Welcome to RA Resources. I have an extended range of fully resourced, high quality History lessons for KS2, KS3 and GCSE aimed at schools, tutors and home learning. Having taught History abroad and then in Cornwall for 20 years, these lessons reflect my creativity and teaching experience.
Please feel free to email me with any enquiries about the resources on offer. You can keep up to date with my latest published lessons using the Facebook link in my shop.
Welcome to RA Resources. I have an extended range of fully resourced, high quality History lessons for KS2, KS3 and GCSE aimed at schools, tutors and home learning. Having taught History abroad and then in Cornwall for 20 years, these lessons reflect my creativity and teaching experience.
Please feel free to email me with any enquiries about the resources on offer. You can keep up to date with my latest published lessons using the Facebook link in my shop.
This lesson can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students about Wolsey’s successes and failures abroad. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Wolsey’s foreign policy:
What were Wolsey’s main foreign policy successes and why?
What were Wolsey’s main foreign policy failures and why?
Was Wolsey’s foreign policy mainly a success or failure?
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x A4 printable worksheet
3x A4 printable timelines of events (various abilities)
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – The successes and failures of Wolsey’s Foreign Policy.
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3-4: As You Enter Warm Up: The Geography of Europe in the 1500s activity – with answers revealed.
Slide 5-7: Learning Recap 1: Key term match up activity with printable student worksheet.
Slide 8-9: Learning Recap 2: Recapping Wolsey’s foreign policy aims – fill the missing words with answers revealed.
Slide 10: Background information: A map outlining the main countries/nations in Europe in 1515 and how they were a threat to England.
Slide 11: Starter Task 1: What would you advise Henry to do? – Multiple choice problem solving and discussion task.
Slide 12: Source Analysis: Images and questions about the ‘Field of the Cloth of Gold’.
Slide 13: Task 1 – Explanation of the timeline activity.
Side 14: Task 2 – Wolsey’s successes and failures table
Slide 15: Follow Up Challenge Tasks
Slide 16: Example exam questions
Slide 17-18: Learning Review quiz with answers revealed.
Slide 19: Lesson fact sheet linked to the Edexcel specification.
Slide 20: Return to the starter task – what did Henry and England do?
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students about Lord Chancellor Thomas Wolsey’s foreign policies and the threat to Henry VIII from other countries in Europe. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Wolsey’s foreign policy aims:
What were Wolsey’s foreign policy aims?
What was the purpose of Wolsey’s foreign policy aims?
What was Europe like during the reign of Henry VIII?
What were the threats from other countries in Europe?
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x A4 printable map-based worksheet
1x A4 printable worksheet to explain the threats to England from Europe
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Thomas Wolsey’s Foreign Policy Aims
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3: As You Enter Warm Up Question: Why is war expensive?
Slide 4-5: Starter Task 1: The Geography of Europe in the 1500s activity – with answers revealed.
Slide 6-7: Previous Learning Recap – 8 multiple choice questions from the topic so far which will also help with the subject knowledge for this lesson.
Slide 8: Starter Task 2 – Should Wolsey aim for war or peace with his foreign policy?
Slide 9: Task 1 – Source analysis activity
Slide 10: Background information – Map based information about each of the European nations during the 1500s.
Slide 11: Task 2 – Worksheet based activity
Side 12: Task 3 – Explaining the threats to Henry VIII and England in the 1500s – links to the A4 worksheet
Slide 13: Task 4 – Explaining Wolsey’s foreign policy aims.
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Tasks
Slide 15: Example exam question – ‘Two features’.
Slide 16-17: Learning Review Activity
Slide 18: Lesson fact sheet
Slide 19: Original Map which can be edited for personal use.
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students about the failure of Wolsey’s Amicable Grant in 1525. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to the Amicable Grant:
What was the Amicable Grant?
Why was the Amicable Grant required?
Why was the Amicable Grant controversial?
What were the consequences of the Amicable Grant?
How did it contribute towards Wolsey’s downfall?
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x A4 printable worksheet
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Thomas Wolsey and the Amicable Grant
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3-4: Previous Learning Recap: Recapping Wolsey’s Reforms (Enclosure, Finances, the Eltham Ordinances & Justice). Answers revealed.
