Designed to be used as an extension or a homework activity.

• The following list provides important anniversaries that could be commemorated in 2010.
• It can be used by teachers preparing assemblies, extension tasks and one-off lessons.
• I am limiting the list to multiples of 50 years (1960 (50 years ago today), 1910 (100 years ago today), 1860 (150 years ago today) etc).
• This is more meaningful than the “on this day in history” format (there is a 1/365 chance that any event from the entire history of civilisation has a 1/365 chance it happened “today”!)
• If you’d like to add to this list, please contact me with your suggestion or send a tweet using the hashtag #history2010.

1st The United States launches the first weather satellite, TIROS-1. 1960 (50 years ago today)
9th French typesetter Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville sings the French folk song “Au Clair de la Lune” to his phonautograph; producing the world’s earliest known sound recording 1860 (150 years ago today)
17th Eddie Cochran died 1960 (50 years ago today)
19th Melanchthon died 1560 (450 years ago today)
21st Twain died 1910 (100 years ago today)
27th Beethoven composes his famous piano piece, Für Elise. 1810 (200 years ago today)
27th The British House of Commons passes David Lloyd George’s (1909) ‘People’s Budget’ for the second time; it is passed by the House of Lords on 28 April. 1910 (100 years ago today)
27th Togo gains independence from French-administered U.N. trusteeship. 1960 (50 years ago today)

Another pressure upon the Soviet Union was the massive cost of keeping up with the United States in terms of nuclear weapons. Students answer questions based around a timeline and as an extension activity conduct some research into the Cuban Missile Crisis.

In this card-sort activity students piece together the causes, course and consequence of the war with Afghanistan, which caused such havoc for the military and the economic position of the Soviet Union.

An interactivity to help you decide which party to vote for in the 2010 UK General Election. Rank 10 key issues by order of preference, then decide which party most closely reflects your own views on those issues. You will then be given a profile based on your feedback which suggests which party you should vote for!

CLICK HERE to take the questionnaire!

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The Middle Ages Worst Jobs in History simulation can be used as a stand-alone lesson, homework assignment or as part of a broader unit on “Was life Good or Bad during this particular period?”. The worksheet has basic activities for a 30 minute lesson, and extension tasks that could be followed up later.