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The Spanish Armada
Lesson Plan
Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
This is a highly interactive and stimulating simulation for years 3 and 4, and a very effective way of involving children in a range of issues.
We introduced the story of the Armada, outlining the main parties involved and the nature...
The Spanish Armada
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Samuel Pepys and the Great Fire of London (KS1) - more lessons
Lesson Plans
Please note: these resources pre-date the 2014 National Curriculum.
This resource is free to everyone. For access to hundreds of other high-quality resources by primary history experts along with free or discounted CPD and membership of a thriving community of teachers and subject leaders, join the Historical Association today
These...
Samuel Pepys and the Great Fire of London (KS1) - more lessons
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Film: The Quest for the Lost of the First World War
The Searchers
Historian Robert Sackville-West joined the HA Virtual Branch in November 2021 to talk about the topic of his book The Searchers: The Quest for the Lost of the First World War. By the end of the First World War, the whereabouts of more than half a million British soldiers were unknown. Most were presumed...
Film: The Quest for the Lost of the First World War
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Inclusion
E-CPD
N.B. This unit was produced before the current 2014 curriculum and therefore while much of the advice is still useful, there may be some out of date references or links.
Teachers face many challenges in tackling the issue of inclusive history teaching. Many teachers may not have formally studied History for...
Inclusion
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Transition Key Stage 2 and 3
Primary History article
It can sometimes seem that the primary and secondary phases of education live in isolation from each other. After all, most primary teachers are generalists (despite sometimes having specialist experience of a particular curriculum area), having to turn their hands to all subjects on the curriculum whatever they feel about...
Transition Key Stage 2 and 3
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Using inventories in Key Stage 2 history
Primary History article
Continuing the focus on using historical sources, this article by Clare Lally introduces us to the use of historical inventories. Using examples from the Tudor period, Clare considers how inventories can be used to explore diversity of experience between rich and poor.
At every stage of historical enquiry, from primary...
Using inventories in Key Stage 2 history
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Recorded webinar: Dealing with the issues from lockdown in the primary history classroom
Webinar
In the last 12 months many pupils have missed significant chunks of school and importantly a significant chunk of their history learning. In this special one-off webinar we discuss some of the issues we are all facing. What does catch up in history look like? How helpful is this terminology?...
Recorded webinar: Dealing with the issues from lockdown in the primary history classroom
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The Bigger Picture: Curriculum Overview
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
In this piece Stuart looks at the ‘bigger picture’ of curriculum overview and how, through careful curriculum mapping and the exploration of key trends, topics can be structured to fit together within a wider chronological narrative. He provides practical approaches and examples, as well as discussing historical concepts that occur in...
The Bigger Picture: Curriculum Overview
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Learning history through the lens of artefacts
Primary History article
Lindsay Marshall is a primary school teacher and subject leader for history in a primary school on the Wirral. She has embedded the use of artefacts throughout her school’s curriculum. In this article Lindsay outlines the importance of allowing children to ‘get up close and personal’ with history in order...
Learning history through the lens of artefacts
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Processes, Chronological Understanding & Planning
Primary Expert Podcasts
In this podcast Dr Hilary Cooper, Professor of History and Pedagogy at the University of Cumbria, looks at why teachers and students seem to enjoy primary history and discusses processes of enquiry, chronological understanding and planning a topic. 1. Ofsted Report History for All published in 2011 said that: "history taught in schools...
Processes, Chronological Understanding & Planning
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Planning for historical understanding a conceptual framework
Article
Planning for historical understanding a conceptual framework:
Responding To The Rose Report Through The Lens Of The Cambridge Review.
Introduction
At last we have Children, Their World, Their Education: Final Report and Recommendations of the Cambridge Primary Review, (Alexander 2009). This is an independent study funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Trust,...
Planning for historical understanding a conceptual framework
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Prehistoric Scotland
Classic Pamphlet
Prehistory is an attempt to reconstruct the story of human societies inhabiting a given region before the full historical record opens there. Its data, furnished by archaeology, are the constructions members of such societies erected and the durable objects they made. The events which should form its subject matter naturally...
Prehistoric Scotland
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Why we need to teach about the history of trees and woodland...
