“Introduction: The Outcome of the Spanish Civil War was by no means a foregone conclusion” This worksheet will later be used as the basis for the introduction to the main essay “Why did Franco win the Spanish Civil War?”
Category: Historical Periods
The Trial of King Charles I: Film Analysis
How accurately has the event been depicted in films such as Cromwell (1970) and To Kill a King (2002)? The lesson can be accompanied by the second part of the Prezi Presentation.The video clips are embedded within it, but they are also accessible at YouTube: [Cromwell (1970)] [To Kill a King (2002)]. This resource can…
The Events of the English Civil War
An overview of the main events of the English Civil War is provided, and a discussion takes place as to whether the King should be put on trial. The lesson can be accompanied by the first part of a Prezi Presentation. This resource can be found within this complete Key Stage 3 History Study Unit…
King Charles I: Venn Diagram
A thematic analysis of the problems leading up to the outbreak of the English Civil War. This resource can be found within this complete Key Stage 3 History Study Unit on the English Civil War.
King Charles I: Timeline Analysis
A chronological analysis of the problems leading up to the outbreak of the English Civil War. This resource can be found within this complete Key Stage 3 History Study Unit on the English Civil War.
Medieval Images of Hell – Video
A short video I put together for my Year 7 students as a “starter” to their studies of views of Hell in the Middle Ages.
King Charles I: Overview Decision Making Game
Students play as King Charles I and try to avoid taking the country into a Civil War. Comes complete with a worksheet and follow-up activities. This resource can be found within this complete Key Stage 3 History Study Unit on the English Civil War.
Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot
An in-depth investigation into the Gunpowder plot making use of primary source materials to help students decide whether the Catholics were “framed”. There is a PowerPoint Slide could be used as a starter to the lesson, and there a Fling the Teacher Quiz which can be used as a factual test. This resource can be…
King James I: An Overview
Students consider the personality and policies of King James I as a long-term explanation for the outbreak of the Civil War. This resource can be found within this complete Key Stage 3 History Study Unit on the English Civil War.
Causes of the English Civil War: Powerpoint lesson starter
A series of images and short textual points designed to generate student interest. What was the Civil War? Why is it important to study? This resource can be found within this complete Key Stage 3 History Study Unit on the English Civil War.
Why did Germany and her Allies Lose the First World War?
Essay Project: Linking and prioritising, writing up the essay Students then use this worksheet to spot connections between the major themes rather than simply discuss each one in isolation.
Who Killed King William Rufus?
Analyse and categorise the evidence to solve this medieval mystery!
End of Topic Debate: Was William the Conqueror a Hero or a Villain?
The class is divided into two groups to debate the key question in the format of a courtroom trial.
GCSE Modern World History – Google Earth Tour
After watching the film, students should watch this Google Earth Tour and list the 10 key personalities shown in it based on what they learned from the film. As the tour progresses, give some clues / anecdotes about each character to maintain interest. Award merits to the best scoring students in the class. A full…
GCSE Modern World History – Video!
A three-minute video I put together to give students an overview of some of the main events and personalities of the 20th Century. The appropriate point at which to watch this video is made clear in the PowerPoint presentation above. Before students watch the film, warn them that there will be a quick factual test…
Why did Germany and her Allies Lose World War One?
Essay Project: Gathering the Information [interactive] Students begin by using interactive running dictation exercise to complete this worksheet. This will enable them to get a thorough grounding in the political, military, cultural and economic reasons why Germany and her allies lost World War One. It will also get them to consider whether Allied strengths, or…
Origins of the British Empire
An example of how Xtranormal can be used as a learning tool: this project was produced as a homework project by one of my Year 9 students.
Year 8 Civil War Projects
As part of their studies of the Causes of the English Civil War, Year 8 historians produced a project in the format of their choice. Here is Mark’s outstanding effort, which earned him a commendation. Here are some other examples of great projects in the form of “Chatshow Debates” created using Xtranormal: Warren | Lucy
The Wall Street Crash Simulation
A completely overhauled version of the simulation game about the Wall Street Crash. Students are presented with historically accurate details about the events of the 1920s and decide whether to buy or shares at each stage. A great way of analysing the causes and events of the crash; complete with a worksheet.
Hitler’s Foreign Policy: Simulation
A new decision-making simulation about Hitler’s Foreign Policy and the Origins of World War Two. By playing this game you will learn about how Hitler’s policies led to World War Two, and consider whether this war could have been prevented. There are three worksheets to go with this activity, which easily fills a full one-hour…
Year 9 History – Expansion, Trade and Industry
A new workpack to accompany the Coalbrookdale Interactive Census. This completely stand-alone workpack provides 5-6 hours worth of lessons and is a great way to develop sourcework analysis skills.
