I have been teaching history since 2002 and I have been head of History at a school for 10 years which sees many of my students opt for GCSE, A level and beyond. I am passionate about History being taught well, and believe that this largely stems from good resources (as well of course effective delivery). My lessons and various teaching resources are therefore produced with the intention of inspiring students to think for themselves, to be challenged yet engaged.
I have been teaching history since 2002 and I have been head of History at a school for 10 years which sees many of my students opt for GCSE, A level and beyond. I am passionate about History being taught well, and believe that this largely stems from good resources (as well of course effective delivery). My lessons and various teaching resources are therefore produced with the intention of inspiring students to think for themselves, to be challenged yet engaged.
An overview of the AQA Part 2 American Dream unit using detail from the specification inconjunction with other key content for students to revise.
Students can assess how comfortable their knowledge is on a topic and date the appropriate, sad, middle or happy face. The intention is then for students to use this as a base from which to start to plan and organise their revision effectively. The hope being that they have moved most of their learning on from the red unhappy face to the Green smiley face before they sit the exams.
This is brand new and I am about to give it to my students for the first time this year. The AS version for them them was very successful last year and I intend to give them a copy of that again - as they will need both for the new style A level exams.
A lovely lesson (could easily be several) lessons for GCSE students to revise the international relations unit especially for OCR, but would work really well with AQA and Edexcel modern world syllabuses.
The ppt explains the variety of tasks - Various slides should also be printed out as instructions for each table. Some of the tasks are also on the slides, but others are extra attachments such as the explain away game and the timeline cards.
This is a good way to keep yr 11 engaged and proactive during those last few lessons.
This is 3 pages of blank charts headed with key criteria for students to complete along side their own work/ notes to help them have all key policies, events and issues in one place. Please note, this does not have teachable content - it is for student’s to complete using their prior work , knowledge and is something they can then use to test themselves.
Truman, Eisenhower and Kennedy in terms of their Domestic and Foreign policy and Civil rights agenda. In line with the AQA American Dream A level unit.
Revision activity for students to complete covering presidents Lydon B Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan in terms of their Domestic and Foreign Policy. In line with the A2 AQA American Dream unit.
This is just a lovely little starter activity that can be used for revision on the Mid Tudors Edward and Mary and religious settlement of Elizabeth I.
Cards need to be cut out and students then match up the answer with the question - they should then follow in a sequence if they've matched them up correctly.
This is a super revision activity that I have used with lots of success for many years.
Attached is 1 word document that has a brief outline of the AQA A level coursework and 2 charts one for primary source analysis and one for secondary sources, I usually blow these up to A3 to allow students plenty of opportunity to thoroughly investigate the sources.
For the secondary sources there is scope to push the students to thoroughly investigate the historiography fully.
Included are 9 revision tasks covering the Yr 12 unit for the AQA American Dream, Reality Vs illusion unit. The tasks encourage independence with own revision as they have choices, but also offers them guidance for support. These task will also be excellent useful revision for Yr 13. There are resources supplied for 6 our of the 9 different suggested revision tasks. The tasks range from planning essays, source work questions, quizzes, and card sort tasks. There are some red herrings - which should allow from some good discussion opportunities. The content covers, domestic including economic, political and social issues as well and foreign policy issues. I have used these in conjunction with my President chart overview - a separate document you can buy. Students complete the various activities such as - which policy which president? and Which Foreign policy, which president? which serves as helpful reminder, confidence boost, or a - "I really need to get stuck into some revision!" for students! A win win! This is tried and tested and worked brilliantly with my year 12 this year!
A lesson on Edward I. It covers the age of chivalry and the age of professional warfare. It examines 2 case studies as Edward I embarked upon his war in Wales and Scotland and then the hundred years war with France. Students are asked to complete worksheets and answer questions examining the impact of these conflicts on local, national, governement and psychological levels. The lesson draws together the key themes with a section on whether infact this period was an age of chivalry or an age of professional warfare. There are also some practise GCSE questions at the end.
Attached is a ppt which has the resources at the end which can be printed off and completed by the students.
Contains a ppt which breaks down analysing Primary sources and the exam questions and an accompanying worksheet. The combination allows students to try and work through their own responses whilst supporting them if they are struggling. It is based on the extent of affluence in the USA by the early 1960s, so needs to be used towards the end of the yr 12 or first year of A2, where students will have obtained enough contextual knowledge to be able to answer the question comprehensively.
As this source question is based at the end of part 1 I have NOT included the the "How to analyse Primary sources flow-chart" which I make reference to at the end of the ppt- it is hoped that students have already had some experience of constructing answers at this stage. However, the document can also be purchased if guidance is still required.
