The Dreyfus affair (French: l’affaire Dreyfus, pronounced: [a.f?? d??.fys]) was a political scandal that divided France in the 1890s and the early 1900s. It involved the conviction for treason in November 1894 of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a young French artillery officer of Alsatian Jewish descent. Sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly having communicated French military…
100 years ago (12 Jul 1910) Death of Charles Stewart Rolls, British driver, aviator and car manufacturer, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, first person to fly cross the Channel and back non-stop, first British pilot to die in a plane crash
100 years ago (12 Jul 1910) Death of Charles Stewart Rolls, British driver, aviator and car manufacturer, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, first person to fly cross the Channel and back non-stop, first British pilot to die in a plane crash [more] Share this:
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. Share this:
50 years ago (11 Jul 1960) Harper Lee’s novel ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ was published
To Kill a Mockingbird is a novel by Harper Lee published in 1960. It was instantly successful, winning the Pulitzer Prize, and has become a classic of modern American literature. The plot and characters are loosely based on the author’s observations of her family and neighbors, as well as on an event that occurred near…
25 years ago (10 Jul 1985): The Greenpeace campaign ship ‘Rainbow Warrior’ was sunk by two bomb explosions in Auckland Harbour, New Zealand
The sinking of the Rainbow Warrior, codenamed Opération Satanique, was an operation by the “action” branch of the French foreign intelligence services, the Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure (DGSE), carried out on July 10, 1985. It aimed to sink the flagship of the Greenpeace fleet, the Rainbow Warrior in the port of Auckland, New…
70 years ago (10 Jul 1940) World War II: The Battle of Britain began
The Battle of Britain (German: Luftschlacht um England or Luftschlacht um Großbritannien, literally “Air battle for England” or “Air battle for Great Britain”) is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force (Luftwaffe) against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940. The objective of…
200 years ago (9 Jul 1810): Napoleon annexed Holland and made his brother Louis its King
200 years ago (9 Jul 1810) Napoleon annexed Holland and made his brother Louis its King Share this:
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. Share this:
Fakebook: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
BBC News – China marks 90 years of Communism
China marks 90 years of Communism
Relic of St Thomas Becket carried in procession to London Bridge [3 July 2011]
Relic of St Thomas Becket carried in procession to London Bridge
50 years ago (6 Jul 1960) Death of Aneurin (‘Nye’) Bevan, British politician responsible for establishing the National Health Service
(‘Nye’) Bevan was the British politician responsible for establishing the National Health Service. Share this:
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. Share this:
Fakebook: Elmo
Elmo
Free Technology for Teachers: Google Tutorials
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A-Level Physics.jpg (JPEG Image, 499×695 pixels)
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More – Google Apps for Education
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Using Google Apps with Grades 3-8
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Mummy Stash Found in Italian Church: Photos
Mummy Stash Found in Italian Church: Photos
What the Romans can teach us about refugees
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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…
Google Apps API – Google Code
https://apps-apis.google.com/a/feeds/domain/user/2.0/userName
Historical Anniversaries for July 2011
200 years ago (5 Jul 1810) Birth of P.T. Barnum, American showman and circus founder 50 years ago (6 Jul 1960) Death of Aneurin (‘Nye’) Bevan, British politician responsible for establishing the National Health Service 200 years ago (9 Jul 1810) Napoleon annexed Holland and made his brother Louis its King 70 years ago (10…
Half of Britons have German blood geneticists reveal
Forget two world wars and one World Cup… geneticists reveal 50 per cent of Britons are GERMAN
Fakebook: John Locke
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Site backup – MoodleDocs
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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. Share this:
25 years ago today (22nd June 1986) The ‘Hand of God’ goal – Argentine footballer Diego Maradona scored a goal against England using his hand in the quarter-final of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City.
25 years ago today (22nd June 1986) The ‘Hand of God’ goal – Argentine footballer Diego Maradona scored a goal against England using his hand in the quarter-final of the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico City. Share this:
70 years ago today (22nd June 1941) World War II: Operation Barbarossa – Germany invaded the Soviet Union
70 years ago today (22nd June 1941) World War II: Operation Barbarossa – Germany invaded the Soviet Union Share this:
150 years ago today (19th June 1861): Birth of Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, British field marshal who commanded Britain’s forces in France during WWI
150 years ago today (19th June 1861): Birth of Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig, British field marshal who commanded Britain’s forces in France during WWI Share this:
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. Share this:
50 years ago today (16th June 1961): Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West while on tour with the Kirov Ballet in Paris
50 years ago today (16th June 1961): Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected to the West while on tour with the Kirov Ballet in Paris Share this:
Keyword Checker: What was the legacy of the Spanish Civil War?
