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Scheme of Work: The Blitz: all we need to know about World War II?
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (resourced)
This unit provides children with the opportunity to look at the Second World War as an aspect of British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066.
This 8-part enquiry is useable in full or to use sections of as stand alone shorter enquiries. Pupils will be encouraged to examine different...
Scheme of Work: The Blitz: all we need to know about World War II?
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The Shang Dynasty
Primary History article
The Shang Dynasty of ancient China is a perfect topic to explore history alongside art and design. The only written information that remains from the Shang period is from the inscriptions found on oracle bones or artworks.
Most of what we know about the Shang has been determined from the...
The Shang Dynasty
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Here comes the ‘60s
Primary History article
The 1960s were a decade of great change in Britain. The previous decade had seen America begin its gradual global cultural domination while Britain had to revise its role from imperial state to a member of the new Commonwealth of Nations. Recovery from the war had not been easy and...
Here comes the ‘60s
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Recorded webinar series: The history that Shakespeare gave us
Multipage Article
Shakespeare’s first folio
To mark the anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s first folio in 1623–24, the winter webinar series will focus on ‘The history that Shakespeare gave us’. The representation of the past in Shakespeare’s plays has shaped many people’s understanding of history. In this webinar series, leading academics...
Recorded webinar series: The history that Shakespeare gave us
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Investigating Narrative Forms of History Pedagogy in Primary Initial Teacher Education in England
IJHLTR Article
International Journal of Historical Learning, Teaching and Research [IJHLTR], Volume 15, Number 1 – Autumn/Winter 2017 ISSN: 14472-9474
Abstract
Narrative forms of history may have a controversial status amongst professional historians, but the evidence for using narrative approaches in primary history is principally based on educational psychology and research into pedagogy....
Investigating Narrative Forms of History Pedagogy in Primary Initial Teacher Education in England
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HA Blog Watch
Selected history education blogs
We've collated some of the best history education blogs here. The list isn't exhaustive so if there is a great history education blog out there that is not on this list – let us know!
One Big History Department
HA Secondary Committee blog
One Big History Department (OBHD) has been...
HA Blog Watch
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Young Quills winners 2022
The Young Quills Awards for best historical fiction for young people
We are delighted to announce the 2022 competition winners for the Historical Association’s Young Quills Awards for Historical Fiction for children and young adults:
Ages 5–9 years category:
Winner: The Chessmen Thief by Barbara Henderson, Pokey Hat, Cranachan PublishingHighly commended: The Valley of Lost Secrets by Lesley Parr, Bloomsbury Publishing
Ages 10–13...
Young Quills winners 2022
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Reading, recovering and re-visioning Victorian Women
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
Knowledge of the experience of women during Victorian times has developed considerably during the last thirty years. History had a privileged place within the British Women’s Liberation movement in the early 1970s and reclaiming the...
Reading, recovering and re-visioning Victorian Women
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Recorded webinar series: The Olympic Games
Culture and political impact across the twentieth century
A series of free talks
2024 is an Olympic Games year. Held every four years (with the exception of during the World Wars and Covid-19 restrictions), the modern Olympics is the largest international sporting event in the world. However, historically it has not always been just the sports that are played...
Recorded webinar series: The Olympic Games
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Guidance Pack: Building a Local Teacher Network
Information
We know that it is difficult for teachers to get to events too far from school. As a national charity, the HA recognises the importance and need to build strong regional networks for the history teaching community. Many of these are already existing or organically growing across the country at...
Guidance Pack: Building a Local Teacher Network
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The Young Quills Shortlist 2022
5th May 2022
The Historical Association is excited to announce the shortlist for the Young Quills, the annual awards for children’s and young adult historical fiction.
5-9 years
The Chessmen Thief, by Barbara Henderson, Pokey Hat Edgar and Adolf, by Phil Earle and Michael Wagg, OUP Oxford The Royal Rebel, by Bali Rai, Barrington...
The Young Quills Shortlist 2022
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In My View: Whatever happened to...?
Primary History article
Older readers of the journal may well remember a classic film, Whatever happened to Baby Jane ? This article asks, and attempts to answer, two parallel questions: "Whatever happened to breadth and balance?" and "Whatever happened to history’s place in the primary curriculum?". The two questions (and their answers) are...
In My View: Whatever happened to...?
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Primary History Summer Resource 2017: Roman Britain
Teaching the Roman Britain National Curriculum unit of study
This special Primary History summer resource for our members will equip you to teach the Roman Britain National Curriculum unit of study. Please note that it is not a resourced scheme of work.
