This interesting and highly-stimulating lesson enables students to gain a clear understanding of the key meanings in the Greek Myth ‘Pandora's Box.’ Through engagement with the story, students learn to interpret and infer the key elements of plot in texts, comment upon the writer’s purposes and messages in texts, challenging and building upon their ideas, and apply the key messages to other contexts. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Understand the phrase 'opening Pandora's Box' and apply it to modern contexts; - Read the story 'Pandora's Box' and interpret the key meanings; - Summarise the key events of the story through a storyboard; - Identify, explain, and analyse the writer's key messages in 'Pandora's Box;' - Engage deeply with the text by challenging and building upon the ideas/messages raised by the writer;' - Test their understanding of the story by creating their own recreations; - Peer assess each other's learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Paper copies and online links to a copy of Pandora's Box; - Pandora's Box Storyboard; - The Writer's Message Worksheet; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge of The War on Al-Qaeda. This is an important component in history modules covering ‘Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990-2009.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Major Events - dates, images, descriptions, and key facts - including the rise of Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda, Afghanistan ‘the rogue state’ and the Taliban, the September 11th attacks, the ‘War on Terror’ and the assassination of Osama bin Laden; Key People - Osama bin Laden, George W. Bush, Mullah Omar, Barack Obama and Tony Blair. Context - Conflict and Tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan Overview and Map; Timeline of Major Events. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images are from Wikimedia Commons and are licensed for commercial use.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning about George Orwell, particularly those studying different authors in English Literature, or completing a history study of ‘Significant Individuals.’ It contains comprehensive sections entitled: Overview; Times in His Life; Important Vocabulary; George Orwell Timeline; Answers to the Important Questions; Top Ten Facts. The resource is designed to be printed onto either A4 or A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children learning about Elizabeth I as a part of their history study of ‘Significant Individuals.’ It contains comprehensive sections entitled: Overview; Times in Her Life; Important Vocabulary; Elizabeth I Timeline; Answers to the Important Questions; Top Ten Facts. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use.

These resources enable students to understand the context of the Russian Revolution, the predominant subject of Orwell’s allegory within Animal Farm. More precisely, students learn about the key historical events and figures throughout this point in time in Russian history, and begin to comprehend Orwell’s intentions in writing the novella. These resources give students a strong foundation of knowledge which they can then utilise to begin confidently relating the text to its context. There are easily enough resources for at least two lessons within this resource pack. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating previous knowledge through a discussion-based starter task; - Watching, listening, and demonstrating their understanding of an engaging and informative context video and related activity sheet; - Developing their understanding through in-depth investigative research into the main leaders of the Russian Revolution; - Writing a letter from the viewpoint of a member of the Russian working class, who has lived through the various regimes and revolutions. - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint (includes links for video) - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Context worksheet; - Five investigative research templates: Stalin, Lenin, Trotsky, Marx, and The Secret Police. All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint. Note - internet connection is needed for the video activity.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children learning about everyday life in the Middle Ages. It contains comprehensive sections entitled: -Overview; -Life for Nobles: food and clothing, work and education, homes, religion and recreation; -Life for Everyday People: food and clothing, work and education, homes, religion and recreation; -Important Vocabulary; -A Day in a Medieval Town; -Top Ten Facts. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge of The Black Death. It contains comprehensive sections on: Overview and map; Events - dates, images, descriptions, and key facts; Timeline of Major Events First Hand Accounts - Jean de Vinette, Giovanni Boccaccio, Geoffrey Le Baker, and the Cathedral Priory of Rochester; Signs and Symptoms of The Plague. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Wilfred Owen’s World War I poem 'Dulce et Decorum est.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Line-by-line analysis (with quotes); Poetic Devices/ Language Devices; Themes; Form/Structure; Poems for Comparison; Thoughts of the Poet. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to gain a detailed insight into the social and historical context of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. In particular, students learn about Brontë’s life, class, religion, love and health in the Victorian era – key themes throughout the novel. They then make clear and sustained links between the features of context and the text. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: Playing a fun and interactive quiz about the life of Charlotte Bronte; Completing carousel activities in groups to learn about the key features of religion, class, love, reputation, and health in the Victorian era; Linking their understanding of context to the key elements of the text; Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; All resources for the carousel activities, including sheets needed for ‘Religion Researchers’, ‘Ways to Die in Victorian Society’, and ‘Class and Gender Venn Diagrams.’ Linking the novel to social/historical context template; Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. These resources were originally taught to GCSE students, but with subtle adaptations they have also been used with both younger and older (up to A Level) students. Please note that one of the carousel activities requires internet access. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge of The Maya civilisation. It contains comprehensive sections on: -Overview and Maps; -Key Places and People; -Daily Life; -Top Ten Maya Facts; -Key Vocabulary -Maya Timeline. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included). The resource can be adapted for all age groups, but was originally designed for those in KS2.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children learning about Henry VIII as a part of their history study. It contains comprehensive sections entitled: Overview; Times in His Life; Important Vocabulary; Henry VIII Timeline; Answers to the Important Questions; Top Ten Facts. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge relating to the The Age of Exploration (sometimes known as The Age of Discovery). It contains comprehensive sections on: The Age of Exploration Overview; Overview; Key People (Christopher Columbus, Vasco de Gama, Abel Tasman); The Age of Exploration Timeline; Answers to the Important Questions; Key Vocabulary; Top Ten Facts. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included). It is most suitable for students in KS2/ lower KS3. Another version of this organiser is available for younger children.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for KS2 students learning or revising knowledge relating to the Tudors. It contains comprehensive sections on: Tudor Monarchs - date of reign, biography, spouse info, and key facts; Major Events and Key Information; Everyday Life in the Period; Timeline of Major Events; Key Vocabulary. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This KS1 whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through the reading of a Paul Perro poem about The Great Fire of London. The reading is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The poem is provided in both Word and as a PDF. The session is best suited for children in years 1-2, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