A whole lesson that encourages students to break down an AS or A2 exam question about the policy of containment. The lesson develops by encouraging students to consider the key words, the debate and key evidence for the question. They are then given opportunities within the lesson to formulate a plan and establish a solid argument. Students get to rate an introduction whilst also complete their own. Concluding thoughts are also included.
A short activity covering some key aspects of the OCR international relations unit with Russia as its depth study. The quiz contains 4 rounds - some with pictures, and is a great starter activity encouraging learners to think and to engage them in the process of revision.
A break down for the AS AQA American Dream unit, using specification criteria and supported with key issues and events for greater context.
Students can make a note where they feel their understanding of certain topics is, by dating under the red, yellow or green face. The idea behind this is so that students can see specific areas where they need to focus their revision; hopefully moving their learning all to the green smiley face by the time of the exam.
This was an extremely useful resource for my students last year as they and I, were able to monitor their progress. I'm currently in the process of writing the new one for A2.
Primary Source Analysis Flow Chart specifically for the AQA AS History specification but can be used for all primary source evaluations.
An easy to use flow chart for AS students to help them meet the demands of the new Primary Source question for the AS AQA exam.
The document helps weaker students formulate an answer helping them to structure their ideas, whilst offering some guidance and a checklist for more able students. It is complicated but it does work!
The AQA exam question ask them to analyse the value of the source in relation to a specific question and then to make a comparison with another source about which offers the most value – in relation to the question.
As part of this analysis, students are expected to comment on the provenance and tone (where relevant) as well as the context and argument of the period studied.
For a top mark answer students need to be able to balance provenance, tone and context on their analysis of each source to provide a meaningful and substantiated judgement! It is tricky but this document helps students of all abilities meet the requirements being asked of them.
A super lesson that encourages students to identify the various actions and events surrounding the end of the 1905 revolution.
The resources are within the ppt and can be printed off and used around the room for students to collect the information or used as part of a group task/ discussion. They are to discover the reasons why the Tsar survived and if he was strengthening or weakening the country. At the end students are asked to think about the short and long term impact of the Tsar's actions. This then leads onto a super assessment essay question - Did the Tsar's response to the 1905 revolution make Russia stronger or weaker.
Hot the heels of my AS flow chart I have created a version for my A2 students and thought you would appreciate it. It is in line with the AQA requirements but with a little bit of tweaking it would be useful for any of the exam boards requirments for primary source analysis. Whilst not a restrictive formula, it does offer guidance for weaker students to follow an order to allow them to cover all aspects on the AQA mark scheme. It also works as a check list for the more able.
This is subtly different from the AS version as there is no need for a judgment at AS, however the exam board does state that sources can be used and linked together where deemed appropriate and relevant.
A source from the Southern Manifesto document and an appropriate AQA AS style question that encourages students to evaluate the primary source in relation to the exam criteria of provenance, tone, content and argument. By encouraging students to break down and analyse the source in relation to these specifics, it encourages them to always formulate their answer with the exam criteria in the forefront of their mind.
This is only one source and it is therefore worth mentioning that for AS purposes they would need a futher source which they must then compare and decide which one offers more value. For A2 they would need a further 2 sources but they are not expected to compare the sources.
This document works well with the How to answer a Primary Source flow chart document - one of my other resources available.
A revision activity for both AS and A2 students covering the Civil Rights movement under president Eisenhower. Contains a blank chart, a help sheet and an answer sheet!
Lesson 1 - covers the feelings at the end of WW1, then onto identifying the aims of the Big 3 and the terms of the treaty of Versailles. There are a number of activities for students to complete - including a facebook dialog between the Big 3 plus a homework. Lesson 2 introduces students to the skills required for an OCR style Q1 worth 5 marks and gives an example for students to mark. The lesson then moves on to the impact of the treaty on Germany Also included in the pack is an overview chart for the course where students can plot the driving forces of conflict and cooperation throughtout the 20th Century,
A document for students to complete to show when they have completed their revision on a certain topic. Students can start by indicating how comfortable they are with the various topics by writing the date in the various sad, ok, happy faces.
I encourage students to complete where they are on the grid and then to identify an area and spend half an hour moving one of their red sad faces to at least amber if not green.
Included in this pack are a variety of 4,6 and 10 mark OCR GCSE style questions, covering content such as the Origins of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam and the depth study Russia. On some questions there is a model answer, others have guidance with support , others are blank for them to discover the answers themselves. There are plenty of opportunities for students to have a go at planning their short and essay style answers. These frames can them be used as a basis to write up their extended answers.