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Making history curious: Using Initial Stimulus Material (ISM) to promote enquiry, thinking and literacy
Teaching History article
The idea of gaining pupils’ attention, interest and curiosity at the start of the lesson with an intriguing image, story, analogy or puzzle has long been used by our best history teachers. Michael Riley, through writing and inset, popularised the term ‘hook’ and emphasised its special role at the start...
Making history curious: Using Initial Stimulus Material (ISM) to promote enquiry, thinking and literacy
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My Favourite History Place - Magdeburg
Historian feature
Magdeburg (‘Magdeburg überascht') is situated on the banks of the River Elbe in the state of Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany. First mentioned by Charlemagne in 805, Magdeburgtoday attracts much attention by being a major historic venue on the Straße der Romanik or Romanesque Route that has opened up a large number of...
My Favourite History Place - Magdeburg
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What sort of history should school history be? Debate Podcast
Debate Podcast
On July 18 2011 the Historical Association hosted a public debate chaired by Professor Simon Schama at the Institute of Education, Bedford Way, London.
With the history curriculum being the focus of intense interest the following series of podcasts from the debate examine what that curriculum might look like. Joining Simon Schama was five...
What sort of history should school history be? Debate Podcast
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Secondary History: A Masterclass for Senior Leaders
Multipage Article
As a senior leader, there may be barriers to line managing a subject as a non-specialist. This short course, designed to fit around a busy workload, aims to help line managers of history departments to more effectively understand the subject, improving their ability to support history teams.
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Secondary History: A Masterclass for Senior Leaders
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HA Secondary History Survey 2013
HA Survey
For the last four years the HA sends to all schools and colleges teaching students in the 11-18 age range a survey. The survey was sent out during the second half of the spring term 2013. Responses were received from 557 history teachers working in different contexts including middle schools...
HA Secondary History Survey 2013
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Food, history and a sense of place?
Historian article
It ought to be possible to match many of the letters of the alphabet to an English place-name and its particular food-stuff. From Bath Buns to Yorkshire Pudding, this puzzle might go, by way of cakes from Eccles and Pontefract. Can you think of other letters of the alphabet and...
Food, history and a sense of place?
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Teaching History 162: Scales of Planning
The HA's journal for secondary history teachers
02 Editorial
03 HA Secondary News
04 HA Update
08 From the history of maths to the history of greatness: towards worthwhile cross-curricular study through the refinement of a scheme of work - Harry Fletcher-Wood (Read article)
16 The whole point of the thing: how nominalisation might develop students’ written...
Teaching History 162: Scales of Planning
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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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History: Using Stories
HA Quick Guides
‘Making the past present and bringing the distant near' Thomas Babington Macaulay 1828 Smollett's constitutional HistoryAs a teacher covering some area of primary history such as Florence Nightingale or Victorian Britain have you ever heard the dreaded words from a child ‘So what?' This can actually be a front for...
History: Using Stories
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Teaching the Ancient Greeks
Primary History article
Ancient Greece has been part of the primary national curriculum since its inception in 1991 so you may already have a viable scheme of work and classroom resources in place. However, this is not a reason for eschewing the opportunity to review what you are doing, especially to explore how...
Teaching the Ancient Greeks
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Britain from the Iron Age to Robin Hood
Primary History article
‘...if children are to ever fully appreciate history the development of historical time has to be central to our teaching methodologies'
This lesson aims to provide an overview of this period, developing pupils' sense of chronology and their understanding of cause and consequence. The context for these ideas comes from...
Britain from the Iron Age to Robin Hood
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New partnership for the Great Debate 2026
15th May 2025
The Historical Association is delighted to announce Rayburn Tours as the official sponsor of the Great Debate 2026.
With over 60 years of experience in educational and group travel, Rayburn Tours is a family-run organisation dedicated to creating inspirational and enriching experiences for young people.
Rayburn Tours' commitment to education...
New partnership for the Great Debate 2026
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My Favourite History Place: Brixham
Historian feature
Paul Brunyee writes about a surprising link between Brixham in Devon, and Napoleon, and the impact the arrival of Napoleon in 1815 had on the townspeople.
