Part of the “Compare and Contrast the Origins of World War One and World War Two” unit at ActiveHistory: using a YouTube version of The Great War (1964), Episode 1 – there is an accompanying worksheet and also a factual test (note: requires teacher password).

A Summary of the main events of World War One, organised by theme; there is also a factual test based on this (note: requires teacher password). Part of the “Compare and Contrast the Origins of World War One and World War Two” unit at ActiveHistory.

This unit is taught completely through roleplay! Each student takes on the role of a different Politburo member and researches ‘their’ perspective on the key issues facing the new Soviet state. The teacher takes the role of President Kalinin, acting as Chair. Each lesson then works through issues “as they arise” between 1918-24, with plentiful…

Research Template: Students are then presented with a research template which has NINE key causes of each World War listed within it. “Divide these causes between the members of the group.Research your allocated factor(s) with relation to your particular war. Produce a one-slide presentation which will summarise your findings for the rest of the class”….

Classroom Debate and Conclusions Part of the roleplay unit on Lenin’s Russia. In this activity students assess how far Lenin delivered on his stated promises of “Peace, Bread and Land” and “All Power to the Soviets” for the Russian people. Pairs of students are pitted against each other to debate particular themes, and the rest…

Another revision quiz designed to help students revise the Middle East Paper 1 depth study as part of their IB revision programme. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a score based on the amount of minutes left…

 20 Question Factual Test: Why did Germany and her Allies lose World War One? This ‘gap fill’ test ensures that students end up with a useful revision aid covering the main socio-economic, political and military factors from the perspective both of Allied Strengths and Central Powers’ weaknesses. This test forms part of the detailed IB…

Another revision quiz – this time with 30 possible questions – designed to help students revise the Middle East Paper 1 depth study as part of their IB revision programme. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a score…

Individual Research phase – Other Forms of Socialism: The Contributions of Trotsky, Stalin and Mao Looking ahead to our later IB studies of Trotsky, Stalin and Mao, this activity encourages students to consider how other key communist figures added their own twists to Marxist ideology. Students conduct their own research and feed back in small…

A telescopic topic of revision notes using the ClassTools Telescopic Topic template.

In Defence of Capitalism / Criticisms of Marxism It is very important that in a study of this kind students are reminded that an understanding of Marxist thought does not necessarily mean agreement with it. In this exercise students are presented with a series of common criticisms of Marxism and points in defence of the…

A revision quiz – this time with 30 possible questions – designed to help students revise the Middle East Paper 1 depth study as part of their IB revision programme. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a score…

A telescopic topic of revision notes using the ClassTools Telescopic Topic template.

Teacher-Led Lecture: The Contribution of Lenin to Marxism This presentation, including two illustrative video clips, outlines the development of revolutionary parties in Russia and then focuses on Lenin’s specific contribution to the Marxist canon. It also covers the split in the Social Democratic movement between Mensheviks and Bolsheviks which will become important when we later…

Roleplay/Game Activity: Marxism through Arm-Wrestling! This activity easily fills a full hour and is a very lively and interesting exercise. Students act out a roleplay over several rounds which is deliberately designed to illustrate the Marxist conception of how free market economies function. Through arm-wrestling and games of ‘split or steal’, the bourgeois class quickly…

A telescopic topic of revision notes using the ClassTools Telescopic Topic template.

The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists: Reading and Comprehension Exercise An extract from the excellent novel by Robert Tressell and some accompanying questions forms the ideal follow-up to the roleplay activity. Part of the study unit on Marxism v. Capitalism.

Mark Steel’s Video Documentary on Marxism and accompanying worksheet I set this as a homework task and discuss the answers in class afterwards, but if time allows it’s a good one to watch together. Mark Steel approaches the topic with rigour but also with humour. Part of the study unit on Marxism v. Capitalism.

A couple of PowerPoint slides outlining that the project will consist of producing a guide to Marxism covering the following areas. Students will use tables, mindmaps, diagrams as appropriate to illustrate comparisons and contrasts in the most effective way possible. How does Capitalism Work? Criticisms of Capitalism Marx’s Solution – Socialism The Contribution of Lenin…

A telescopic topic of revision notes using the ClassTools Telescopic Topic template.

  A revision quiz – this time with 30 possible questions – designed to help students revise the Middle East Paper 1 depth study as part of their IB revision programme. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a…

A sample sourcework assignment, complete with model answers, in the style of the IB History Paper 1.

A sample sourcework assignment, complete with model answers, in the style of the IB History Paper 1.

A sample sourcework assignment, complete with model answers, in the style of the IB History Paper 1.

A sample sourcework assignment in the style of the IB History Paper 1.

Another revision quiz – this time with 60 possible questions – designed to help students revise the “Origins of the Cold War” as part of their IB revision programme. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a score based…

Part of this complete scheme of work on the Rise of Pinochet, which we study as part of the “Rise and Rule of Single Party States” at IB. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a…

This quiz is part of an extensive batch of revision quizzes for IB that I’m uploading to the site. Play Manic Miner, Cannonball Fun, Wordshoot or Matching Pairs! You can create your own Arcade Game here. You can access the entire scheme of work for Mussolini’s Italy here.

This is a selection of some of the best documentary video that I use to teach History at IB Level, organised by topic to help students with their revision.

Students are provided with a detailed breakdown of six key schools of historiographical thought relating to the origins of wars. Using their knowledge of a wide range of wars students decide which wars could be used to illustrate each theory. This then leads towards the final essay being produced.

Students then compare and contrast their allocated conflict with that of a partner to start drawing out some key areas of comparison and contrast. This is followed by a whole-class discussion to start identifying some common themes for consideration.