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. Share this:
200 years ago today (14th June 1811): Birth of Harriet Beecher Stowe, American abolitionist and novelist (‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’)
200 years ago today (14th June 1811): Birth of Harriet Beecher Stowe, American abolitionist and novelist (‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’) Share this:
20 years ago today (12th June 1991): Boris Yeltsin became the first directly elected President of Russia. (Inaugurated 10th July)
20 years ago today (12th June 1991): Boris Yeltsin became the first directly elected President of Russia. (Inaugurated 10th July) Share this:
Leonardo Da Vinci’s forerunner to machine gun is confirmed
Triple-barrelled cannon found in Croatian fort is 'machine gun' forerunner designed by Da Vinci
Interactive Quiz for IB History: The Middle East 1945-1979
A new revision quiz which can be played by students as independent revision or as a classroom group challenge. Share this:
Fakebook – New Helpsheet
I’ve created a double-sided handout that can be used as a helpsheet for students using “Fakebook” for the first time. Share this:
250 years ago today (7th June 1761): Birth of John Rennie, Scottish civil engineer, built bridges, canals, docks and harbours throughout Britain
250 years ago today (7th June 1761): Birth of John Rennie, Scottish civil engineer, built bridges, canals, docks and harbours throughout Britain. Share this:
The Middle East Crisis c.1945-1979 (Revision): 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. Share this:
The Middle East Crisis c.1945-1979 (Revision): Mapwork: The growth of Israel
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. Share this:
The Middle East Crisis c.1945-1979 (Revision): Timeline of Key Events: Match the Dates
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. Share this:
BBC News – Adolf Hitler ‘honorary citizen’ row grips Austria
Adolf Hitler 'honorary citizen' row grips Austria
“Renaissance Day” – a whole-school, cross-curricular project
At the International School of Toulouse, Year 8 students (aged 13-14) are taken off-timetable during the summer term for what we call “Renaissance Day“. The event is popular with both teachers and students. It promotes cross-curricular awareness, gets students working effectively as teams, develops analytical ability and improves presentational skills. The resources to develop your…
Huge testicular tumour helps identify subject of 19th century portrait | Science | The Guardian
Huge testicular tumour helps identify subject of 19th century portrait
The Middle East Crisis c.1945-1979 (Revision): Picture Round and Terminology Quiz
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. Share this:
Historical Anniversaries for June 2011
50 years ago today (6th June 1961) Death of Carlth Juneg, Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist, founder of analytical psychology 250 years ago today (7th June 1761) Birth of John Rennie, Scottish civil engineer, built bridges, canals, docks and harbours throughout Britain 20 years ago today (12th June 1991) Boris Yeltsin became the first directly elected…
50 years ago today (25th May 1961): U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave his famous ‘man on the moon’ speech
50 years ago today (25th May 1961): U.S. President John F. Kennedy gave his famous ‘man on the moon’ speech, in which he urged Congress and America to commit itself, before the end of the decade, to landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to earth Share this:
Medieval Cathedral Building: Worksheet
This new workpack gets students to think about the layout, design and engineering of Medieval Cathedrals. They learn about the terminology of Church architecture, watch video clips and make deductions from paintings from the Middle Ages showing church building. Share this:
The Middle East Crisis c.1945-1979 (Revision) Overview test of the entire period, 1945-1979
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…
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Keyword Checker
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. Share this:
Essay Keyword Checker: Why did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany?
