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Even more support for beginning teachers from the Historical Association
Primary History article
It is easy to be both overwhelmed and confused by the demands of teaching in the primary sector. The Historical Association has long been aware of the need to support student teachers, early career teachers and those that support them. With all the busy demands it is easy to miss...
Even more support for beginning teachers from the Historical Association
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Pull-out posters: Primary History 98
Talking History competition
The HA's Primary Oracy Competition: To register interest for 2025, contact Olivia Dent on: olivia.dent@history.org.uk
Find out more here
Pull-out posters: Primary History 98
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Who is in charge?
Primary History article
Children are introduced from the start of their lives to the idea that someone is in charge. Helen Crawford and Karin Doull explore how the question ‘Who is in charge?’ can be used with EYFS children to develop ideas of power, authority and agency. The article looks at its relevance...
Who is in charge?
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The role of oracy in primary history
Primary History article
East-the-Water is a primary school in Bideford, Devon. It has recently been awarded a Gold Award Quality Mark. Among many strong features, one was the emphasis on using oracy effectively in history. In this article, Kelly Bridle outlines its role, especially in connecting periods and events across the history curriculum using a range of connectors,...
The role of oracy in primary history
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Four objects in search of a story: why artefacts matter in history
Primary History article
The well-known children’s historical fiction author Tom Palmer relates how he uses artefacts as an important element in encouraging children to read and engage with history. The examples are from the First and Second World Wars, but artefacts from any period can make an excellent stimulus as well as an...
Four objects in search of a story: why artefacts matter in history
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Disability in primary history teaching
Primary History article
This article is based on a session by Bev Forrest and Mel Jones at the HA Conference in May 2024. The central concern is to support teachers to weave the experiences and lives of disabled people in the past into the primary curriculum. It looks at possible opportunities in EYFS, Key Stage 1...
Disability in primary history teaching
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Similarity and difference with a tasty twist
Primary History article
Polly Gillow uses ice cream, something children will readily relate to, as a means of exploring similarities between past and present, drawing on a range of sources and contexts together with practical activities including their sense of taste...
Similarity and difference with a tasty twist
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Olympics, past and present
Primary History article
This article will consider how to use the Olympics as a ‘past event’. It will provide material that will allow children to compare and contrast Olympic Games that have been hosted in Paris. They will be encouraged to look at what has changed in relation to the sports, medals and...
Olympics, past and present
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Creativity in history
Primary History article
Ask anyone for a list of creative subjects in schools and it is unlikely that history will be top of that list. However, over the last two-and-a-half years we have been working as part of a Creativity Collaborative of schools that seeks to foster creativity across the whole curriculum, including...
Creativity in history
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Were all Romans in Roman Britain from Rome, Miss?
Primary History article
What comes into your mind when you imagine the Romans in Britain? Is it a soldier? Where did they come from? Your first thoughts – from looking at textbooks and re-enactments – might be that they came from Italy. Alf Wilkinson challenges this image and shows that they included men...
Were all Romans in Roman Britain from Rome, Miss?
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Time travel to the Early Modern period...
Primary History article
This article describes how children in a German primary school explored some documents from the early modern period (seventeenth and eighteenth centuries) relating to the capture of merchant vessels. It makes use of a digital resource ‘The Prize Papers’ linked to the National Archives and found here: www.prizepapers.de The article also explains how...
Time travel to the Early Modern period...
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Unlocking the treasures of early Islam
Primary History article
Lucy Hawker demonstrates her school’s approach to teaching early Islam though focusing on its significance and demonstrating how lessons are effectively sequenced to develop subject knowledge and understanding. The article also indicates rich opportunities that this topic provides for links with other subjects...
Unlocking the treasures of early Islam
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Balderstone St Leonard’s CE Primary School: our journey to the Quality Mark Gold Award
Primary History article
Kate Turner provides a fantastic insight into the way in which their school has achieved the Gold Standard Quality Mark. She demonstrates both the overarching themes that underpin the history curriculum in the school but also their sensitivity to ethnic and cultural diversity, the rich opportunities gained through engaging with...
Balderstone St Leonard’s CE Primary School: our journey to the Quality Mark Gold Award
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The potential of primary history
Primary History article
In this article Alison Kitson and Michael Riley consider the potential of the primary history curriculum to educate children about climate change and sustainability. They suggest some important principles, and a range of strategies, that could be used to develop a stronger emphasis on environmental history in primary history.
The potential of primary history
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Earth heroes: Etta Lemon, ‘The Mother of Birds’
Primary History article
In this article Ailsa Fidler considers Etta Lemon and her role in halting the plume boom, which saw many bird species driven to the edge of extinction, all in the name of fashion. Linking a study of Etta to the government’s policy on Climate Education, the article shows how Etta’s...
Earth heroes: Etta Lemon, ‘The Mother of Birds’
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Dig for sustainability!
Primary History article
Paul Spear uses World War II government advertising strategies such as ‘Make do and Mend’ to consider how to promote modern campaigns related to sustainability. He investigates what the wartime government did to engage with the population as a whole and generate national action. By analysing how images were used...
Dig for sustainability!
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Exploring sustainability in the Early Years
Primary History article
Lucy Hawker has thought about how we might begin to explore the idea of sustainability with very young children. She suggests focussing on why we might save or reuse materials and objects. She presents a loose structure that could be used to develop talk. She also considers how we might...
Exploring sustainability in the Early Years
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Using indigenous and traditional stories to teach for climate and ecological action
Primary History article
Caitríona Ní Cassaithe and Anne Marie Kavanagh explore how herbs and wild plants were and are used to create natural remedies. They use archive material and oral history to promote and explore indigenous voices. They suggest how this could be applied and developed within your own communities. They also make...
Using indigenous and traditional stories to teach for climate and ecological action
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Teaching ‘changes within living memory’: making the most of your school
Primary History article
The Key Stage 1 curriculum requires an exploration of changes within living memory, and what better way to do this than discovering the history of your own school! In this article, Helen Crawford and Sandra Kirkland provide guidance and suggested activities to explore change and continuity in your own locality. ...
Teaching ‘changes within living memory’: making the most of your school
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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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Why are there so many ‘mummies’ in Western museums?
Primary History article
Richard Harris invites us to consider how the teaching of ancient Egypt can be decolonised by considering non-Western perspectives. The article provides a fascinating viewpoint on this popular period of history and shares examples of how this can be explored with children.
One of the joys of working in history...
Why are there so many ‘mummies’ in Western museums?
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One of my favourite history places: The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
Primary History feature
The Holy Island of Lindisfarne is a special place, not just for its stunning scenery and rich bird life, but also for its unique history and medieval religious heritage. This article visits a few of the many places of historical interest on the island and considers ideas for exploring different...
One of my favourite history places: The Holy Island of Lindisfarne
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Exploring the Great Fire of London and Deaf history
Primary History article
Kate Loveman and James Harrod offer new insights into the Great Fire of London by focussing on the inclusion of Deaf history in this popular topic. They shares the online teaching resources created in their joint partnership between the University of Leicester and the Museum of London.
Each year thousands...
Exploring the Great Fire of London and Deaf history
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Using picture books to explore ideas around history with very young children
Primary History article
This article looks at the relevance of picture books in the Early Years Foundation Stage as a resource for introducing children to the idea of the past. Firstly examining its relevance to the Framework, Karin identifies some appropriate resources and how they can be used. In particular, she links them...
Using picture books to explore ideas around history with very 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