Slide 5: As You Enter Warm Up: Do you know the tax system today?
Slide 6-8: Starter – Three problem solving questions with multiple choice answers for students to reason. Answers revealed for what actually happened.
Slide 9-10: Background Information – including a simple map of Europe to show the Holy Roman Empire.
Slide 11-12: Task 1 – Storyboard task with instructions and printable sheet
Slide 13: Task 2 – Link to the A4 worksheet
Slide 14: Task 3 – Source Inference (aimed at higher ability)
Side 15: Follow Up Challenge Tasks
Slide 16: Example Exam Questions
Slide 17: Lesson Fact Sheet – Based on the GCSE Edexcel Specification
Slide 18-19: Learning Review Crossword – with answers revealed.
Slide 20: Original Map which can be edited for personal use.
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students all about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s Reforms. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Wolsey’s Reforms:
What were Wolsey’s reforms to enclosure, finances and justice?
What were the Eltham Ordinances?
How successful and effective were Wolsey’s reforms?
Why did Wolsey’s reforms anger the rich?
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Thomas Wolsey’s Reforms
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3: Lesson Warm Up: What is a tax and which type of tax is the fairest?
Slide 4-5: Thomas Wolsey Recap True or False Quiz – 12 statements with answer and explanations revealed.
Slide 6: Starter – A focus on the key terms of the lesson.
Slide 7-10: Background Information – Each slide gives a basic overview of Wolsey’s reforms to enclosure, finances, justice and the Eltham Ordinances.
Slide 11-12: Task – A table for students to make notes about each reform, its aims and successes and failures.
Slide 13: Follow Up Task – A detailed analysis of Wolsey’s financial reforms – a link to Maths
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Side 15: Example Exam Questions
Slide 16-17: Learning Review Quiz – With answers revealed
Slide 18: Lesson Fact Sheet – Based on the GCSE Edexcel Specification
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students all about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s rise to power. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Wolsey:
Who was Thomas Wolsey and what was his background?
What main events led to his rise to power in Henry VIII’s government?
Why did Thomas Wolsey gain so much power at the start of Henry VIII’s reign?
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x A4 blank timeline to outline the main events in Wolsey’s rise to power
1x A4 worksheet to help students categorise the main reasons for Wolsey’s rise to power.
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Henry VIII & Wolsey – Why did Wolsey Rise to Power?
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3-4: Previous learning Recap activities
Slide 5: As You Enter Warm Up – What kind of person would make a suitable advisor to Henry VIII?
Slide 6-7: Starter – Analysis of historical interpretations about Wolsey. Also includes a printable worksheet for students to complete.
Slide 8: Task 1 – Thomas Wolsey Timeline instructions
Slide 9-12: Task 2 – Key Term Activities with printable worksheet
Slide 13: Task 3 – Explaining Wolsey’s rise to power (linked to additional A4 worksheet
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Side 15: Example Exam Questions
Slide 16-17: Learning Review Quiz – With answers revealed
Slide 18: Lesson Fact Sheet – Based on the GCSE Edexcel Specification
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students all about the strengths and weaknesses of King Henry VIII when he became king in 1509. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Henry VIII:
How did Henry VIII become King of England in 1509?
What were Henry VIII’s main aims as king?
What was Henry’s leadership style and his attitude to kingship?
What were Henry’s strengths and weaknesses at the start of his reign.
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x A4 worksheet about Henry’s aims as the King of England
1x A4 worksheet about Henry’s strengths and weaknesses
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Henry’s Accession to the throne – his strengths and weaknesses.
Slide 2-3: As You Enter Warm Up – Two slightly different warm up tasks which ask students to think about and discuss what characteristics they think a Tudor & modern-day monarch should have.
Slide 4-5: Starter – Source analysis task about Henry VIII’s personality with additional printable worksheet.
Slide 6-16: Task 1 - Students are taken through 5 scenarios as Henry Tudor and asked which scenario they would pick. Answers and explanations included along with challenge questions for each scenario.
