My year 9 Historians have been in role as American Civil War politicians and generals for the past couple of weeks. Here are some of the ‘Fakebook’ projects they produced to round off the epic strategy game through which we studied the topic!
Category: Historical Periods
Effects of War – Comparisons and Contrasts
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?
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?
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
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
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?
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
Causes of the Chinese Civil War: A detailed summary grid for revision purposes.
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Summary and suggested linkage
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Summary and suggested linkage: A summary diagram for revision purposes.
Causes of World War One: What was Responsible?:
Causes of World War One: What was Responsible?: An analysis grid which moves towards linking and prioritising the various factors that caused World War One. Students are invited to complete the blank cells using their own knowledge.
Causes of World War One – Who was Responsible?
Causes of World War One – Who was Responsible?: A summary grid for revision purposes.
Causes of Wars – Comparisons and Contrasts
Causes of Wars – Comparisons and Contrasts: Students are provided with detailed information about the causes 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…
Causes, Practices, Effects of War – Overview of Past IB History Questions
Overview of Past Questions: Students are asked to collate a list of past paper questions from the most recent examination papers, to categorise these into causes, practices and effects questions, and offer some initial observations on the sorts of demands made by each.
A comprehensive list of useful topic quotes for the IB History Syllabus
Using Key Quotes: A series of short, memorable quotes relating to the key topics being studied. Students have to reflect on how they may best be used in the examination.
The October Revolution: Popular Uprising, or Coup d’Etat?
Historiography Handouts with Associated Tasks – The October Revolution: Popular Uprising, or Coup d’Etat?
Essential Historiographical Terms for IB
Essential Historiographical Terms for IB: A condensed, one-sided summary sheet defining clearly and with examples such historiographical terms as Determinism, Accidentalism, Intentionalism, Structuralism.
Analysing IB History Essay Question ‘Command Terms’
The examiner is very keen that students demonstrate a clear understanding of central terms when they are used in essay questions. In this activity, students work in pairs then as a class to design a clear definition of such key terms as ‘Guerilla Warfare’ and ‘Totalitarianism’. The worksheet uses the examples of Stalin and Mao…
Modern World History Facebook Fanpage
The Modern World History Facebook Fanpage provides daily quotes, revision tips and recommended websites – if you’re a student currently revising for GCSE/IGCSE Modern World History, you might want to join up!
Transatlantic Slave Trade – new resources
I have just completed teaching the transatlantic slave trade to my Year 9 students. “The Apprentice” roleplay was a particular highlight and I’ve uploaded some new resources to the main page, in particular a new PowerPoint getting students to think about logos, slogans and brand names and a streamlined tasksheet for the Apprentice roleplay exercise.
The League and Disarmament in the 1920s: A Classroom Roleplay Exercise
Using a worksheet and a record sheet, students are given different sources from different witnesses and have to analyse their position on the issue of disarmament. They then ‘interview’ each other by moving around the classroom, trying to reach a judgement on the key question of “Who was to blame for the failure of disarmament…
Border Disputes in the 1920s: Diamond 9 Analysis
Students organise the successes and failures of Border Disputes into a ‘Diamond 9’ formation and explain their reasoning. An effective revision aid. There is a sample Teacher Version.
Modern World IGCSE History Revision, Summer 2012
I have just updated my IGCSE revision pages with the most recent past examination questions on the key topics for Papers 1 and 2 ready to start revision lessons with my students next week. Hope you find them useful!
Add your own cast of characters (i.e. students!) to ActiveHistory Decision-Making Games!