The unit includes the following enquiries:
Enquiry 1: When did the Romans invade and why?
Enquiry 2: Did...
Primary History Summer Resource 2017: Roman Britain
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It's like they've gone up a year!' Gauging the impact of a history transition unit on teachers of primary and secondary
Teaching History article
Year 7 history teachers frequently bemoan the lack of historical learning in the primary sector. Pupils may be well versed in suffixes and similes, but their study of history can be limited. This group of history teachers decided that things could be different. Not only did they bring enquiry methods...
It's like they've gone up a year!' Gauging the impact of a history transition unit on teachers of primary and secondary
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Scheme of Work: Walter Tull
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 1 History (unresourced)
Pupils will look at the childhood and football career of Walter Tull, what happened to him when he fought in World War I and why he was different from most people of his time. They will compare his experiences to issues and people still relevant today including the double Olympian...
Scheme of Work: Walter Tull
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Scheme of Work: Ancient Sumer
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (unresourced)
Ancient Sumer is often called 'the Cradle of Civilisation'. The Ancient Greeks called it Mesopotamia - the land between two rivers. It is where cities first developed, agriculture began and writing first appeared. One eminent historian records 39 'firsts' for Sumer! Most of this was lost until the 20th century,...
Scheme of Work: Ancient Sumer
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Global Learning November 2016
Global Learning Project
Although this project has now ended, the links and resources on this page remain useful.
1. Climate Change and Global Learning - New Key Stage 2 Activity Kit
With the 2015 Paris Agreement, and the recent climate conference in Marrakech, climate action is high on the international agenda. This activity...
Global Learning November 2016
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Teaching with Meaning: Supporting Historical Understanding in the Primary Classroom
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
In essence, history is a record of human affairs. The problem in making this record is that events are past and gone and have to be reconstructed. Evidence may be uncertain and incomplete. Inevitably, several...
Teaching with Meaning: Supporting Historical Understanding in the Primary Classroom
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Ofsted research report into history 2021
14th July 2021
Ofsted writes: The study of history can bring pupils into a rich dialogue with the past and with the traditions of historical enquiry.
In this report, Ofsted have:
outlined the national context in relation to history
considered curriculum progression in history, pedagogy, assessment and the impact of school leaders’ decisions on provision...
Ofsted research report into history 2021
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Young Quills winners 2020
The Young Quills Awards for best historical fiction
6-9 years category:
The Closest Thing to FlyingBy Gill Lewis, Oxford University Press
10-13 years category:
Our Castle by the SeaBy Lucy Strange, Chicken House
14 years + category:
The Stolen OnesBy Vanessa Curtis, Usborne Publishing
Highly commended:
6-9 years category:
Winter of the Wolves By Tony Bradman, Bloomsbury
10-13...
Young Quills winners 2020
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Scheme of Work: The Georgians
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (unresourced)
This unit focuses on the Georgian period across the mid to late 18th century. It is during this period that Britain (rather than England) begins to consolidate the gains made by Tudor and Stuart explorers and traders. The seeds of the British Empire of the Victorian period are planted at this...
Scheme of Work: The Georgians
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Scheme of Work: Thematic study - Education
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (unresourced)
Children can be introduced to the idea that educating children has a long history with many changes over time, sometimes with turning points and significant developments. This unit examines some ideas about change, e.g. the pace and nature of change, the impact of change and continuity. It draws upon content...
Scheme of Work: Thematic study - Education
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Means and Ends: History, Drama and Education for Life
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
John Fines, Raymond Verrier and I frequently taught as a team trying to discover where drama work and history meet. We were interested in helping children get a grasp of past events which have influenced their...
Means and Ends: History, Drama and Education for Life
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Making the most of your primary membership
Information
Making the most of your HA membership
HA membership offers much more than just your subscription to Primary History. As a member you can enjoy a wholistic package of benefits and resources designed to support you, whatever challenge you may face. With the vast array of support available it can...
Making the most of your primary membership
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Equality, representation and the census with Professor David Olusoga
Let's Count! Office for National Statistics and iChild's education resource programme
To support Census 2021, Office for National Statistics, together with education resource centre, iChild, have developed the free primary education resource programme Let’s Count! The programme includes 14 cross-curricular resources covering key areas of the English and Welsh primary curriculum. Let’s Count! has achieved accreditation from MEI, NATE and the Geographical Association....
Equality, representation and the census with Professor David Olusoga