The waters and cliffs of Brixham, on the south coast of England, have played small but significant parts in the long wars against France....
My Favourite History Place: Brixham
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The Historian 3
The magazine of the Historical Association
Articles include:
3 Feature: Siecle des Lumieres – Hugh Dunthome
15 Record Linkage: Deltiology – Ian F. Imlay
19 Eyewitness: Letters from Lady Buchanan – Keith Wilson
22 Local History: American Local History through English Eyes – W.B. Stephens
26 Spotlight: Allen Brown's Normandy – Harry Challis
28 Personalia: Profile of Professor Wang Juefei
29...
The Historian 3
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History in Schools: What is the Future?
History Debate Podcast
The Future of history in our schools
Whether you have children or not, whether you're a teacher or not, if you have a love of History this debate matters to you.
History in Schools: What is the Future?
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Case Study 5: Local History - A pupil-led study with 9-10 year olds
Article
The National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth funded me to carry out an Action Research project with a focus upon personalised learning. This NAGTY Developing Expertise Award empowered four Year 5 girls to investigate the history of their local town. The pupils attended a school in a small market...
Case Study 5: Local History - A pupil-led study with 9-10 year olds
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Taking Notes at A-Level History
Student Guides
A-Level History is not just about taking notes - but as with any subject you study at A-Level, there are some notes to keep. Here are some general common sense reminders about keeping notes, which may seem obvious - but you would be surprised how many people don't take their...
Taking Notes at A-Level History
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An Example of History at University
Student Guides
An Example of History at University.Nottingham University has a History School which was established before the First World War. Its past distinguished scholars include Professor JD Chambers, Professor AW ('Bob') Coats, Professor Jim Holt and Professor Michael Jones.
The School currently has 27 academic staff, with particular strengths in British, German, French,...
An Example of History at University
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The Historian
The magazine of the Historical Association
Welcome to this special sample edition of The Historian. We have gathered here just a few of the fascinating articles and features that have been published in the quarterly editions in recent months. Deciding what to select was not an easy task as there are a wide range of styles,...
The Historian
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History in the Urban Environment
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
A study of the local environment can make a vital contribution to children's sense of identity, their sense of place and the community in which they live. More importantly, a local study can enable children...
History in the Urban Environment
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The Historian 46
The magazine of the Historical Association
3 Feature: Images of English Queens in the Later Middle Ages - Elizabeth Danbury
11 Local History: The Reformation and the Parish Church: Local Responses to National Directives - Joe Bettey
15 Education Forum: History in the Primary School: the Curriculum Review (- or Sir Ron'sother Lottery) - Roy Hughes
16 Record...
The Historian 46
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Teaching possibilities: From Plato to Nato
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
The Olympics historical dimension opens up a plethora of possibilities for history, projects and integrated approaches that draw upon the themes and approaches that underpin the primary school curriculum. Our top ten are:
1. Home and...
Teaching possibilities: From Plato to Nato
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Global Learning & Critical Thinking
Article
Critical thinkingGLP-E aims: Young people will also develop the skills to interpret that knowledge in order to make judgements about global poverty. In this way they will be able to:think critically about global issues.The GLP has a strong focus on developing young people's knowledge and understanding of development, and in...
Global Learning & Critical Thinking
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Global Learning & Critical Thinking
Article
Critical thinking
GLP-E aims: Young people will also develop the skills to interpret that knowledge in order to make judgements about global poverty. In this way they will be able to:
think critically about global issues.
The GLP has a strong focus on developing young people's knowledge and understanding of...
Global Learning & Critical Thinking
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The Historian 133: Celebrating Asa Briggs
The magazine of the Historical Association
4 Reviews
5 Editorial
6 The Man from Keighley - Trevor James
10 Asa Briggs’s Birmingham - Roger Ward
12 Asa Briggs and labour history - Chris Wrigley
16 Asa Briggs: an appreciation - Stephen Yeo
21 The President’s Column
22 Asa Briggs and political history - Peter Catterall
26...
The Historian 133: Celebrating Asa Briggs