I’ve just finished developing a new feature which allows you to customise ActiveHistory decision-making adventures by adding a class list. You then get a special link to a version of the game to share with your students which includes their names as characters in the game itself. You can check it out for yourself in…
QR Code Treasure Hunt – the Gunpowder Plot
To accompany the Gunpowder Plot History Mystery, I’ve produced this QR Code Treasure Hunt on the same topic. Whilst students are working on their essays as a two-week homework exercise, these codes are hidden around the school and students gain a point for every QR code they successfully decode, and another point for every QR…
National Minorities in Lenin’s Russia
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
Model Essay on the Reign of Alexander III (Tsar Alexander III Roleplay Unit)
This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…
Propaganda Posters of the Russian Civil War
This PowerPoint is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
War Communism – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
Lenin’s Testament
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
History Mystery: The Gunpowder Plot
This new “History Mystery” is designed as stand-alone projects which each last 3-4 hours. Through engaging historical topics, they teach skills of problem formulation, deductive reasoning, independent research, groupwork and structured writing.
End of Unit Factual Test (Tsar Alexander III Roleplay Unit)
This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…
The New Economic Policy – Lenin’s USSR
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
Timeline of the Reign (Tsar Alexander III Roleplay Unit)
This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…
The Kronstadt Rebellion and the Tambov Rebellion
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
The Bolshevik Victory in the Russian Civil War – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
Debate Record Sheet (Tsar Alexander III Roleplay Unit)
This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…
The Red Terror – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
Debate Preparation Worksheet (Tsar Alexander III Roleplay Unit)
This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…
“Who Am I?” Challenge – The USSR under Stalin
“Who Am I?” Challenge – The USSR under Stalin 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…
Tsar Alexander III Roleplay Unit – 30 Slide Presentation
This resource is part of a new roleplay unit for teaching this topic at IB / A-Level. The teacher takes on the role of the Tsar, and the students as his ministers. Over several hours the ‘reformers’ and the ‘reactionaries’ debate the issues whilst the teacher uses the 30-slide presentation to guide the debate and…
The Treaty of Brest Litovsk – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
300 Years ago today (24th Jan. 1712): Birth of Frederick the Great
Frederick II’s first act on assuming the throne of Prussia in 1740 was to take his state to war—a consequence, he later explained, of possessing a well-trained army, a full treasury and a desire to establish a reputation. For the next quarter century he confronted Europe in arms and emerged victorious, but at a price…
The Constituent Assembly – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
75 Years Ago Today (23rd Jan. 1937): Second Moscow Show Trial
The second Moscow show trial (The Trial of the Seventeen) took place. 17 leading Communists were accused of participating in Trotsky’s plot to overthrow Stalin. 13 of them were sentenced to death. The Moscow Trials were a series of show trials conducted in the Soviet Union and orchestrated by Joseph Stalin during the Great Purge…
The 1917 Decrees and the 1918 Constitution – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
75 Years Ago Today (19th Jan 1937): Howard Hughes breaks the air record
American industrialist, film producer and aviator Howard Hughes broke the U.S. transcontinental air record, flying from Burbank, California to Newark, New Jersey in 7 hours, 28 minutes and 25 seconds. The New York Times report of the event can be found here.
100 Years Ago Today (18th Jan. 1912) – Scott reaches the South Pole
British explorer Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition reached the South Pole, but discovered that Roald Amundsen’s Norwegian team had beaten them by over a month. In addition to Capt. Scott, Lieut. Bowers, and Dr. Wilson, two others, Capt. Titus Oates and Petty Officer Edgar Evans made the final push to the Pole. Conditions were appalling: temperatures…
400 Years Ago Today (17th Jan. 1612) – Birth of Thomas Fairfax
Birth of Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Baron Fairfax of Cameron, English general, commander of the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. Known as “Black Tom” for his dark complexion, Sir Thomas gained a reputation as a gallant and courageous commander in the struggle to control Yorkshire — but his fortunes were mixed. In March 1643,…
Research Grid – Lenin’s Russia, Roleplay Unit
This worksheet is part of the new Scheme of Work through which the entire topic of Lenin’s Russia is taught through an extended roleplay with students taking the role of different Politburo members.
Who was the Greatest Figure of the Industrial Revolution?