Using Facebook in the Classroom
I’m always keen to make use of technologies which students are obsessed with – and one of the most popular is Facebook. I had the idea that the “newsfeed” feature offered fantastic opportunities to produce timelines of topic-based events in an engaging way. Take a look at this “Causes of the Russian Revolution” Facebook Newsfeed….
League of Nations – End of Unit Essay Task
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
Agreements Reached Outside the League of Nations
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
League of Nations – Disarmament
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
League of Nations – Social Problems
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
League of Nations – Border Disputes – Extension Task
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
The League of Nations – Border Disputes
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
League of Nations – Structural Problems
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
Membership Problems – Extension Task
A new League of Nations worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
League of Nations – Membership Problems
A new worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
Aims and Strengths of the League of Nations
A new worksheet for IGCSE to accompany the new decision making game.
Build your own Castle!
A completely updated version of the popular Medieval Realms Castles Game, in which students design their own castle and by so doing learn all about the key features of castle design. New additions to this game include factual questions as the story proceeds, so that the students are given two scores at the end: one…
Culture of the Weimar Republic
A new Fling the Teacher Quiz with 30 randomised questions for GCSE History.
The Black Death – Simulation / Self-Marking Assessment
A brand new simulation – A self-marking assessment testing both factual knowledge and sourcework skills. Students can play the game for as long as they wish, then at the end they are presented with two scores in the form of a certificate, both of which can be handed to the teacher to put into the…
The Domesday Book [2]: How useful is it?
This second worksheet encourages students to start thinking about “usefulness” as a sourcework concept by comparing the strengths and weaknesses of this source to that of the Bayeux Tapestry and (if they have studied it) the Luttrell Psalter.
The Domesday Book [1]: What was it?
An introductory worksheet to the Domesday Book – what it was, what it asked, why it was produced.
The Feudal System
Students have to construct their own diagram of the feudal system based on examples in this powerpoint presentation. A sample piece of work from a former student is available here.
Hereward the Wake Cut ‘n’ Paste Activity
Use Word, Publisher and the net to reconstruct the story of this Saxon resistance fighter and produce their own report (c.1 hour in classroom, can be split into 2 sessions).
Causes for Germany’s Defeat in World War One: Quiz
30 possible questions in this quiz based on the information in the worksheets within this unit.
Sourcework Project: Why did Germany and her Allies Lose World War One?
A sourcework exercise in the style of the International Baccalaureate. There is also a generic markscheme and suggestions on how to structure each answer.
Interactive Cartoon Analysis: German involvement in the Spanish Civil War
Five cartoons, 10 questions: students provide their own answers using the writing framework provided, then they can compare their answers alongside model answers which I have written to help them revise. A great way to develop sourcework skills.
German involvement in the Spanish Civil War – Sourcework
A new sourcework exercise complete with markscheme, to accompany the complete scheme of work designed to accompany the IGCSE compulsory sourcework paper for summer 2009.
Social and Economic Impact of the First World War
In this worksheet, students consider the types of questions that come up in the exam, and use the wikis produced by each other to plan and then write an answer.
Economic and Social Impact of World War One
Wiki Project: In this worksheet, students are allocated different research projects about World War One upon which to produce a wiki page [samples available here].
Napoleon Bonaparte: Hero or Villain?
Students conduct a “round robin” exercise, gathering information from their classmates after each student is given just one piece of information from this list. They then have to categorise their points and put them into a diagram using classtools.net.
1066 Quiz
A new end-of-unit quiz for Year 7 students.
The Trial and Execution of King Louis XVI
Primary sources and discussion points relating to the events leading to the death of King Louis XVI (and of Marie-Antoinette).
Tsar Alexander II Essay Planning Task: “To what extent does he deserve his title of the ‘Tsar Liberator’?”
A skeleton essay framework to help students round off the topic of study.
The Flight to Varennes [interactive]
A worksheet to run alongside this innovative activity designed to bring the drama of King Louis XVI’s desperate gamble alive
The Tennis Court Oath
A role-play lesson. Students consider how they would have voted on each of the key issues discussed at the Tennis Court, then compare these to what was actually decided.
The Growth of Political Opposition in the Reign of Alexander II
A detailed handout outlining the growth of political opposition in the reign of Alexander. Students are encouraged to turn this into an illustrated mindmap.
Causes of the French Revolution: Assessment
Students are provided with a list of possible questions for a GCSE-style test. In a subsequent lesson, the teacher should pick one question at random and the students write their answers in a timed exercise.
Tsar Alexander II’s Other Reforms: Introduction
Students get into role as government advisors and consider the merits and drawbacks of various possible reforms. They take a class vote and they can then compare these ideas to what was ultimately decided to reach a deeper judgement on the value of Alexander’s reforms.
