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Primary pedagogy: Lessons from Early Years and Primary ITT Students
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
The last decade has witnessed a massive increase in the use of ICT as a teaching and learning tool within the Primary classroom. Schools are indeed perceived as outmoded without the tools of the trade: the Interactive White Boards, ICT suites,...
Primary pedagogy: Lessons from Early Years and Primary ITT Students
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'Hands On' Archaeology, A Case Study: Visiting the Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) in York
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
Developing an understanding of archaeology during historical studies can be important. It enables children to realise how we come to know and indeed understand about the past. Studying the work of archaeology helps develop vital...
'Hands On' Archaeology, A Case Study: Visiting the Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) in York
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Progression in history and adapting work to the needs of different children
Article
This section deals with some of the general issues of progression and differentiation in the subject. The level descriptions provide the characteristics of progression in history and teachers should consider progress against these. However, progression is no simple issue and it can be looked at in different ways.
Progression in history and adapting work to the needs of different children
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Here come the Vikings! Making a saga out of a crisis
Primary History Article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
What are your first impressions when you think of Alfred the Great? Perhaps it's the story of the heroic individual being humbled by burning the cakes or for those of a certain age, it may...
Here come the Vikings! Making a saga out of a crisis
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Female migration to Australia
Primary History article
The Hyde Park Barracks, in Sydney, has a layered history. Designed by Francis Greenway (a convict architect) it was built between 1817 and 1819 by convict labour. Over the next three decades an estimated 50,000 male convicts passed through – some stayed for years, others days or only hours before...
Female migration to Australia
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History and English in the primary school: exploiting the links
Article
The literacy strategy is here to stay and has profound implications for the teaching of history in primary schools. Primary history practitioners realise, of course, that the literacy strategy presents challenges as well as opportunities. On the one hand, a more explicit emphasis upon the ‘basic’ skill of literacy means...
History and English in the primary school: exploiting the links
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Scheme of Work: Exploring Benin’s Big Picture of the Past
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (resourced)
This unit provides children the opportunity to look at Benin, a non-European society which is very different from their own. Children should make links between Benin and a bigger picture of Africa's past as well as its changing relationship with Britain in order to consider the significance of the arrival...
Scheme of Work: Exploring Benin’s Big Picture of the Past
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Northamptonshire in a Global Context
Key Stages 2 and 3
Produced by the Northamptonshire Black History Association and originally published in 2008, this is one of a set of resources for schools offering a more inclusive map of the past that includes an appreciation of Black History within the local, national and global context. The resources provide a range of opportunities to promote diversity within the curriculum....
Northamptonshire in a Global Context
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Teaching Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings in Britain
Reference guide for primary
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
Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
‘Romans, Anglo-Saxons and Vikings' is the...
Teaching Romans, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings in Britain
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Any place for a database in the teaching and learning of history at KS1?
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
Early in July of this year I was involved in a meeting at BECTA in which a lively discussion took place about whether ICT should be a requirement, or not, in the teaching of history at KS1. As those participating included representatives...
Any place for a database in the teaching and learning of history at KS1?
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Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the kingdom of England
Primary History Article
The Vikings will be familiar territory to many primary teachers. For many, therefore, this section of the history curriculum should cause fewer headaches than others. This does not mean, however, that it is all straightforward. This article contains a number of elements that teachers might welcome including a timeline of...
Viking and Anglo-Saxon struggle for the kingdom of England
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Teaching famous people at key stage one
Primary History article
The draft English NC for history highlights the study of ‘significant individuals and people'. Michelle Dexter provides an insight on how to approach this biographical requirement; it also opens up biography as a major genre for pupils to master - augmenting their development of literacy...
Teaching famous people at key stage one
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The Great Plague of London (KS1)
Article
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
This was originally part of a 7-week unit looking at...