Slide 17: Task 2 – Henry’s aims as king activity (linked to A4 worksheet)
Slide 18: Task 3 – Henry’s strengths and weaknesses activity (linked to A4 worksheet)
Slide 19: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Side 20: Example Exam Questions
Slide 21-22: Learning Review Quiz – With answers revealed
Slide 23: Lesson Fact Sheet – Based on the GCSE Edexcel Specification
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson is specifically created for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers. However, it can easily be adapted as a stand alone lesson to teach students about the structure and hierarachy of Tudor society and government for KS3/4/5.
This lesson (re-) introduces students to the historical figure of Henry VIII. Students then examine how early Tudor society was structured in the countryside and towns. It then examines how Henry VIII’s government was structured and the roles of the groups within this structure.
This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet based on the GCSE Edexcel specification as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide – The features of Tudor Society and Government by 1509.
Slide 2-3: As You Enter Warm Up – What do you already know about Henry VIII? Includes a printable worksheet and hints.
Slide 4-5: Starter – Tudor Society Multiple Choice Quiz (with answers and explanations revealed).
Slide 6: Task 1 – Ordering the Tudor Social Hierarchy
Slide 7: A large and engaging diagram explaining the Tudor social hierarchy.
Slide 8: Printable worksheet
Slide 9: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Side 10-12: Practice Exam Questions with a model answer
Slide 13-14: Learning Review Quiz – With answers revealed
Slide 15: Lesson Fact Sheet – Based on the GCSE Edexcel Specification
Slide 16-18: Editable diagrams for each of the social hierarchies.
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This bundle contains all of my lessons for KS2 - KS3 about King Henry VIII. The lessons are suitable and can be adapted to ages 8-15.
Please note that EVERY lesson is fully resourced and ‘ready to go’. This bundle will save you many hours of preparation and each lesson contains a wide variety of activities to keep your students engaged.
The bundle includes:
Lesson 1: Investigating the life and personality of the young Henry VIII (A source investigation)
Lesson 2: Henry VIII and the ‘Break from Rome’.
Lesson 3: The Dissolution of the Monasteries
Lesson 4: The Reformation
Lesson 5: Portraits of King Henry VIII - Why were portraits so important to Henry?
Lesson 6: The Wives of King Henry VIII - Why did Henry have so many wives?
This lesson asks why King Henry VIII had so many wives. Students first collect information about Henry’s relationship with his six wives. They use this to help them analyse what made the marriages a success or failure. Plenty of printable worksheets, tables and timelines included!
This lesson can either be used in a unit of work about the Tudors and Henry VIII or as a stand-alone lesson covering Henry VIII and his six wives. It can also be used to help students analyse the art of the Tudors.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Resource 1: A4 printable worksheets for students to create their own timeline of Henry’s marriages.
Resource 2: Power Point
Slide 1: Title slide – Why did Henry VIII have so many wives?
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: Lesson Warm Up Activity: Discussion questions about marriages today with challenge questions included.
Slide 4-5: Lesson Warm Up 2: A true or false quiz about marriage in Tudor England – with answers revealed and explained.
Slide 6: Starter Task – ‘Which Wife When?’ – Students have to name and order the six wives of Henry VIII.
Slide 7: Background information about who the wives of Henry VIII were.
Slide 8-9: Printable fact sheets about the wives of Henry VIII
Side 10-11: Task: Fact File instructions and printable worksheet
Slide 12: Analysis questions – Which marriages were the most and least successful and how can we measure this?
Slide 13: Evaluation Question and Extended Writing – Why did Henry VIII have so many wives?
Slide 14: Challenge Questions
Slide 15-16: Learning Review Activity – Which wife? Answers revealed.
Reviews are really important to me and if you have enjoyed the lesson, it would be great if you could do this. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this lesson, students will have an opportunity to analyse the portraits of King Henry VIII. They will be able to explain why portraits were so important to Henry VIII as well describe the common features of all Henry VIII’s portraits.
This lesson can either be used in a unit of work about the Tudors and Henry VIII or as a stand-alone lesson covering Henry VIII. It can also be used to help students analyse the art of the Tudors.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Resource 1: 4x A4 worksheets to help students analyse the portraits of Henry VIII and a worksheet aimed at higher ability students to analyse the importance of portraits.