Short Term Causes of the French Revolution: Marie-Antoinette
The teacher should start by showing students this PowerPoint Presentation of stills from the Kirsten Dunst film to decide what impression is being created. They then use the worksheet to decide how accurate the interpretation actually is.
The Emancipation of the Serfs: Essay-Planning Task
A skeleton essay framework to help students answer the question “For what reasons, and with what results, did Alexander II Emancipate the Serfs in 1861?”
Short-Term Causes of the French Revolution: King Louis XVI
A good King? A good man? both? neither?! Students reach their verdict after looking at a variety of primary sources.
The Emancipation of the Serfs: Assessment
A structured writing framework designed to help students consolidate their knowledge and understanding thus far.
Mid-Term Causes of the French Revolution: War, Economy, Philosophers
Which of these three were the most important? And what nasty “dirt” can we find out on each of these philosophers to minimise the damage to the King?
The Edict of Emancipation: Sourcework Analysis
Students read through the Edict of Emancipation of 1861 and use it to consider the motives and methods of Tsar Alexander II. In addition, students are asked to consider how he seeks to allay the fears of the nobility.
The Fall of the Bastille: Running Dictation Exercise [interactive]
An innovative activity designed to help students learn about the opening stages of the Revolution. There is a worksheet that can be used to accompany the activity.
The Emancipation of the Serfs: Events
The stages of the Emancipation of the Serfs are covered in this worksheet.
Why does the French Revolution Matter? – Teacher PowerPoint Starter
A presentation designed to generate student interest and establish the relevance of the subject.
The Emancipation of the Serfs: Dangers
The benefits of Emancipation are obvious – so why did it take so long for the Tsars to carry out the programme, and why did the prospect generate so much opposition? This worksheet gets students in role to consider the possible drawbacks of various courses of action.
Tsar Alexander II: Conclusion
Students are required to produce an obituary – either positive or negative – in this structured task.
The Emancipation of the Serfs: Causes
Students consider the main problems facing Imperial Russia when Alexander became Tsar, and how each of these could be improved by the Emancipation of the Serfs. A good way of providing an overview of the situation, and of encouraging students to link factors.
Alexander II: An Introduction
Students consider accounts about the assassination of Tsar Alexander II to start considering why he was a figure who divides historical opinion.
Worst Jobs in History
A totally updated version of this interactive, self-contained game designed to teach students about some of the worst jobs available to young people in Victorian, Tudor and Middle Ages Britain. Simply answer a series of questions about your personality and preferences, and get a full description of your perfect working-class job. A workheet is provided…
Create a Map of Imperial Russia
In this worksheet, students are given a list of cities, regions and natural features in Imperial Russia, a knowledge of which is essential for an understanding of the topic. They then have to produce a labelled, colour-coded map which they will be able to refer back to throoughout their studies.
World War One Simulation: Life in the Trenches
A brand new release of this popular decision-making game for GCSE History. In this game you will be a British soldier who joins the army in 1914 to fight the Germans. You will have to make decisions in tough circumstances. At the end you will be given a score. By playing this game you will…
Political Quiz: Am I Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democract?
A new version of the comprehensive decision making exercise, with a facility for class results to be emailed as a batch to the teacher at the end of the session.
Castles Game
An updated version of the “Attack the Castle!” game for Year 7 Medieval Realms. A game of strategy: Spend your budget on your choice of features, then read a story of how your castle fares when faced with attack! In this new version, students are asked factual knowledge questions as they progress, and then their…
Year 7 Medieval Realms: Was Life Good or Bad in the Middle Ages?
A new lesson plan to accompany the popular Time Machine Journey to the Middle Ages. Students are divided into two groups. The “Good” group approach their argument by producing a tourist brochure highlighting all of the great jobs, places and people in the town and the village. The “Bad” group instead write an angry letter…
Growth of the British Empire: The Triangular Slave Trade
The Trade Triangle is explained and then students produce a “living graph” of the experience on board the ships using www.classtools.net.
NEW GAME: How would you have run the League of Nations?
Be in role as an ambitious civil servant on the make! Complete with two worksheets, this game forms the basis of the topic and thoroughly covers all of the important issues for GCSCE History.
Sourcework Exercise: The Causes of the Spanish Civil War
A selection of sources and questions designed to round off the unit on the Causes of the Spanish Civil War.
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Introduction and Overview Worksheet
This worksheet helps students understand the significance of the Spanish Civil War. It should be used in conjunction with this PowerPoint Presentation.
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Quiz
20 Question Factual Test: Designed to test and consolidate knowledge from the previous two activities about the Causes of the Spanish Civil War
Transatlantic Slave Trade – Unit Starter
Students are presented with a series of images of objects, then of people from different continents, and have to deduce from this evidence what the next topic of study is likely to be.
