This online countdown timer has a selection of tunes to choose from, and you can even upload your own to it. Share this:
Flashcard Generator
Use this interface to create flashcards free of charge! Share this:
The Events of 1904-1905: The Russo-Japanese War, Bloody Sunday and the 1905 Revolution [computer activity]
For IB / A-Level historians. In this exercise, students are presented with a wide range of primary source material which “tells the story” of 1904-1905 from a variety of perspectives covering the main topics. Students “cut and paste” the information into the appropriate cells of a table which breaks each event into its causes, events…
Jack the Ripper Quiz
A new quiz on Jack the Ripper, created using www.classtools.net. Share this:
Jack the Ripper: Mini-Sourcework Exercise
Mini-Sourcework exercise on Jack the Ripper. Complete with markscheme to test knowledge and understanding (30 minutes). Share this:
Why did Germany lose World War One?
Essay Project: Interactive Essay-Planning Tool [interactive] Students then use this interactive essay planning tool to submit a suggested way of linking the four factors, and get – at the simple click of a button – a very detailed model essay plan suggesting not only the content of each paragraph but also – crucially – how…
Social Effects of Industrialisation in Tsarist Russia
For IB / A-Level historians. The success or failure of the industrialisation programme can be measured in social as well as in economic terms. This worksheet contains a series of primary sources relating to the living conditions in the towns which allow students to decide whether the economic benefits outweighed the social disadvantages. Share this:
Jack the Ripper Source Work
Maxi-sourcework assessment Complete with markscheme to test knowledge and understanding about the Jack the Ripper murders of 1888 (1 hour). Share this:
Economic Effects of Industrialisation in Tsarist Russia
For IB / A-Level historians. Students are provided with some raw economic data relating to the results of industrialisation in Imperial Russia. They have to draw conclusions regarding success and failure, and try to guess what missing figures in the tables would have been (this is a great way to get students spotting trends in…
Consequences of the Jack the Ripper Murders
A consolidating lesson which looks at the social outcomes of the Ripper murders. Students are given a sourcework test, complete with a markscheme. Share this:
GCSE History Revision
A newly updated section, designed for my KS4 IGCSE history class. Complete with history games, worksheets and lesson plans, these history revision pages will keep students engaged in the run-up to the summer history exams. Share this:
Other evidence about Jack the Riper
Students are presented with other key facts about Jack and use this to make their own deductions about the killer. These ideas can then serve as the basis for a lively discussion in class. Share this:
What was Jack’s personality like? – the “Dear Boss” letter
Students analyse the gruesome “Dear Boss” letter to make deductions about Jack’s character. Was he educated? Was he an egomaniac? Can we trust this evidence? Share this:
Video Worksheet [1]: An overview of the Jack the Ripper murders and the investigation
This worksheet accompanies the first 40 minutes of the video available from Amazon. It provides a good overview of the East End, the victims and the problems faced by the police. Share this:
The Personality of Tsar Nicholas II
For IB / A-Level historians. Students should have a good understanding of the main issues and personalities relevant to the topic. This worksheet pushes things forward by considering the particular contribution of Tsar Nicholas II’s personality to the situation by looking at some primary source accounts and inviting students to form their own judgement. Share…
What did Jack the Ripper look like?
In this worksheet, using witness reports from the crime scenes, students build up their own profile of the killer. How old was he? What social background? What witnesses can be trusted? Why are there such discrepancies between the witness reports? Share this:
The Geography of Imperial Russia [interactive]
For IB / A-Level historians. This task, which is best set as a homework exercise, involves getting students producing a map of Imperial Russia which highlights the range and location of nationalities, climates, time zones and natural resources. In this way they can reflect on the idea that maybe the problems of Imperial Russia were…
History Shop
It’s with a great sense of relief that I’ve finally launched the ActiveHistory History Store – a massive repository of history books, history CDs and history DVDs available from Amazon, organised by date period and by genre (historical fiction, popular history, history study books, history dvds). There are hundreds of resources available here which I…
Jack the Ripper – The Police Investigation
This worksheet introduces Charles Warren and Sir Robert Anderson, the policemen in charge of the investigation. Students consider a detailed list of the measures that could have been taken and try to deduce which ones were simply not possible at the time; which ones were possible but which were vetoed by the Home Office and…
An Overview of the Issues Facing Nicholas II in 1894
For IB / A-Level historians. This pack can be used by students following their completion of the simulation to produce a mindmap and / or a powerpoint presentation about the state of Russia when Tsar Nicholas II came to the throne. Share this:
Study Guide: Tsarist and Revolutionary Russia, c.1890-1917
Why is this period so important to know about? A brief introductory handout outlining the historical significance of the topic and the main questions for investigation. Share this:
Who were Jack the Ripper’s victims?