Resource 2: Power Point
Slide 1: Title slide – The importance of Portraits to Henry VIII
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: Lesson Warm Up Activity: Why do we take pictures of ourselves?
Slide 4: Key Term Analysis – What is a ‘portrait’?
Slide 5: Starter Task – Students have to pick one portrait from a choice of three which they think Henry VIII should use as his ‘official’ portrait.
Slide 6-7: Background information about Tudor portraits and the artist Hans Holbein the Younger.
Slide 8: Background Information about how portraits were forms of propaganda.
Side 9: Task – Portrait analysis task instructions (links to the A4 worksheets included with the resource)
Slide 10-11: Task – What was the purpose of portraits? Filling in the missing term task with answers.
Slide 12: Task – Tudor Vs Modern Day portrait analysis
Slide 13: Follow Up Challenge Task Questions
Slide 14: Learning Review Activity
Reviews are really important to me and if you have enjoyed the lesson, it would be great if you could do this. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this lesson, students will study the causes, events and impact of the Reformation in Europe in the early 1500s. The lesson focusses on the actions of Martin Luther and explains the main criticisms that some people had about the Catholic Church. The lesson then covers the differences between the Catholic and Protestant Church and methods of worship.
This lesson can either be used in a unit of work about the Tudors and Henry VII/VIII or as a stand-alone lesson covering the Reformation.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide – The Reformation
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3-4: Lesson Warm Up – What was the role and importance of the Church in Christian society before 1500? Picture based activity.
Slide 5-6: Background Information about the importance of the Church in the early 1500s.
Slide 7: Discussion Question – Why did the Roman Catholic Church have so much influence over people by c.1500?
Slide 8-9: Starter Task: Printing Press Illustration and background information about the impact of the printing press on religion.
Slide 10: Background Information about the actions of Martin Luther
Side 11-12: Background Information about the main criticisms of the Roman Catholic Church and Reformation.
Slide 13-14: Activity 1: Place the differences between the Catholic and Protestant Church in the table. Answers given.
Slide 15: Useful clips and further reading links
Slide 16-17: Printable fact sheet with questions
Slide 18: Activity 2: Creative Historical Writing Task – A letter from Martin Luther
Slide 19: Activity 3: Historical Source analysis
Slide 20: Follow Up Challenge Tasks
Slide 21-23: Learning Review – Key Term Match Up & Definitions
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this lesson, students will be able to examine the main events which led to King Henry VIII’s Break from Rome. The lesson will cover Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon, why he wanted a divorce from Catherine and the reasons why Henry fell out with the Roman Catholic Church to form his own Church of England. The lesson includes a range of activities such as a timeline task, word sort and source analysis and printable student worksheets are included throughout.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide – Why did Henry VIII Break Away from the Roman Catholic Church?
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: Lesson Warm Up – Marriage and Divorce in the modern era discussion.
Slide 4-5: Starter Task: Source analysis about the relationship and marriage between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon in the early years. Printable student handout also included.
Slide 6-7: Activity 1: Reading – Students will be given a fun and informative fact sheet about the events of the Break from Rome.
Slide 8: Activity 2: Timeline of the Break from Rome instructions.
Slide 9-11: Activity 3: Key term match up with answers given and printable handout included.
Side 12: Activity 4: Explaining the facts question sheet aimed at higher ability students to challenge their understanding.
Slide 13-14: Activity 5: Crossword with answers and printable handout.
Slide 15-16: Learning Review – Order the main events of the Break from Rome – answers provided.
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This bundle contains all of my lessons covering the First World War and can easily be adapted to act as a full unit of work, especially for KS3 (ages 11-14).
Please note that EVERY lesson is fully resourced and ‘ready to go’. This bundle will save you many hours of preparation and each lesson contains a wide variety of activities to keep your students fully engaged.
The lessons included in this bundle are:
Lesson 1: The European Alliance System by 1914.
Lesson 2: The M.A.I.N. Long-Term Causes of the First World War.
Lesson 3: The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand as a Short-Term Cause of the war.