The Great Plague of London (KS1)
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Scheme of Work: Grace O'Malley
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 1 History (resourced)
This unit encourages pupils to explore the past by examining their ideas about pirates, with particular reference to Grace O’Malley. The key question leads children to consider what are the characteristics of a pirate and to challenge stereotypes in the light of historical enquiry. The key question also leads to...
Scheme of Work: Grace O'Malley
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How can we use significant anniversaries in our teaching?
Primary History article
Anniversaries enable us to draw out the significance of events and circumstances in the past in a number of ways. They can serve as a focus for assemblies, providing an opportunity to draw out work covered in history lessons or deal with topics which are outside what is covered in...
How can we use significant anniversaries in our teaching?
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Exploring the spices of the east: how curry got to our table
Primary History article
Every migrant to our shores brings with them the flavours and dishes of home, every trader searches for exotic and exciting new taste sensations. Britain’s culinary history has been shaped by migration, trade and empire.
How curry, exploration and empire building are linked
At the end of the Tudor period...
Exploring the spices of the east: how curry got to our table
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Changes within Living Memory
Reference guide for primary
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
Overview
Post-1930s Britain has been transformed by a technological revolution...
Changes within Living Memory
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Teaching and learning about Grace O'Malley as a significant woman at Key Stage 1
Article
"Why are you so angry Grace?" Teaching and learning about Grace O'Malley as a significant woman at Key Stage 1
Grace O'Malley was an Irish queen in the Tudor period and her story provides insights about life in Ireland at the time of the Elizabethan conquests. Grace, also known as...
Teaching and learning about Grace O'Malley as a significant woman at Key Stage 1
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Teaching Slavery
HA Guide
Please note: this guide was written in 2010 and some links may no longer work. For more recent guidance, see:
Teaching sensitive subjects: slavery and Britain’s role in the trade (2019)
Slavery in Britain (2013)
Sarah Forbes Bonetta - scheme of work (2015)
Diversity guidance for primary teachers and subject leaders (2019)
Teaching Slavery...
Teaching Slavery
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Building St James's spire: Louth's guilds and popular piety in the later middle ages
Virtual Branch Lecture Recording
Medieval historian Dr Claire Kennan continued our Virtual Branch series with a local history talk on the building of St James's spire, Louth.
In her talk Kennan traces the important role that Louth's major guilds of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Holy Trinity played in the building of the St James’s spire. Throughout the...
Building St James's spire: Louth's guilds and popular piety in the later middle ages
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Ancient Greek Myths
Lesson Plan
In this lesson on the Greek myths, the children used stories as a starting point for historical research, and gained an understanding that the past can be represented and interpreted in different ways.
They identified the key points in a text, and selected and record information relevant to the focus...
Ancient Greek Myths
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Britain, Europe and the World?
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
With the current debate on what content we should teach, and especially with the focus on pupils understanding the history of Britain before they leave school, it is perhaps pertinent to ask how this should link...
Britain, Europe and the World?
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Getting Year 7 to set their own questions about the Islamic Empire, 600-1600
Teaching History article
Sometimes particular problems can lead to unexpected solutions. In this case, Sally Burnham decided to solve a problem that she had identified among her Year 12 students by changing the way in which she teaches Year 7. Her Year 12s were finding it difficult to set appropriate questions for their...
Getting Year 7 to set their own questions about the Islamic Empire, 600-1600
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How technology has changed our lives
Primary History article
This article links teaching about Sir Tim Berners-Lee to Changes in Living Memory and Significant Individuals and makes comparisons between Caxton and the impact of earlier developments in communications technology.
It provides interesting topics for discussion about significance (pupils may be surprised by the idea that they are living through an exciting period of history at the moment). It even has the...
How technology has changed our lives
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‘Come all ye fisher lassies’
Primary History article
When considering either ‘changes within living memory’ for Key Stage 1 or ‘an aspect or theme to develop children’s chronological understanding post 1066’ for Key Stage 2 it is important to focus on a clear observable change. This enables children to draw effective comparisons with their own experiences. Washday, bread...
‘Come all ye fisher lassies’