In this engaging lesson, children are provided with an introductory understanding of the Anglo-Saxons, through learning: -who the Anglo-Saxons were and when they lived; -how they invaded and inhabited England; -the names and basic features of the seven Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. The learning is guided by a clear and colourful PowerPoint presentation, which guides students through the following step-by-step journey: -Knowledge harvesting - gauging what children already know about the Anglo-Saxon era, and gathering what else they would like to know; -Answering recall questions based upon the areas of history that they have learnt previously that are pertinent to this topic; -Defining who the Anglo-Saxons were and when they lived; -Watching an informative video providing some of the basic facts about Anglo-Saxon life, and then answering questions to show their understanding; -Learning about how they invaded England, and after much fighting split the land into seven kingdoms; -Completing a map-based activity to show where the kingdoms were and who lived there; -Completing plenary activities to demonstrate their understanding of each of the concepts learnt in the lesson; -Self-reflecting on the extent to which they feel they have met the learning objective. Included is the comprehensive PowerPoint presentation (around 20 slides), the map template (in both Word and PDF) and the hyperlink to the video. In the past, I have used this lesson with children in upper KS2 (years 5 and 6) - the key learning is aligned with curriculum expectations for history. All images are licensed for commercial use.

This engaging and detailed lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of the social and historical context of Mary Shelley’s gothic horror novel: Frankenstein. The lesson places a particular focus upon the developments in health, science, and technology at the time the text was written and set, the locations visited by the author, and the life of Mary Shelley. By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate their ability to link their understanding of context to specific sections of the text. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Considering how life has changed between the end of the 18th Century and the present day; - Researching key information about health, scientific understanding, and major events in the late 1700s; - Understanding the features of locations in the novel, and interpreting what they may symbolise; - Developing their understanding of the author: Mary Shelley, and considering the key events in her life that influenced her writing of Frankenstein; - Linking knowledge of time, place, and author, and relating these to specific areas of the text; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including an animated Frankenstein's monster to guide them through the lesson, and links to helpful websites); - Comparison between 1700s and the present day worksheet (and a teacher answer sheet); - Card sorting activity based on locations in the novel; - Mary Shelley worksheet (and a teacher answer sheet); - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation. NOTE: One of the tasks requires access to researching materials, e.g. internet or library access.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children learning about Charles Dickens, particularly those completing a history study of ‘Significant Individuals.’ It contains comprehensive sections entitled: Overview; Times in His Life; Important Vocabulary; Charles Dickens Timeline; Answers to the Important Questions; Top Ten Facts. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use.