Students investigate the sad lives of each of Jack’s victims: Polly Nicholls, Annie Chapman, Lizzie Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly – and compare similarities and differences between them by construcing parallel timelines. Were these women to blame for the condition they found themselves in by 1888, or were they victims of the system?…
The Renaissance – Quiz
A new Keyword Challenge Quiz for Year 8 history students. Share this:
The Reformation – Quiz
A new quiz for Year 8 history students. Share this:
Long-Term Causes of the French Revolution: The Three Estates System
A worksheet designed to be used as a ‘back to back’ exercise in the classroom. The teacher copy should also be downloaded. Share this:
What was the East End like in 1888?
In this worksheet, students are introduced to the terrible social conditions that prevailed in East End of London and make deductions about how these could have helped “Jack”. They are presented with a list of the problems and deprivations in the East End and consider how each would have helped the killer. They also analyse…
Lutheran Reformation Historiography – Online Quiz!
A new quiz which tests knowledge of every major Reformation historian worth knowing about: Roland Bainton, Heiko Oberman, Heinz Schilling, Von Ranke, Max Steinmetz, Schilling / Reinhard, AG Dickens, Christopher Haigh, Joseph Lortz, Gunther Vogler, Friedrich Engels, Peter Blickle, Scott and Scribner, Martin Luther, Harold Bender, George H. Williams, M.M. Smirin, Claus-Peter Clasen, James M….
Reformation Historiography [6]: Why did the Imperial Cities adopt the Reformation?
Why did the Imperial Cities adopt the Reformation? – In the 1960s Bernd Moeller called for historians to get away from theological debate and back to historical issues. This was the question he posed to himself, and it generated a great deal of debate. Share this:
Reformation Historiography [5]:Were the Radicals a ‘lunatic fringe’?
Were the Radicals a ‘lunatic fringe’? – Some historians have argued that the Radicals were insane and insignificant; others that they were the most enlightened, and also the most significant, part of the Reformation movement. Which side makes the most sense? Share this:
Reformation Historiography [4]: What were the causes of the Peasants’ War of 1524-25?
What were the causes of the Peasants’ War of 1524-25? – Marxist historians in the East, and liberal historians in the West, were at odds over the motives of the Peasants’ War. Why did their interpretions differ so strongly, and how? Share this:
Black History – The Middle Passage – Simulation
Take on the role of a kidnapped young African in this simulation and see how well you can maintain your strength in the gruelling “Middle Passage” across the Atlantic in this decision-making activity. Complete with five different lesson plans. Part of an up-and-coming new Black History unit which I am currently developing which will be…
Nazi Economic Policies
Students use the Head2Head Interview with Adolf Hitler to organise information about Hitler’s economic policies for Big Business, Small Business, Agriculture and the working classes under key headings in this worksheet. Share this:
Hitler’s Consolidation of Power – Quiz
A paper test of 20 questions based on the information in the preceeding worksheets. Students should be given the opportunity to revise for the test by playing this interactive quiz. Share this:
Stalin’s Five Year Plans – Keyword Challenge
A new interactive quiz for history students at A-Level / IB Level. Rules of the game can be found here. Share this:
Medieval Town and Village – Factual Test
A new factual test designed to follow on from the Medieval Time Machine Game. Share this:
The Court of the Red Tsar: Simon Montefiore – Worksheet
A grid which summarises the main themes covered in the “Court of the Red Tsar” audiobook to help teachers and students decide which parts can be made use of within class. The audiobook can be purchased from Amazon here. Share this:
Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe – Sourcework Test
An updated version of the end-of-unit sourcework assignment, with an improved markscheme. Designed for Year 8 History students. Share this:
Hitler: The Rise of Evil [2003] – Worksheet
Hitler: The Rise of Evil – Worksheet to accompany the drama documentary. A complete breakdown of the themes covered across the two episodes starring Robert Carlyle, designed to help teachers decide which bits should be shown in class and to help students structure their notes. The DVD can be purchased through Amazon here. Share this:
Origins of World War One – Keyword Challenge
A new keyword challenge on the Causes of World War One. Rules of the game can be found here. Share this:
Stalin’s Five Year Plans: Factual Test
A 20 Question factual test designed to test student knowledge of Stalin’s Five Year Plans for industry. Share this:
Medieval Time Machine Newspaper Report
A new lesson plan / activity designed to consolidate knowledge after Year 7 history students have played the Time Machine Journey to the Middle Ages. Share this:
Causes of World War One – Factual Test
A new factual test on the origins of World War One containing 33 questions. Answers for teachers provided. Share this:
The Rise of Hitler – End of Unit Factual Test
To evaluate factual recall, students can then be set this test (30 questions) as a classroom exercise. Personally, I like to get them all playing this Fling the Teacher Quiz for the first 15 minutes of the lesson as “last minute revision”. The first person to finish this game successfully gets 10/10, the second person…
Classtools.net Random Name Generator
I have developed the Classtools.net random name generator so that words can now be “removed” from the fruit machine after they have been selected. This means that using the game in class doesn’t result in the same people / keywords being selected several times each session. Share this:
Why did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany? – 3. Display Task
The final part of the exercise involves students approaching the question from a completely fresh perspective. Six – rather than three – factors are provided in the form of cards, each one of which contains essential pieces of factual information. Students have to arrange these on sugar paper, establish links between the factors by connecting…
Stalin’s Rise to Power – Divisions in the Bolshevik party before 1924
A worksheet for A-Level / IB History providing long-term policy factors explaining Stalin’s rise to power. Share this:
Why did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany? – 2. Thinking Skills Exercise
Students turn their essay into a flowchart highlighting the essential links between the factors and the most important factual information that can be used to substantiate each factor. Share this:
The Tudors – Keyword Challenge
A new quiz for Year 8 history students. Share this:
Why did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany? – 1. Skeleton Essay Exercise
In this exercise, students are given three “skeleton essays”, each one of which puts forward a different interpretation of Hitler’s rise to power. Students read through each interpretation, choose the one they agree with most, and then elaborate on each section using their classroom notes. It provides an accessible way of showing students how the…
What was the most important cause of the Industrial Revolution?
This lesson follows on well from the studies of individuals. Students consider the big changes – transport, agriculture, smelting and so on – and try to link them together in a meaningful way [Part 1 | Part 2] Share this:
Causes of the Industrial Revolution
I have now added a new factual test to the popular “Horatio Ramsbottom: Victorian Entrepreneur” computer simulation. The game itself has also been expanded to include a new decision point relating to Brunel’s “Great Eastern” project. Share this:
Who was the most important person in the Industrial Revolution?
A balloon debate lesson plan and worksheet. Each student produces a single powerpoint slide as a key figure from the industrial revolution period explaining why “they” deserve to be remembered as the most important character overall. The debate which follows is a great way of encouraging students to link and prioritise different types of achievements….