To help students with their revision, this is a quick summary of resources for some of the main topic areas that I cover at IB History Level at ActiveHistory. During revision time I tend to start each lesson by introducing the main task, then directing students to a ‘Fling the Teacher’ quiz. Students have 10 minutes…

Another great revision quiz – this time with 135 possible questions – designed to help students revise the Middle East Paper 1 depth study as part of their IB revision programme. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets…

Each student in the class is given a different war to focus on taken from the IB syllabus, and asked to analyse it in terms of key themes of causation (e.g. political, military, socio-economic).

Another great revision quiz. I give students 10 minutes at the start of the lesson to try to complete the quiz. Anyone completing the quiz within the available time gets a score based on the amount of minutes left on the clock. They can then move on to the first lesson task, whatever that happens…

30 keywords  to test knowledge of Lenin’s USSR.

A sample sourcework assignment, complete with model answers, in the style of the IB History Paper 1.

mnadi / People Photos / CC BY-NC I’ve just uploaded a range of Sourcework exercises that I’ve designed for the IB History Paper 1, focusing on the Middle East, along with model answers. More to follow…!

The popular “Undercover in Fascist Italy” simulation has been improved with extra details, a more comprehensive worksheet complete with keyword prompts and various video clips to enrich the experience.

“Who Am I?” Challenge – Fascist Italy 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…

Historiography Handouts with Associated Tasks – Stalinism: The Betrayal, or the Natural Conclusion, of Leninism?

Historiography Handouts with Associated Tasks – Lenin: Hero or Villain?

Historiography Handouts with Associated Tasks – The February Revolution: Caused, or Merely Accelerated, by the Great War?

Compare and Contrast the Role of Lenin and Trotsky between 1917-1924: A popular question in the exam, and this worksheet helps students frame an approach to it in a logical way. A completed teacher version is also available.

Nicholas II – Why did Tsarism survive in 1905, but not 1917? How similar were the Causes of the February and the October Revolutions?: Detailed notes on the key questions, with activities for students included.

Alexander II and Alexander III – Contrasts and Comparisons Grid – a useful revision resource for IB History

The Reforms of Alexander II: Summary Grid – a useful revision resource for IB History

How far is it accurate to describe Alexander II as a reformer, and Alexander III as a reactionary? – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Alexander II/III: Analysis of Past Paper Questions: Students work through a list of about 20 past examination questions focusing on spotting and addressing the ‘hidden assumptions’ within each question. They can then look at some sample markschemes to determine if they were on the right lines with their analyses.

Timeline of Events, 1947-79 – a useful revision resource for IB History

Timeline of Events, 1939-47 – a useful revision resource for IB History

Mapwork Task – Change over Time: Students label various maps of the Middle East and shade them in different ways to represent the changing nature of Israel’s borders following key events in the syllabus.

The main issues for debate: Using a series of discussion points based on the syllabus, a collapsible bullet list from ActiveHistory and also a Keyword Challenge quiz from Classtools, students form their own viewpoints prior to the exam so that their answers have some sharp focus.

How Successful was Mussolini as Ruler of Italy? – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

How Fascist was Fascist Italy? – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

How far is Fascism different from Marxism? How similar were Stalin and Mussolini as rulers of their countries?: Building on from the previous activity, students now consider the nature of Fascism by looking at various policy areas (economy, society etc) and comparing the Fascist to the Communist approaches to them. A completed teacher version is…

Historiography of Stalin’s Russia: These detailed handouts provide plenty of material for discussion and further research: Books on Stalin Summary of the Main Historiographical Issues

High Stalinism: What policies characterised Stalin’s final years?: The main study unit for my students ends in 1941. However, to give students the full picture of Stalin’s Russia, this is a good activity to bring the various policies right up-to-date. Detailed notes are available for Economics 1945-53 and Other Policies 1945-53.

How Communist were Lenin and Stalin?: This activity gets students thinking about the nature of communism, and then measuring the success of each ruler on these criteria. It thereby covers a lot of ground very efficiently. A completed teacher version is also available.

Summary Notes: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Lenin and Mao – a useful revision resource for IB History.

Summary Notes: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Stalin and Lenin – a useful revision resource for IB History.

Model Essay: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Mao and Stalin – a sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Model Essay: Compare and Contrast the Rise of Mao and Pinochet – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Model Essay: Why did Mao emerge as leader of China? (summary notes also available) – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

The Rise of Single Party State Rulers: Summaries and Contrasts: Students first have a brainstorm about what are the most frequent causes for the rise of single party state rulers. They then analyse the key methods and conditions which led to the rise of particular individual dictators, then compare and contrast them. In this way…

Summary Grid – The Impact of World War One on various countries – a useful revision resource for IB History

What was the Social and Economic Impact of World War One upon two of the Countries Involved? (plus essay plan) – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Compare and Contrast the Impact of World War One and World War Two – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Effects of War – Comparisons and Contrasts: Students are provided with detailed information about the practices of three major wars in the form of a grid, broken down into key themes (political, economic, etc). Their task is to complete the grid by providing further examples of other wars that they have studied and try to…

Why did Mao win the Chinese Civil War? – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Why did Germany Lose World War One? – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Compare and Contrast the Impact of Foreign Involvement in the Russian Civil War and the Spanish Civil War – A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Practices of War – Comparisons and Contrasts: With a central focus on the issue of “Limited War v. Total War”, students are provided with detailed information about the practices of three major wars in the form of a grid, broken down into key themes (political, economic, etc). Their task is to complete the grid by…

Model Essay: What were the most frequent causes of 20th Century Wars?: A sample essay produced by Russel Tarr (author of this website) in timed conditions in the style of a Paper 2 answer.

Causes of the Chinese Civil War: A detailed summary grid for revision purposes.

Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Summary and suggested linkage: A summary diagram for revision purposes.