This lesson is for the AQA GCSE: Conflict and Tension in Asia 1950-1975, Part 2: Escalation of conflict in Vietnam. Lesson 1 - focuses on the impact that French colonial rule - and it’s withdrawal - had on the escalation of war in Vietnam. Lays out the geography of Vietnam in relation to Korea, USSR and China, and the changing geography of the country itself during the conflict. Then focuses on the subsequent Japanese occupation during WW2, and how that lead to the divide of the country. Finishes with an 8 mark practice ‘write an account’ question. Includes a research homework on Ho Chi Minh and Ngo Dinh Diem

Lesson 1 of Topic 1: Conquered and conquerors. Has a good overview of the course, highlighting it’s thematic approach. Each lesson is colour coded to also show which sub-topics it covers: economic and commerce, religion and ideas, War, and Government. Lesson introduces the Vikings and where they came from, including an overview of the Anglo Saxon Heptarchy, and the effect of the establishment of the Danelaw. Students make notes on Viking York, Viking raiders and the great Heathen Army. They then look at/compare the kings Alfred and Aethelred. One part of the lesson requires the blue Hodder ‘Migrations, Empires and the People’ textbook (by Mohamud and Witburn), but you can also sub this for pages 182-183 in the Oxford AQA history Thematic Studies text book.

A lesson on the propaganda used by the British government to convince men to sign up. Designed for KS3 but could be used for LA GCSE. Has a great task that teaches students how to work through purpose/message questions relating to pictorial sources. They can then apply this to some other examples of propaganda posters, looking at the different methods being used to encourage British people to support the war effort. Finally - why do they think it was successful? Also includes a homework task to create a poster of their own.

This lessons was written for KS3, but might work for GCSE. Introduces the ‘trigger’ cause, with details on the Assassination of Arch Duke Ferdinand through a video. Then students will look at the M.A.I.N (militarism, alliances, imperialism, and nationalism) causes of ww1, collect information and explain how they contributed to war. There are information sheets provided, I’m not sure why, the images appear to have gone very dark on one of them. Apologies for that! The more difficult sheet also has a LA version. Finishes with a source question based on a political cartoon.

An introductory lesson to World War One at KS3, looking at the different types of government and political alliances in Europe in 1914. Could also be useful for lower ability GCSE classes. Provides a map to be annotated, and lots of discussion questions. Really good way to set the scene for the outbreak of conflict - students can find it difficult to understand how some of the causes of WW1 came about without this information. All resources provided, no textbook needed.

A lesson that introduces the big dictatorships of the inter-war era: Stalin, Hitler, Franco and Mussolini. LA and HA version. Starts with a fun game of ‘Pointless’ to introduce the 4. Includes a REALLY useful and interesting venn diagram task to show the differences/similarities between democracy, communism and fascism. This is an extremely useful task for helping students understand what exactly communism and fascism are, and how they operate. Then introduces some of the key policies that each dictator is following, and asks (alongside the knowledge of the political spectrum) which they feel was the most dangerous threat to peace. Also includes an option research project to look at one of the dictators. Adjust the sheet accordingly - it still has all my dates/rooms! All resources included, no textbook needed.

A lesson that does a brief overview of the League of Nations, and why it failed. This is aimed at KS3, but could be used for lower ability GCSE as an introduction. This lesson provides some comprehension tasks for an overview of the League, and then presents some source questions. The lesson in finished off with a ‘message of the source’ GCSE style practice question, which could be talked through as a class. Copies of the source are provided for students to stick in/annotate. All resources provided, no text book needed.

A lesson on the formation of the police force. Starts with a fun introduction where students must guess which crimes make up which slice of the pie chart; then uses a video to introduce the Bow Street Runners, and looks at why they were then later replaced with the Metropolitan Police. Main task features a set of questions which range from simple comprehension, to timeline making, into more complex explanation questions. All resources included, no textbook needed.

A lesson looking at the development and impact of the growth of the canals and railways in Industrial Britain. Focuses on 2 case studies: Bridgewater Canal and the Liverpool to Manchester line. Finishes with some utility source work about the impact of the railways, and a summary PEE paragraph. All resources included, no text book needed.