Lesson 4: Recruitment and Enlistment into the British Army in 1914.
Lesson 5: The importance of Propaganda Posters for the Recruitment of Soldiers.
Lesson 6: The Features and Location of the Trenches on the Western Front.
Lesson 7: Evaluating the Weapons of the First World War.
Lesson 8: The Conditions in the Trenches and Trench Letters
Lesson 9: Medical Progress made during the First World War.
Lesson 10: The Christmas Truce of 1914
Lesson 11: The Role of Britain’s Empire in the First World War.
Lesson 12: The Contribution of Women to Britain’s War Efforts.
Lesson 13: The Treatment of Conscientious Objectors during the First World War.
In this lesson, students take a fascinating look into the way conscientious objectors were treated during the First World War. Students will find out why some men became conscientious objectors, what the public attitude was to conchies and finally examine four case studies to decide how they would punish the conscientious objectors from the past.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you enter warm up – War has been declared – would you volunteer? A selection of discussion questions linked to this modern day scenario.
Slide 4: Starter Task 1: Data analysis – students have to interpret a graph which shows the decline in volunteer recruits by the end of 1915.
Slide 5: Starter Task 2: Discussion and background information – why do you think there was a drop in recruitment by 1915?
Slide 6: Background information about the Military Services Act, 1916
Slide 7: Background information and match up activity – who were the different types of conscientious objectors?
Side 8: Background information about the different types of CO.
Slide 9: Source based activity based on the public attitudes towards COs.
Slide 10-11: The treatment and punishments given to conscientious objectors.
Slide 12-14: ‘Conchie Tribunal’ activity with two printable sheets
Slide 15: Useful clips
Slide 16: Challenge Tasks and Questions
Slide 17-18: Learning Review Quiz – with answers revealed
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
The main focus of the lesson is the role and contributions of women to Britain’s war effort during World War One. Students will examine both the positive and negative experiences of women during the war, be able to describe the various roles that women took on and then carry out their own research into the topic.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you enter warm up – Discussion about the statement, ‘Most of the History we learn in school is about men’.
Slide 4: Starter Task 1: Women in Propaganda during the First World War.
Slide 5: Starter Task 2: Gender roles in 1914
Slide 6-7: Activity 1: Data analysis (including printable worksheet) about the employment figures of women in work between 1914-1919.
Slide 8-9: Activity 2: The experiences of women in the war – students read statements and mark if they show a positive or negative experience of war.
Side 10-17: Image based background information about the role of women during the First World War.
Slide 18-20: Activity 3 – A guided research task. Links are given to useful websites as well as useful documentary clips. Students are given a number of areas they can research.
Slide 21: Useful websites for the research and further reading
Slide 22: Useful short documentary clips
Slide 13: Challenge Tasks
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this lesson, students will learn about the wide-ranging contributions made by the soldiers from Britain’s Empire during the First World War. Students will first learn which colonies contributed soldiers and then explain why men from the British Empire volunteered and what contributions they made to Britain’s role in the war.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3-4: As you enter warm up – identify the colonies of the British Empire map and answers. Challenge questions included.
Slide 5: Background Information about Britain’s colonies and Britain’s role as the ‘Mother Country’.
Slide 6: Starter Task – Recruitment in the colonies – a source from the Prime Minister of Canada
Slide 7-8: Activity 1: Recruitment posters from the colonies – three examples of recruitment posters which students have to analyse. A printable worksheet also included.
Slide 9: Background Information – India’s contribution to the First World War.
Side 10: Background Information and discussion activity
Slide 11: Useful clips
Slide 12: Printable fact sheet
Slide 13: Printable worksheet
Slide 14: Extended writing task – Explain the importance of Britain’s Empire.
Slide 15: Challenge Questions
Slide 16-17: Learning Review – Which country/colony am I?
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
This lesson allows students to use a wide range of sources to investigate the events of the Christmas truce during 1914. Students will use evidence from the diaries and letters of soldiers from both sides who experienced the ceasefire and build a picture of what happened. They will then use this knowledge to evaluate the usefulness and historical accuracy of modern interpretations of the truce such as adverts, films and music videos.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you enter warm up discussion tasks – what is a truce and why might a truce happen?