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Interactive Newsfeed
Students complete a series of notes “against the clock” using this interactive newsfeed activity which gives them a detailed account of the main events in Spanish History leading up to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1936. They then use their completed notes to complete this timeline worksheet, organising their ideas into those which…
The Assassination of Peter Stolypin
For IB / A-Level historians. A primary source account. Was Stolypin the last hope that the Tsarist regime had to survive? Would his reforms have succeeded given “Twenty years of peace”?
How Should we Commemorate the Holocaust?
Students consider the purpose of commemoration and then design their own Holocaust memorial after looking at a wide range of examples from around the world.
GCSE History Paper 1 Markscheme with sample answers re. the Causes of World War One
Although the Causes of World War One will be tested in IGCSE History Paper 2 in Summer 2008, it will also be tested in Paper 1. Reading through this markscheme and the sample answers will be good way to start your history revision process.
The Legacy of the Holocaust: Israel and Palestine
This worksheet encourages students to consider how the Arab-Israeli conflict is in large part Hitler’s Third Reich’s most lasting legacy.
Why did Hitler Hate the Jews?
This worksheet explains not merely why Hitler hated the Jews, but also why the Jews have been persecuted throughout the ages in countries across Europe. Students connect these factors in a flow diagram and categorise them as religious, racial, economic and social. This worksheet is supported by this antisemitic propaganda for children, and antisemitic propaganda…
IGCSE History Paper 2 Sourcework Focus – Markschemes and Sample Answers
Paper 2 Sourcework Focus – Markschemes and Sample Answers Students can read through these sample answers and grade each one. For each question there is a good, average and below average answer. Can they spot which is which and explain why?
Opposition in Nazi Germany
After looking at the different versions of the famous Niemoller poem in the powerpoint starter, Students use the main worksheet to compare how different social groups opposed the Nazis, and then use this information to complete one of several suggested tasks after completing a factual test. My own students produced “Hollywood Trailers” which can be…
Connecting Factors: The Causes of World War Two
With the main themes revised, students now have to connect the Causes of the Second World War together meaningfully and summarise three essential points of information about each theme using this flowchart.
Nazi Religious Policies
Nazi Religious Policies: By means of a venn diagram, students investigate the various ways in which the Nazis tried to control replace and weaken the Catholic and Protestant Churches.
The End of Alexander III’s Reign
This final worksheet covers the last days of Alexander III and invites students to offer some closing judgments about his reign.
A Comparison of Alexander II and Alexander III: Research and Essay Planning Exercise
With the main research now completed, students should begin the process of comparing Alexander III to his father. Is it really fair to say that Alexander II was a reformer, and Alexander III a reactionary? This worksheet enables students to start organising their thoughts and provides a suggested essay framework.
Alexander III: Primary Sources and Questions
The next stage is to conduct some in-depth research based around primary sources from the time which cover some of the big themes: politics, education, the famine, the pogroms. These sources come complete with questions and discussion points to further understanding.
In-Depth Analysis of the Alexander III’s Reign [interactive]
Students make notes from this interactive newsfeed exercise and then organise their findings into various themes and categories using this worksheet. By so doing they start to formulate a view as to how far Alexander’s reputation as a reactionary is deserved.
An Introduction to Tsar Alexander III’s Reign
An overview of the upbringing and the personality of Tsar Alexander III. To what extent will his personality and politics equip him to be a good ruler of 19th Century Russia?
Year 7 History Revision: Timeline worksheet
Revision of Events – A worksheet to accompany the newsfeed exercise; students are given a list of quick-fire events then have to choose 10 of them to place into a timeline to “prove” that the Middle Ages were either a good or a bad time to be alive.
Year 7 History Revision
A worksheet for Year 7 History Students of Medieval Realms. Students go through their notes on each of the key topics studied this year and decide which aspects suggest that life was “Good” during this period, and which aspects suggest life was “Bad”. They then write their findings up as an overall conclusion which distinguishes…
Place name challenge – knockout competition!
An optional lesson for Year 7 History. Students compete to see which group can come up with the most place names from a particular origin. Any repetition, hesitation or incorrect answers knocks them out of the competition.
Surnames from the British Isles – What do they tell us?
Year 7 Students research the origin of surnames of students / teachers in the school and either plot these on a Google Earth map (if the names originate from places) or in a Diamond9 Diagram from www.classtools.net to distinguish between high-status and low-status professions that existed.
Weimar Germany 1918-21 Quizzes
A new set of quizzes on Weimar Germany 1918-21 for GCSE-Level History. Choose from Manic Miner, Wordshoot, Cannonball Fun or Matching Pairs.
Place names in the British Isles – What do they tell us?
A new worksheet for Year 7 History. Students are given advice on how to spot Celtic, Roman, Norman, Scandinavian and Anglo-Saxon place names, research the meaning of some of the most famous places, then plot a whole series of them on a map to try to identify meaningful patterns.