Tsarist Russia Game – GE Tour / New Worksheet
I have updated the popular “Virtual Tour around Tsarist Russia” with a new worksheet and an improved Google Earth Tour. Share this:
Post It: Flash Labelling Tool
PostIt is a useful tool for helping students to identify and then categorise key factors. Each “Note” can be dragged and dropped anywhere in the screen and colour coded if necessary. A background image can also be inserted for annotation purposes. Share this:
Dustbin Game
A Dustbin game is great for helping students to organise ideas into categories. Students or teachers can create up to four categories of factors. The game created by ClassTools.net then involves students dragging and dropping each factor into its correct category as quickly as possible in a “race against the clock”! Share this:
Who was Jack the Ripper? – Simulation
Armed with the profiles that they have built up using the worksheet unit about Jack the Ripper, students go to this ActiveHistory Simulation which asks them a series of questions about what they think they now know about the personality and appearance of the Ripper. The computer then analyses their responses to present them with…
Medieval Religion – Quiz
A new quiz for Year 7 History students. Share this:
Stalin’s Five Year Plans – Test
A 20-question factual test designed to accompany the interactive simulation for IB / A2 History students investigating Stalin’s Five-Year-Plans Share this:
The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler: Worksheet
After studying the Weimar Republic on its own terms, students should turn their attention in more detail to the activities of Adolf Hitler during the Weimar period. This worksheet is designed to accompany the first part of the excellent video documentary “The Fatal Attraction of Adolf Hitler (1989)” (30 mins). Sadly I don’t think it’s…
Causes of World War One Quiz
A new quiz for GCSE / IGCSE History. Share this:
The Culture of the Weimar Republic
The positive achievements of the Weimar Republic are easily overlooked. This project encourages students to investigate the cultural vibrancy of the Republic by producing a “virtual tour” around the Berlin of the 1920s. Share this:
Stalin’s Henchmen – Kaganovich, Mikoyan, Molotov, Kirov, Yagoda, Sergo, Vorishilov
A short factual test to follow on from the more detailed worksheet earlier on in this unit. Share this:
Hitler’s Consolidation of Power: Introduction
An overview of the main themes and historical questions to generate student interest. Covers the Reichstag Fire, the Night of the Long Knives. Share this:
Stalin’s Henchmen
Stalin’s Henchmen – A worksheet which gives students the opportunity to investigate the key characters at the Court of the Red Tsar: Mikoyan, Kaganovich, Kirov, Yagoda, Molotov, Voroshilov, Sergo. Share this:
Factual Test: The Weimar Republic 1918-33
After students have completed both parts of the ActiveHistory computer simulation, their factual recall can be measured using this 25-question test. Share this:
Why did Stalin become leader of the USSR?
Essay Assignment: Why did Stalin become leader of the USSR? – Students are given a long list of factors which they have to categorise and then turn into a written piece to consolidate their understanding of Stalin’s rise to power. Share this:
Random Name Picker
This is a simple activity which is a great way of rounding off a unit and revising important dates, concepts and people. It can also be used to randomly pick a name from a list of students. You can copy and paste your data direct from Word, Excel and other programs. Share this:
Arcade Game Generator
This is a powerful interface: you create one set of questions, then you can choose from four different interactive quizzes. Your question sets can be saved for future development and editing, and even hosted on a website as HTML pages! Share this:
Witchcraft Trial – Updated Activity Worksheet
I have updated the popular witchcraft trial lesson plan and trial worksheet to include follow up questions designed to get students thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of both the adversarial justice system, and also of jury trials. This ensures that the trial itself is rounded off with some reflective questions rather than just a…
Stalin’s Rise to Power – The struggle for succession, 1924-29
The struggle for succession, 1924-29 – A worksheet which outlines the way in which Stalin rose to power by playing off various factions within the party against each other. Share this:
The Night of the Long Knives
Information, sources and tasks outlining how and why Hitler crushed the Ernst Rohm and the SA in June 1934. Share this:
Political Parties in Weimar Germany
Display Task: Useful as an extension or as a homework activity. Students are provided with a diagram of the main political parties in Weimar Germany. They use this as the basis for some propaganda posters for classroom display. Share this:
Stalin’s Rise to Power – Who should succeed Lenin?