This lesson follows on well from the studies of individuals (see entire unit here). Students consider the big changes – transport, agriculture, smelting and so on – and try to link them together in a meaningful way. I have now added are some samples produced by my own students: Olivia | Hanif | Grace
600 Years Ago Today (6th Jan. 1412) – Birth of Joan of Arc
Birth of Joan of Arc, French martyr, saint and national heroine. (This is the date given in a letter from Lord Perceval de Boullainvilliers. Her actual date of birth is impossible to verify, and she could only estimate her age)
Religious Events in the Early Modern Period – Overview timeline / research task
Religious events in the Early Modern Period Before moving on to the next topic of study, this activity gets students to investigate a wide range of other events going on in Europe at the same time as the Lutheran Reformation. In this way they get a useful overview of the entire period rather than merely…
100 Years Ago Today (5th January 1912): The Bolshevik Party was Formed
Lenin’s Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party broke away from the main party and formed what would later become the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The Bolsheviks were born out of Russia’s Social Democrat Party. When the party split in 1903, the Bolsheviks only had one obvious leader – Lenin. In…
The Lutheran Reformation: Designing a Movie Poster / Trailer
A Powerpoint template getting students to match historical characters from the timeline of Luther’s life to real actors. A completed version is also available, along with a movie trailer produced recently by one of my students. For the full unit, click here.
Essay Planning: The October Revolution
A worksheet to help students plan their essay assignment. A completed teacher version is also available.
Primary Source Analysis: Was the October Revolution a popular uprising, or a coup d’etat?
A worksheet activity designed to get students thinking about the key historiographical debate.
Mussolini’s Italy: Two model essays on his domestic policies
Two model essays, written by RJ Tarr to help students understand how to structure an effective essay: 1. How Fascist was Fascist Italy? 2. How Successful were Mussolini’s Domestic Policies?
Factual Test: The Provisional Government and the October Revolution
A student test; there is also a completed teacher version available.
Mussolini’s Italy: Essential Teacher Notes on all key policy areas
A series of notes [1][2][3] to help teachers with their planning and preparation.
The Provisional Government and the October Revolution – Structured Narrative
This resource is designed to get students turning their timeline into a thematic analysis. A completed teacher version is also available.
Fascist Italy under Mussolini: Conclusions about the nature of Fascism
A PowerPoint presentation getting students to reflect on the nature of Fascism.
Timeline Task – The Provisional Government and the October Revolution
A student worksheet; a completed teacher version is also available.
Fascist Italy under Mussolini: Primary Sources
A series of primary sources to help students with their essay planning task.
Historiography – The Provisional Government and the October Revolution
A resource to familiarise students with the historiographical issues.
Rule of Mussolini: Picture Quiz
A picture quiz designed to precede a more detailed factual test.
The Provisional Government / October Revolution: Overview
A worksheet to introduce the topic. Teacher notes are also available.
Rule of Mussolini: What is Fascism?
A worksheet to help students analyse Fascism through primary sources.
The Causes and Events of the French Revolution: Condensed Study Unit
The full study unit covering the causes and the events of the French Revolution takes up to 15 hours. However, in this condensed study unit, designed to last about 7 hours, students will learn about the main causes of the French Revolution. The Three Estates System, the mistakes of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, the…
The French Revolution: A New Condensed Study Unit
The full study unit covering the causes and the events of the French Revolution takes up to 15 hours. However, in this condensed study unit, designed to last about 7 hours, students will learn about the main causes of the French Revolution. The Three Estates System, the mistakes of King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, the…
Hitler’s Foreign Policy Simulation – Now with a live leaderboard
I’ve developed the ‘Hitler’s Foreign Policy’ simulation to incorporate a live high score board. In this way teachers can easily monitor the performance of students playing the game and focus on those whose factual test score declines during the game.