This tool allows students to check the first draft of their essay to determine how many keywords have been included within it. As such it’s a useful way of ensuring that the essential background knowledge has been worked into the essay. Share this:
100 years ago today (18th May 1911): Death of Gustav Mahler
100 years ago today (18th May 1911): Death of Gustav Mahler, Austrian composer and conductor Share this:
Sourcework examination: The Yom Kippur War and its Aftermath
An exercise to develop sourcework skills in the style of the IB examination. There are also some model answers available. Share this:
Jack the Ripper “Wanted” poster template
I’ve just uploaded a template for a “Wanted” Poster which can be used to conclude the Year 9 unit on ““Who was Jack the Ripper?” Share this:
History Teachers on Twitter
I have created a (dynamically updating) directory of History Teachers on Twitter. Follow the link to view the directory and to add your own name to it if you wish! Share this:
Origins of the Cold War, 1945-49: Telescopic Topic for Revision
I’ve just launched a “telescopic topic” collapsible list (click here) to help my IGCSE students revise for the IGCSE Paper 2 topic on the Origins of the Cold War. Share this:
20 years ago today (14th May 1991): Nelson Mandela’s wife Winnie was sentenced to 6 years in jail
20 years ago today (14th May 1991): Nelson Mandela’s wife Winnie was sentenced to 6 years in jail for her part in the kidnapping and beating of 4 youths. (Later reduced to a fine) Share this:
Research Task: Nixon, Kissinger, Meir, Sadat, Brezhnev
These five characters are very fascinating in themselves; and as they may well be quoted in the sourcework paper, it makes sense to have a little to say about each one. Share this:
Former Nazi Camp Guard Gets Five Years
Former Nazi Camp Guard Gets Five Years
“Fill the Gaps” Quiz: The Yom Kippur War
A Quiz. There is also a completed teacher version available. Share this:
New Mexico Man Diagnosed With Bubonic Plague
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70 years ago today (10th May 1941): World War II: The last major attack on London during the Blitz
70 years ago today (10th May 1941): World War II: The last major attack on London during the Blitz caused heavy damage to many important buildings, including the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St James’s Palace and Lambeth Palace, several railway stations and hospitals, the British Museum and the Old Bailey. Over 1,300 people were…
Digital legacy: Archaeology of the future – tech – 03 May 2011 – New Scientist
Digital legacy: Archaeology of the future
Who Am I? Revision Challenge Quiz for IGCSE Modern World History
The “Who Am I?” Interactive team challenge has now been developed to cover some of the main topics in the IGCSE Modern World History syllabus (e.g. Origins of World War One, Peace Treaties, League of Nations, Causes of World War Two, Origins of the Cold War). Share this:
125 years ago today (8th May 1886): Coca-Cola first went on sale, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA
125 years ago today (8th May 1886): Coca-Cola first went on sale, in Atlanta, Georgia, USA Share this:
The Yom Kippur War
A series of structured questions to help students make sense of the causes, course and consequence of the Yom Kippur War. There is also a completed teacher version. Share this:
The Palestinian Diaspora: Quiz
To test understanding following completion of the previous worksheet. Share this:
The Palestinian Diaspora
A worksheet of questions to help students understand the fate of the Palestinians between 1948-1973. A good review exercise. There is also a completed teacher version. Share this:
Sourcework Assignment Pack: Weimar Germany
A comprehensive pack of sources and questions in the style of GCSE/IGCSE examinations, designed to be printed off at the beginning of the unit and used as homework exercises over the course of several weeks. Share this:
60 years ago today (29th April 1951): Death of Ludwig Wittgenstein
60 years ago today (29th April 1951): Death of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Austrian-born British philosopher, commonly regarded as the greatest philosopher of the 20th century. Share this:
25 years ago today (26th April 1986): The world’s worst nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine, Soviet Union
25 years ago today (26th April 1986): The world’s worst nuclear accident occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Ukraine, Soviet Union. Share this:
The Six-Day War – Classroom Debate
Classroom Debate Students use their completed timelines to get into role as different characters from different countries and reach an independent judgement about which of the three key interpretations listed at the outset is the most convincing. They are then given guidance on how to construct a written essay answering the central question. There are…
Historical Anniversaries for May 2011
50 years ago today (1st May 1961) Fidel Castro declared Cuba a socialist state and abolished multi-party elections 80 years ago today (1st May 1931) The Empire State Building in New York City, USA was officially opened 75 years ago today (2nd May 1936) Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie left the country and went into exile…
IGCSE History Revision Quiz for 2011
A new version of the Play Your Dates Right Quiz, complete with a Highscore Board, testing your knowledge of the main events of the period 1871-1949. Great for IGCSE History Revision, including Origins of the Cold War 1945-1949. Share this:
Fakebook: Mr. Cube
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IB History
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GCSE HISTORY REVISION PODCASTS from history at hand
The aim of history at hand is to provide a range of resources for students to help with their knowledge and understanding using the latest technology of podcasting.
Fakebook: Henry VIII
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Europe 1914: free blank maps, free outline maps
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Origins of the Cold War to 1949: Revision quiz
71 questions in the databank – choose between Wordshoot, Manic Miner, Flashcards….! Great for revising the IGCSE compulsory sourcework paper in history for this year. Share this:
Fakebook: Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg
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Fakebook: Daisy Buchanan
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Compare and Contrast the Rise of Mao and Stalin
An article in the style of an IB / A-Level essay, which I have written for History Review, due to be published in March 2011. Share this:
Fakebook: Marilyn Monroe
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Fakebook: Rosie the Riveter
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