Main Topic Pages

1914-1947 | 1947-1949 | 1956: Suez | 1967: Six-Day War | 1973-79: From Yom Kippur to Camp David

Sample Sourcework Exercises (many with model answers!)

These exercises were designed for my students at the International School of Toulouse. The model answers are my own - if you have any suggestions or comments about these, please contact me!

Interview with Max Salant

This Google Hangout Video interview took place with a former student of the International School of Toulouse in Summer 2014. Max conversed with us direct from Israel to answer questions about the history and current affairs of the region. It provides some excellent material and perspectives that would be useful in the examination.

 
Click here for a fullscreen version with links to individual questions.

Higher Level Revision: c.1914-1939

Discussion Points and past exam questions
This worksheet provides students with a series of discussion points and past exam questions, which should be tackled through group work.

Timeline of Events, 1914-39 and Causes for Tension before 1939: Summary
A pair of very useful revision aids.

Keyword Challenge: The Middle East Crisis 1939: 50 words
This is a great game to encourage students to use their knowledge of key terminology effectively. The instructions on how to play are here.

Fling the Teacher Challenge: 1914-1939 (30 questions)
All students should start the quiz at the same time, with 10 minutes available. Award 10 points to anyone finishing the quiz successfully within the first minute, 9 points to anyone finishing within the second minute, and so on. I build up a "leaderboard" of quiz results throughout the year, and especially during revision period!

Who Am I? Challenge - 1914-1939
Each team will be presented with a clue about a key historical figure. They get 50 points if they guess it correctly. If they wish to 'pass', they get further (easier) clues but the points available steadily decline. An incorrect guess at any point means they get zero points for that round. You can play as many rounds as you wish. It's a great way to revise!

Timeline Challenge: The Arab-Israeli Conflict up to 1939
The teacher can ensure that students have covered the most important events in an appropriate amount of depth by playing this interactive, whole-class quiz using an interactive whiteboard. This should then be followed with a paper-based factual test.

Telescopic Topic: The Middle East Conflict from 1914-47
A useful recap / revision exercise: this timeline is presented in a "collapsible" format for ease of access.

Standard Level Revision: c.1939-1979

Video Documentary: The Middle East Since 1947
A link to an excellent online video lasting 20 minutes.

Overview test of the entire period, 1939-1979
In this worksheet, students are provided with a "mega summary" on one sheet of paper as a "gap fill" exercise. Covering the major events down the page, broken into columns which compare the role of Jews, Arabs and the International Community, this is an invaluable resource to help students refresh their memories and see the "Big Picture". The completed teacher version is also available.

The Middle East: Eighteen Big Questions!
Each person in the class will be given a number. When your number appears, treat this as an indication that you are producing a YES argument if you are the first number listed, and a NO if you are the second. Discuss/debate your ideas in pairs, and also reach a verdict to share with the class which both of you are happy to accept (this will usually take the form of a synthesis position).

Fling the Teacher Challenge: 1939-1979 (135 possible questions!)
All students should start the quiz at the same time, with 10 minutes available. Award 10 points to anyone finishing the quiz successfully within the first minute, 9 points to anyone finishing within the second minute, and so on. I build up a "leaderboard" of quiz results throughout the year, and especially during revision period!

Picture Round and Terminology Quiz
Students are instructed to locate some pictures of key characters, and produce quiz questions that can be turned into an interactive revision exercise at www.classtools.net.

Timeline of Key Events: Match the Dates
An overview of the entire period, chronologically arranged but with no dates provided. Students see how many of the events they can correctly identify. The completed teacher version is also available. Students could prepare for this exercise using this interactive Play Your Dates Right Quiz: The Middle East 1945-1979.

Mapwork: The growth of Israel
In this exercise, students firstly label all of the key regions and areas onto a large map. Then, in a series of smaller maps they shade the territory occupied by Israel over time by referring to a list of key points.

Debate: Does Israel only exist because of the support of the West?
In this structured debate, students are placed into two teams to formulate questions from their opponents designed to prove their case using references to all the major periods covered by the syllabus. The arguments and evidence put forward, and the synthesis reached, is a useful revision aid.

IB History Teachers Debate: Is it true that Israel was a state created as a result of terrorism?
IB History Teachers have their own Facebook Group where they discuss their views on issues relating to topics that we teach. In December 2014, its members debated the answer to the above question.

Fling the Teacher Quizzes

1939-47 (30 questions) | 1948-49 (30 questions) | 1956 (30 questions) | 1967 (30 questions) | 1973-1978 (15 questions)

Who Am I? Challenge: 1939-79 - 24 possible people

Each team will be presented with a clue about a key historical figure. They get 50 points if they guess it correctly. If they wish to 'pass', they get further (easier) clues but the points available steadily decline. An incorrect guess at any point means they get zero points for that round. You can play as many rounds as you wish. It's a great way to revise!

Higher Level Revision, 1979-2000

Eight Key Events: Research, Comparison, Conclusions [there is also a completed teacher version]

"Different people in the class should produce a research piece on an event outlined in one row of this table, then share them with the group so that everybody is able to complete their grid. When the table is completed, use it to answer the following questions: Who is most to blame for the continued tensions in the Middle East? Project forward 50 years. Here are four possible outcomes: An Israeli state, a Palestinian state, a unitary state, a two-state solution. Which of these is the most desirable outcome? Which of these is the most likely outcome?"

Conclusion: Legacy of the Middle East Conflict
An 8-minute video on YouTube which provides useful ideas for introductions / conclusions to essays.