How to set up a QR Code Treasure Hunt
A QR-Code Treasure Hunt is a fun, simple way to get students using their mobile devices to continue learning outside of lesson time. Here’s how we set one up at the International School of Toulouse with some guidance on how to do the same with your own students using the QR Treasure Hunt Generator at…
Keyword Checker: What caused the February Revolution?
30 keywords are provided. If a student CUTS and PASTES their essay into the tool, it will then proceed to tell them how many of these keywords are currently included in it and which need to be added.
Classtools.net Quizzes: Events of the American Civil War
A range of interactive quizzes to test understanding.
QR Code Treasure Hunt: The Events of the American Civil War
Print off these 20 QR codes and put them up around your classroom / school. Students have to answer as many questions as they can in the time available. The completed answers can be used to develop their individual research project stemming from the interactive simulation.
What should we call the American Civil War?
Students are presented with a long list of alternative names that have been used for the American Civil War. They organise these into suggested categories, compare their ideas with a partner, and then choose what they feel is the best alternative title.
What can we learn from the songs of the Civil War?
In this activity, students analyse the lyrics (and, if possible, listen to the music) of popular Confederate and Unionist songs from the civil war. They then have to produce their own civil war song to a civil-war era tune of their choice. Their objective is to produce a song which clearly explains the causes of…
Timeline Challenge: The Causes of the American Civil War
For this activity, organise the class 5 teams. Display the first event by clicking the button. All the students should copy this information into their worksheet. The first team can play for up to 10 points depending on their confidence. They have to not only identify the mistake in the account, but correct it. If…
History Mystery: The Causes of the American Civil War
This unit is in the form of an ActiveHistory Mystery. Through a roleplay, stimulus images and information slips, students formulate questions, speculate answers, then research for themselves to produce a report which is then peer-assessed against a standard markscheme. The full investigation takes 2 hours of classroom time and at least another hour of individual…
Model Essay: Compare and contrast the rise to power of two single party state rulers
This short study unit should end with students writing an essay on the subject of “Compare and Contrast the Rise to Power of Two Single Party State Rulers” (focusing on Mao and Pinochet). I have written a model essay on this subject myself which is available in the teacher resources area.
Feedback: Comparing and Contrasting the Rise of Two Single Party State Rulers
Students then get into pairs and small groups to compare their approaches to the previous task. There is a lengthy list of “discussion points” provided too in this worksheet designed to get them thinking more (e.g. the USA opposed Mao, but failed to prevent his rise; but they favoured Pinochet, who succeeded. Why the difference?)….
Compare and Contrast the Rise to Power of Two Single Party State Rulers
With the research on Pinochet completed, the students now move on to compare and contrast his rise to that of Mao in China. This worksheet provides them with structured guidance on how to go about this process. As a popular format of question in the IB examination, this is a very useful exercise.
Interactive Simulation Game: The Events of the American Civil War
In this multiplayer interactive simulation, you will take the role of an advisor to either President Davis, or President Lincoln. You will be given a series of military, economic and political problems to deal with. Your first objective is to choose the course of action which you think your President took in real life (his…
Factual Test: The Rise to power of Pinochet in Chile
A detailed analysis of the causes for Pinochet’s rise to power presented as a “Fill the Blanks” quiz. There is a completed teacher version available.
Individual Research Task: The Rise to power of Pinochet in Chile
Students are given this worksheet framework to help structure their investigation about why Pinochet became leader of Chile. They should use any sources available to them (books, video, websites). A particularly good video is the 10-minute drama film by Ken Loach which can be found on YouTube.
Powerpoint Starter: The Rise to power of Pinochet in Chile, 1973
Students are presented with a series of images from which to draw their own initial deductions. They are then told what each one represents. A good introduction to the topic.