Second lesson in the English Civil War SoW This lesson defines what a civil war is, introduces the two sides of the war, the leaders, who makes up each side, why they chose that side, and what they looked like. Challenges conceptions such as the idea that all of Parliament supported the parliamentarians, and that the aim of the war was to get rid of the King. A task prompting students to make two recruitment posters leads them towards looking at exactly what each side disliked about the other, and where the specific conflict points were. Ends with a class source analysis.

1st lesson in a series on the English Civil War. This lesson is quite challenging. wordsearch starter -key words Tracks where the new monarch/ruling family came from after the death of Elizabeth I Venn diagram task where students looks at the long/short term causes of the Civil War, and catagorise them according to power, money and religion Opinion line plenary Very detailed lesson (probably takes 2 lessons)

The first lesson looking at the Tudors, designed to give a brief overview of all the monarchs. Includes a homework. Beings with a fun activity to establish what the class already knows about the Tudors; then there is a timeline task complete with information on each monarch. Two different timelines are available - a blank one, and one with prompts/headings. You can choose which best suits the level of support/stretch and challenge you’re looking for. Finishes with a recall/prompt game. Also included are some spellings that make for a great literacy-based first homework, to help learn the spelling of some of the key topic words.

A really fun, unusual and highly interactive lesson that uses archaeology to explore Wharram Percy, a deserted medieval village. Lesson comes complete with a little booklet to fill out which makes things much easier in terms of recording information. There are extra bits of information in the notes section of each Powerpoint slide to help -Fun activity plotting earthworks, introducing the toft and croft Assessing a skeleton - what can the bones tell us about life there? Guessing some archaeological artefacts, and assessing what they can teach about life in a medieval village examining a reconstruction examining a painting about the harvest finishes with a fun true or false task I LOVE teaching this, the students always get really into it. Lots of work went into putting it together, so hopefully all will enjoy!

3rd lesson in the Viking scheme of work -starts with a fun literacy starter -lesson is a research/poster/project tasks, where students work in groups to research and then present on 6 different topics: Houses Weapons Ships and ship building Clothing Trade/coins Jewellery Research material is included, which is NOT mine (hence the free lesson). Instructions are given for feedback. This lesson should ask students to focus on change and continuity.

Second KS3 lesson looking at the Vikings. This lesson includes a worksheet/workbook to complete work in. -begins with a fun task looking at how some Vikings place names reveal what that settlement was like in Viking times. A timeline of event between Lindisfarne and the establishment of the Danelaw Introduction to the Danelaw and Burhs. A research task on changes under the Danelaw. Information is provided but could also make a fun IT lesson. LA and HA information pack included - if you would rather run this answering comprehension questions, those are on the end of the LA information sheet.

A lesson that introduces the Vikings and their raid at Lindisfarne. The lessons discusses who the Vikings were, where they came from, and what happened at Lindisfarne. This is followed by a card sort activity which looks at whether the Vikings really were just bloodthirsty (the word bloodthirsty is also defined). There is LA and HA version of the cards. Finishes with a plenary PEE/PEA/PEEL/PEAL activity which encourages good written structure.

Works as part of a scheme of work looking at the Medieval Church in Europe/England. Starts with an activity labeling the layout of Gloucester Cathedral using clues. This demonstrates the layout of a cathedral, and looks at how they were added to over time (a completed teacher copy is included) -Follows with a card sort (colour coded - no cutting and sticking needed!) sorting evidence to decide if it suggests cathedrals were really built for power, or worship. finishes with a PEE response to select and explain some of the evidence.

A fun project that is a great addition to in-class castle or learning, so to introduce the topic in a practical way. Activity presents students with 4 decisions on castle material, shape, location and materials, and then gives them suggestions of how they can create the castle. They must also include detailed information about which choices they made, and why. This works best a homework project, and I’ve always had REALLY great results from it (the cake castles might have been my favourite…) Also includes a feedback form for both the teacher feedback, and pupil reflection on said feedback and their work. Really hope your groups enjoy it as much as mine always have :D

8th and final/assessment lesson on The French Revolution -begins with a recap; what did people want from the revolution? key words activity illustrating what life was like in France after Napoleon and the return of the monarchy. Students must colour code whether each factor shows a positive change, or a bad/no change. There is a HA and LA version of this activity Finishes with a GCSE ‘How far do you agree?’ assessment qustion HA has a planning grid which will allow them to also think about aspects from throughout the scheme of work. -LA helps to pick out a piece of evidence for each side, and provides a writing frame