revolution’ unit (a period study option in Paper 2).
- OCR GCSE History A. Worksheet links to the section on the political and social impact of empire (within the Paper 3 British depth study - Impact of Empire on Britain 1688–c.1730) as difficult to discuss the emergence of consumerism and its wider political and economic impacts on Britain without mentioning the North American colonies.
- OCR GCSE History B - Schools History Project. Worksheet links to the Early Modern Britain c.1500–c.1750 section within the Paper 1 thematic study - Migrants to Britain, c.1250 to present; difficult to do an overview of ‘the growth in world trade’ without mentioning the North American colonies. Worksheet could also be useful as part of an introduction to the Paper 3 period study - The Making of America, 1789–1900.
A straightforward worksheet that lists the rulers of the Byzantine Empire from c1071 - 1204. Created for my A level students who were getting confused and wanted a quick reference sheet to help them remember who's who in the Byzantine Empire whilst studying the Crusades.
Suitable for many A level History specifications including:
- AQA A level History: Component 1 - Breadth study - The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1204
- OCR A level History: Unit 2 - Non-British period study - The Crusades and the Crusader States 1095–1192
- Edexcel A level History: Route A - Conquest, control and resistance in the medieval world - Paper 1 -
The crusades, c1095–1204
A straightforward worksheet that lists the rulers, including regents, of the Crusader states from 1147 - 1204. Created for my A level students who were getting confused and wanted a quick reference sheet to help them remember who's who.
Suitable for many A level History specifications including:
- AQA A level History: Component 1 - Breadth study - The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1204
- OCR A level History: Unit 2 - Non-British period study - The Crusades and the Crusader States 1095–1192
- Edexcel A level History: Route A - Conquest, control and resistance in the medieval world - Paper 1 -
The crusades, c1095–1204
A straightforward worksheet that lists the rulers, including regents, of the Crusader states from 1099 - 1149. Created for my A level students who were getting confused and wanted a quick reference sheet to help them remember who's who.
Suitable for many A level History specifications including:
- AQA A level History: Component 1 - Breadth study - The Age of the Crusades, c1071–1204
- OCR A level History: Unit 2 - Non-British period study - The Crusades and the Crusader States 1095–1192
- Edexcel A level History: Route A - Conquest, control and resistance in the medieval world - Paper 1 -
The crusades, c1095–1204
A GCSE History revision or mapping sheet for Korea & Vietnam, 1950–1975.
The worksheet clearly 'maps out' what students need to understand in preparation for their exams. The content is presented in short bullet-points/statements that students can be tested against.
The revision sheet is great for a variety of AFL activities:
- Test students on the unit's key vocabulary / people / events.
- RAG rate bullet-points to identify issues that require further study.
- Form the basis of peer or group revision activities.
This worksheet was created for the AQA GCSE History unit Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975 (an option in Section B of Paper 1 - Wider world depth studies). However, the worksheet would also be useful for aspects of:
- Edexcel GCSE History: The USA, 1954–75 - conflict at home and abroad (an option in Paper 3 - Modern depth studies)
Finally, from experience, the sheet does work. Students appreciate a one page summary of what to revise and what they need to know if they want to approach their exam with confidence.
A GCSE History revision or mapping sheet for Germany, 1890–1945.
The worksheet clearly 'maps out' what students need to understand in preparation for their exams. The content is presented in short bullet-points/statements that students can be tested against.
The revision sheet is great for a variety of AFL activities:
- Test students on the unit's key vocabulary / people / events.
- RAG rate bullet-points to identify issues that require further study.
- Form the basis of peer or group revision activities.
This worksheet was created for the AQA GCSE History unit Germany, 1890-1945: Democracy & Dictatorship (an option in Section A of Paper 1 - Understanding the modern world). However, the worksheet would also be useful for aspects of all of the following:
- Edexcel GCSE History: Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 (an option in Paper 3 - Modern depth studies).
- OCR GCSE History A - Explaining the Modern World: Germany 1925–1955: The People and the State (a non-British depth study option in Paper 1 - International Relations, 1918–c.2001).
- OCR GCSE History B - Schools History Project: Living under Nazi Rule, 1933–1945 (a world depth study option in Paper 3 - World History).
- WJEC GCSE History: Germany in Transition, 1919-1939 (an option in Unit 2: Studies in Depth - History with a European / world focus).
Finally, from experience, the sheet does work. Students appreciate a one page summary of what to revise and what they need to know if they want to approach their exam with confidence.
A simple stand-alone lesson that asks students to consider the lasting impact of WWI and some of the reasons behind studying the conflict. Works really well as either an introduction to WWI or as a route into studying the impacts of the conflict in more detail.
The ideas covered include:
- Remembrance
- Child soldiers
- Weapons
- Medicine (e.g. Marie Curie and the use of x-rays or the triage system)
- Ethnic diversity (e.g. Indian soldiers fighting for the British army)
- Language (the new words and phrases that have become part of our everyday vocabulary)
- Role of women in society (e.g. Blythe Spartans Ladies FC or the first female police officer having the right of arrest)
Resources are simply differentiated ('one star' for easy to access, 'three star' for more challenging) and a worksheet is included for students to record their ideas.