The Rise to power of Pinochet in Chile: New IB study unit
A brand new study unit. The IB History examination is very keen that students learn to compare and contrast the methods and conditions which led to the rise to power of single party state rulers – sometimes insisting that they are from different parts of the world, and / or that one is a right-wing…
Musicians in the Civil Rights Movement – Design a Civil Rights Music Compilation CD
60 song titles are shared between the class. a. Locate the lyrics of the song titles you are given (e.g. using elyrics.net) and read them. b. Decide which one song you like best overall from its lyrics. c. Copy an extract from these lyrics into a shared Google Presentation like this one. d. Embed a…
Musicians in the Civil Rights Movement – Feedback on Musicians
Students complete this worksheet following from the image, and then students in the class who researched musicians as their “Fakebook” project now feedback to the class with their findings by identifying the one most important event in their lives which illustrates their importance to the civil rights struggle. Everyone in the class uses this to…
Musicians in the Civil Rights Movement – PowerPoint Starter on 1968
Students are presented with two famous images. What is going on in each one? This introduces to 1968 as a “Year of Tragedy” for the Civil Rights struggle and also makes use of this video file.
Politicians in the Civil Rights Movement – In-depth Research: A Virtual Interview with Martin Luther King Jr.
Using this worksheet to help them, students conduct a “Head to Head” Interview with Martin Luther King Jr. to spot mistakes in an account of his life, then produce a newspaper report based on the extra questions they choose to ask him. There is also a completed teacher version available.
Politicians in the Civil Rights Movement – Feedback on Politicians
Students complete this worksheet following from the image, and then students in the class who researched politicians as their “Fakebook” project now feedback to the class with their findings by identifying the one most important event in their lives which illustrates their importance to the civil rights struggle. Everyone in the class uses this to…
Politicians in the Civil Rights Movement – PowerPoint Starter
Students are presented with a famous image of two black politicians shaking hands. Why was this such a newsworthy event? A good way of setting up the focus on politicians.
Sportspeople in the Civil Rights Movement – Feedback on Sportspeople
The students in the class who researched sportspeople as their “Fakebook” project now feedback to the class with their findings by identifying the one most important event in their lives which illustrates their importance to the civil rights struggle. Everyone in the class uses this to start developing a thematic timeline document.
Sportspeople in the Civil Rights Movement – PowerPoint Starter
Students are presented with a famous image of two black sportsmen raising one hand in the air, wearing black gloves. What do the students think this means? Why are they wearing their gloves on different hands? A good way of setting up the focus on sportspeople.
Civil Rights Movement – Individual Research Project: “Fakebook” Profile of a civil rights campaigner
Students are allocated or choose one of the musicians, sportsmen or politicians to research in more depth. They will present their work in the form of a “Fakebook” profile using the application based at www.classtools.net.
The Civil Rights Movement – Overview of civil rights campaigners
Students are given groups of politicians, musicians and sportsmen. Their job is to use Google Images to locate a picture of each person and paste them into the document. As they do so they start thinking about which character they would like to research in more depth if given the opportunity.
Civil Rights Movement: Powerpoint Starter – What’s going on in this image?
Students are presented with a partly obscured image. Can they tell what’s going on? When it was taken? What’s the mood of the people present? They are then shown the rest of the picture. A powerful way of stressing that although slavery had long been abolished by the 1930s, racial prejudice and violence was all…
Medieval Cathedrals: Interactive Game
In this brand new activity, students answer a series of questions asked by King Henry II. Based on the quality of the responses he then decides how likely he is to let them build a cathedral. Complete with a worksheet and a live “leaderboard” to build up a sense of competition, this is a great…
Keyword Checker: Compare and Contrast the reigns of Tsar Alexander II and Tsar Alexander III.
Students paste their essay into this interface and get a score based on how many keywords they have included. Excellent for ensuring topic coverage at first-draft phase.
Keyword Checker: What were the main causes of tension in Palestine c.1914-1939?
Students paste their essay into this interface and get a score based on how many keywords they have included. Excellent for ensuring topic coverage at first-draft phase.