A worksheet in which history students research each of the key characters and conduct a classroom debate comparing their respective merits. Share this:
The Reichstag Fire
A paper version of an online interactive unit (coming soon!), developed in conjunction with John D. Clare. Students use information about the key characters involved to create a “courtroom drama” seeking to determine who was responsible for the Reichstag Fire. Share this:
Stalin’s Rise to Power – Lenin’s Testament
Lenin’s Testament – A worksheet which introduces the strengths and weaknesses of the Lenin’s possible successors. Designed to be used in conjunction with this primary source extract from Lenin’s Testament. Share this:
Year 7 History Skills – “People”
A new lesson plan / worksheet. Students brainstorm famous people from history, research one each in more detail, and conduct a lively balloon debate to decide on the “most important”. Share this:
Stalin and the USSR: Study Guide
A printable study guide designed for A-Level / IB History students, designed to engage student interest by outlining the historical significance of Stalin’s rule of the USSR. Share this:
Historiography Lectures
A series of interactive online lectures on the subject of Historiography: 1. What is History? 2. Causation in History 3. The Purpose of History These lectures are pitched at the 16-18 age range. Share this:
Year 7 History Skills: “Time”
A new lesson plan / worksheet. Each student produces a timeline of their life and then a timeline of world events covering the same period. They also consider how different cultures measure time in different ways, and how Einstein showed that time itself can be slowed down! Share this:
Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages
Crime and Punishment in the Middle Ages – A kinaesthetic history unit! Students start by considering how guilt was determined in the Middle Ages. They then engage in a role-play exercise where the class acts as a “jury” and the defence and prosection teams have to go through trial by water, battle and fire. Once…
The Berlin Wall – Quiz
A new quiz, playable in Manic Miner, Wordshoot, CannonBall Fun or Matching Pairs Format Share this:
Diamond 9
A Diamond Nine Diagram helps to prioritise and categorise key factors. The most important factors are placed towards the top of the “diamond 9 “. The least important factors are placed towards the bottom. Factors of equal importance are placed in the same row. Each factor can be colour coded for further sophistication. Share this:
Year 7 History Skills – “Historical Evidence”
A new worksheet / lesson plan. As a first homework, students produce a scrapbook of personal evidence consisting of photos, certificates, tickets and so on – but with no written explanation. In the follow-up lesson, the scrapbooks are swapped around and students have to deduce things about each other from the evidence that they have….
Codemaker!
This simple interface will convert a message into a secret code using a substitution cypher. When you click ‘Submit’ it will beturned into a worksheet for your class which you can print out or copy and paste into a word processor for further editing Share this:
“Bloody” Mary Tudor?
A worksheet based around the short clip from the feature film “Elizabeth” which shows the execution of Latimer and Ridley. Type in “latimer ridley” into www.youtube.com to find the clip! Share this:
Korean War – Collapsible Notes
A summary of the main causes, events and consequences of the Korean War, which can be “collapsed” or “expanded” for levels of detail. Useful for revision. Share this:
Nazi Germany Simulation: Undercover in the Third Reich!
I have just launched a brand new simulation for students of Nazi Germany. This game is a brand new version of an activity which has been one of the most popular features of the site for a number of years. It has over three times as many locations, each of which highlights a different aspect…
KeyWord Challenge: The Norman Conquest
A new quiz for Year 7 History. Share this:
Lenin’s Russia – KeyWord Challenge
A new quiz for Year 12 History students. Share this:
KeyWord Challenge: 1066 and all that
A new quiz for Year 7 History students. Share this:
Black Death – KeyWord Challenge
A new quiz for Year 7 students of Medieval Realms. Share this:
Create a Quiz and Embed it in your own Web, Blog or Wiki!
I have now updated ActiveHistory’s sister website, www.ClassTools.net, so that you can now embed your educational game templates directly into your blog, wiki or website! Try it out at www.classtools.net! Share this:
IB History – Causes of World War One
A new Fling the Teacher Quiz for IB / A-Level History Students Share this:
USSR Under Lenin – Quiz
A new Fling the Teacher Quiz with 45 possible questions Share this:
ClassTools Name Picker
Copy and paste a class list into this little application, then click a button to watch a “fruit machine” animation which will randomly spin the names until one is chosen at random. A nice way of selecting people to answer questions. Alternatively, put in a list of keywords and then teams have to correctly define…
Causes of the French Revolution Essay Task
An essay assignment for Year 9 to round off their study of the Causes of the French Revolution. Share this:
Make your own Flash quizzes!
I have developed the Quiz Maker at www.classtools.net so that you can now cut and paste questions and answers from a word processor very easily and, with the click of a button, create a Manic Miner / Wordshoot / Cannonball Fun / Matching Pairs game. Share this:
Nazi Germany Mega-Challenge
A new Fling the Teacher Quiz with 210 possible questions! Share this:
Impact of War on Nazi Germany
A new Fling the Teacher Quiz with several sets of questions. Share this:
Medieval Realms: KeyWord Challenge
A new end of unit quiz for Year 7. Put students into teams of 4-5. The first member of the first team sits in the “hotseat” with their back to the interactive whiteboard. The teacher uses the “Random Word Picker” at www.classtools.net to choose and display a word at random on the interactive whiteboard. The…