Slide 4: Starter Task – Analysis of an illustration of the truce from the London Illustrated News, 1915.
Slide 5-8: Activity 1 – History Detectives! Students should be placed in pairs or groups and given the two packs of sources. They then record their findings about the truce on a printable worksheet also provided on slide 8.
Slide 9-10: Activity 2: Extended reading & comprehension task based on an extended source about the truce from Sergeant Bryans. Printable worksheet provided.
Slide 11-12: Activity 3: Evaluating modern interpretations of the Truce – Students given the links to various modern interpretations of the truce and are guided through assessing their accuracy, usefulness and purpose.
Side 13: Challenge Questions
Slide 14: Learning Review – Christmas Tree Recap!
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this 23 slide lesson, students will investigate the many developments made in medicine as a result of the First World War. Foor instance, students will study shell shock, the methods used to treat infection, X-rays, the treatment of broken bones, developments in blood transfusions and plastic surgery.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you enter warm up discussion tasks.
Slide 4-6: Starter Task – Medical vocabulary task with printable sheets and answers.
Slide 7: Background information & discussion task about the problems of treating soldiers on the Western Front.
Slide 8-9: Activity 1: How does war help progress in medicine? Fill in exercise with answers revealed.
Slide 10: Lesson fact sheet covering all aspects of medical progress and developments.
Side 11-16: Image based background information about each development – ideal to use when reading through the fact sheet.
Slide 17: Activity 2: Printable lesson worksheet
Slide 18: Activity 3: Extended writing task
Slide 19: Useful clips about medicine in the First World War
Slide 20: Challenge Tasks
Slide 21-23: Learning Review Crossword with printable crosswords and answers revealed.
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this 20 slide lesson, students will be able to gain an understanding of what life was like for the soldiers who experienced the trenches on the Western Front. Students will first analyse a choice of sources written by soldiers who experienced the front line. They will then be guided through their own research about life in the trenches before being given the opportunity to write their own ‘letter from the trenches’. This lesson also covers the issue of censorship.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you enter activity – Photographic source analysis of a trench.
Slide 4: As you enter activity – Photographic source (higher level) ‘What can you infer from the source’ question.
Slide 5: Starter Task – Where do historians get their evidence about what life was like in a trench? Discussion and answers revealed.
Slide 6: Starter Task 2 – What factors did the experiences of soldiers depend on? Discussion and answers revealed.
Slide 7-: Activity 1: Single source analysis task with instructions.
Side 8-11: Activity 2: Multiple source analysis task with a choice of 12 sources all about life in the trenches and printable resources and clear instructions.
Slide 12-13: Activity 3: Life in the trenches research task with instructions, a check list and printable note making sheet.
Slide 14: Activity 4 – Writing a letter home instructions sheet.
Slide 15-17: Activity 5 – The censorship of letters and printable task sheet to censor a letter.
Slide 18: Useful clips about life in the trenches
Slide 19: Challenge Questions
Slide 20: Learning Review Activity
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.
In this 26 slide lesson, students will student nine of the main weapons used during the First World War: rifles, artillery, machine guns, grenades, cavalry, flamethrowers, tanks, aircraft and gas. Students will be able to describe the features of each weapon before comparing and evaluating the effectiveness of the weapons.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you enter activity – ‘Odd One Out’.
Slide 4: Background knowledge about the Wider Historical Context
Slide 5: Starter Task – Weapons True or False
Slide 6: Links to 7 useful clips about the weapons of the First World War.
Slide 7: Starter Task 2: Problem Solving Puzzle linked to the production of the Brodie Helmet.
Side 8: Fact Sheet (printable) about the weapons of the First World War.
Slide 9-18: Image based background knowledge about each weapon featured in the fact sheet.
Slide 19-20: Activity 1 - Instructions about how to complete the table with an A4 printable table included.
Slide 21-22 Activity 2 – Key Term Fill with answers revealed
Slide 23: Printable worksheet
Slide 24: Challenge Questions about the impact of the weapons
Slide 25-26: Learning Review – Match the statistics to the facts with answers revealed.
I would be really grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.