Primary History article
Michael Riley highlights the importance of educating children about the history of trees and woodland. He explores the potential of primary history to develop an understanding of our changing relationship with trees. The article shows how a focus on trees and woodland could enhance an existing history study, and suggests...
Why we need to teach about the history of trees and woodland...
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Recorded webinar: Practical approaches to cause and consequence
Webinar series: Practical approaches to disciplinary concepts in primary history
This webinar explores introducing cause and consequence to students in both explicit and implicit ways. The session will show specific events and unit ideas which will help children grasp the concepts and show teachers how to introduce ideas of long and short term.
This webinar is the first session in...
Recorded webinar: Practical approaches to cause and consequence
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How can we teach about medieval Britain in primary schools?
Primary History article
There is no question that the medieval period (no matter what timespan it claims) offers plenty of fascination for the primary pupil. It also allows some continuity with the period up to 1066 which forms the bedrock of the Key Stage 2 history curriculum. With opportunities to cover the medieval...
How can we teach about medieval Britain in primary schools?
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Film: Yeltsin and the Oligarchs
Film Series: Power and authority in Russia and the Soviet Union
If you're unable to see the film below, please use the link for your Membership type:Historian members | Primary members | Secondary members | Student members
Film: Yeltsin and the Oligarchs
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A Local History Toolkit
Article
IntroductionIn this short paper you will discover some of the tools for ‘doing' local history. They are based on where I live: you can get similar types of sources from where you live, work or teach. Your main source will be a local library or record office, but there is...
A Local History Toolkit
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Literacy Time Plus+ My Writing Progress Record
Review
Synopsis: Self-assessment sheets for Early Years literacy, which the child completes in discussion with the teacher.
Review: This would be useful if Early Years staff have not got any other assessment strategy in place. It contains colour sheets for the child to complete, stating what level they are on and...
Literacy Time Plus+ My Writing Progress Record
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Webinar series: Draft Ofsted toolkits: implications for primary history
HA webinar series for current and aspiring primary history subject leaders
What does this series cover?
This series of webinars will investigate the implications of the new draft Ofsted inspection toolkit on primary history to help subject leaders feel confident to prepare and support teachers in obtaining a positive outcome for the school’s report card. After an overview session on the...
Webinar series: Draft Ofsted toolkits: implications for primary history
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Investigating Henry VIII
Lesson Plan
Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
The lesson required the children to consider carefully their own opinions about Henry and anything that they knew about him. This was followed up by a literacy lesson in which they used the evidence to express a point of view regarding...
Investigating Henry VIII
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Teaching history to young children
Article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
History is a subject whose meaning is properly appreciated only in our maturity. In their old age we find those we consider wisest turning to Gibbon, Burckhardt, and Thucydides. The richness and endlessly elaborated meaning of...
Teaching history to young children
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Teaching local history in primary schools: learning about effective practice
Primary History article
Rachel Bruce and Susannah Russell were two of the six primary teachers on the recent Local History Teacher Fellowship. Here they outline the activities they were engaged in and how they produced two very different local history enquiries – one based in York and the other in Wrecclesham, Surrey. They...
Teaching local history in primary schools: learning about effective practice
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Develop your whole school history provision
New and improved features
Corporate membership offers a comprehensive package of support. It delivers all the benefits of individual membership plus an enhanced tier of resources and CPD access to boost the development of your teaching staff and delivery of your whole school history provision.
Enhanced benefits include:
Exclusive access to guides in the...
Develop your whole school history provision
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Belmont’s evacuee children: a local history project
Primary History article
Teaching about World War II, particularly the home front, continues to be popular in primary schools, despite the government deciding not to include it as a compulsory subject in the new National Curriculum introduced in 2014. Many primary schools still choose to organise an evacuee experience of some kind for pupils...
Belmont’s evacuee children: a local history project
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Using different sources to bring a topic to life: The Rebecca Riots
Primary History article
For primary school pupils a key aim of the National Curriculum for history is to understand the method of historical enquiry. Working with original sources is of course central to the whole process and provides a great way to inspire pupils’ experience of the subject. Young pupils, once they have...
Using different sources to bring a topic to life: The Rebecca Riots
