WiseArk Ltd which is a ‘micro-company specialising in supplying educational resources.
We specialise in resources for use in tutor time -many of which are also suitable for use in citizenship/PSHE.
We also have a range of resources to support learning in history.
I was a teacher for over 20 years so know from first-hand experience how engaged students can be when given challenges and puzzles.
WiseArk Ltd which is a ‘micro-company specialising in supplying educational resources.
We specialise in resources for use in tutor time -many of which are also suitable for use in citizenship/PSHE.
We also have a range of resources to support learning in history.
I was a teacher for over 20 years so know from first-hand experience how engaged students can be when given challenges and puzzles.
A simple sequencing activity to help develop chronological knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon/Viking period in English history.
There is a list of 24 events with dates -but events are listed alphabetically- and a blank table to enter the information into. So students need to sequence the dates first (there is a sheet/table to help them with doing this).
There is also a support version in which the table to complete has the dates in order so students just need to find the corresponding event.
The events are mostly those which feature in the linked resources on developing chronological understanding including the power point-from 449 CE -the traditional date for the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in England-to 1066 CE and the end of Anglo-Saxon England following the Norman invasion and victory at Hastings.
This resource is suitable for use in class as well as ideal for homework / independent study.
A more challenging version of the always popular activity.
There are 3 different word searches on Britain’s international relations in the 20th century.
Each comes in a range of versions to provide differing degrees of challenge: each wordsearch has a grid and 10 terms or places to find – the same answers so that all students are covering the same places and terms whatever the level of support/challenge.
In each set the first version is a ‘traditional’ one with the words provided.
Then there are four versions with a quiz: this has the same words to find but they aren’t provided -first you need to use the clues (questions) to work out what word you are searching for.
One just has the clues then there are three supported versions (each of the four has the same clues): the first has the first letter of the answer; the second has the number of numbers in the answer and the third has both the first letter and number of letters.
Ideal for use in a wide range of settings such as a last-minute cover resource or homework task or providing resources for ‘school at home’ (maybe even for a staff challenge!)
The places/terms covered are:
Abyssinia Appeasement Blitz Boer War Cold War Conscription Depression deterrent Dominions Dreadnought
Dunkirk Empire Entente Europe Falklands Gallipoli
Gulf War Hong Kong Independence India
Israel Jamaica Jutland Kenya Marne NATO
Pakistan Security Somme Suez crisis
A map-based activity to help develop knowledge of Anglo-Saxon England.
There is an information power point with a map showing the Heptarchy -the -seven main Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and their approximate borders:
Anglo-Saxon East Anglia Essex Heptarchy Kent Mercia Northumbria Picts Saxons Strathclyde Sussex Wessex
The activity is to complete an outline version of the information map. This comes in two different versions:
One has the locations of the kingdoms but is otherwise blank for the students to write in the names.
The second has the first letter of the kingdom as a support.
Students can also colour in the kingdoms and non-Anglo-Saxon areas with a key provided.
As there were other kingdoms (especially at different times) and borders moved over time there is scope for an additional challenge of creating an alternative map.
As well as a class-based activity this is suited for homework or printed out for ‘school at home’.
A collection of resources that illustrate the role that Imperial forces played in WW1 -did you know that over 1m Indian troops served?
There is a power point with a map slide showing the main contributors to the Imperial forces with each linked to a brief information slide; this information is also provided in a word document.
A worksheet looks at where Imperial soldiers fought and how many there were from around the globe.
There is also a wordsearch featuring fifteen of the nations that supplied troops and labourers to the Allied war effort.
Ideal for study of the British Empire as well as ‘Black History’
A set of linked resources and activities to help develop knowledge of the Romanisation of Britain. In part this takes a cross-curricular approach through geographical place locations.
There is an information power point with a map showing a number of Roman settlements in England and Wales as well as Hadrian’s and the Antonine Walls. The settlements are: Aquae Sulis, Arbeia, Camulodunum, Deva, Dubris, Eboracum, Isca, Isca Dumnoniorum, Londinium, Lindun, Luguvalium, Noviomagus Regnensium, Verulamium.
It also shows the ‘modern’ names of each settlement.
The main activity is to complete an outline version of the information map. This comes in different versions:
One has the locations of the settlements but is otherwise blank for the students to write in the names.
The second has the first letter of the settlement.
The third has the first letter and the ‘modern’ name.
The fourth has the name of the Roman settlement for them to add the ‘modern’ names.
The word document lists the settlements and has three separate activities.
The first is a set of printable ‘cards’ with the Roman and modern names of the settlements from the map – they can be used for matching pairs etc.
Second is similar but set out as a set of dominoes to allow for greater variety.
Thirdly is a set of two word searches covering most of the names of the featured settlements. (not Chichester as Noviomagus Regnensium is too long to fit!!)
Together the set provides a range of ways of developing knowledge of Roman Britain and are all well suited for homework or adapted for ‘school at home’.
A range of time-line based tasks on a variety of 20 topics (from Ancient Civilisations to the 20th century)
Ideal for use as a cover lesson or a stand-alone homework- or as a resource for ‘school at home’.
Helps students develop their historical understanding and use of relevant skills
Activities include: Sorting information into order to enter into a time chart; Using comprehension skills to complete a time chart timeline; categorising information in a completed time chart.
A resource to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of the chronology of Ancient Sumerian history.
This resource is designed specifically to help students in particular with the concept of chronology.
To help with understanding the passage of time there is a power point presentation that shows the intervals between events, from c5000 BCE -start of the Uruk period and increasing urbanisation to c1760 BCE when the Babylonians conquered Mesopotamia.
This has a range of 25 selected events and is designed to convey a sense of the passage of time by having the transition between slides vary in length depending on how many years actually passed between events.
Each slide has a date, event and appropriate illustration. (Each event slide is on show for five seconds and the whole presentation lasts for approximately five minutes).
There is also a ‘click through’ version of the slide show (same events) to enable the teacher to pause to give additional information or discuss the event with students.
The selection of events is not meant to be definitive for the study of that period (it’s a selection not a comprehensive timeline). It is also a compilation from a range of different sources this allows for an extra activity/challenge of students deciding what is missing/what could be left out?
A resource to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of the chronology of English history during the Anglo-Saxon / Viking period.
This resource is designed specifically to help students in particular with the concept of chronology.
To help with understanding the passage of time there is a power point presentation that shows the intervals between events, from 449 CE -the traditional date for the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in England-to 1066 CE and the end of Anglo-Saxon England following the Norman invasion and victory at Hastings.
This has a range of 26 selected events and is designed to convey a sense of the passage of time by having the transition between slides vary in length depending on how many years actually passed between events.
Each slide has a date, event and appropriate illustration. (Each event slide is on show for five seconds and the whole presentation lasts for approximately five minutes).
There is also a ‘click through’ version of the slide show (same events) to enable the teacher to pause to give additional information or discuss the event with students.
The selection of events is not meant to be definitive for the study of that period (it’s a selection not a comprehensive timeline). It is also a compilation from a range of different sources allows for an extra activity/challenge of students deciding what is missing/what could be left out?
This is a set of three comprehension activities on a range of Olympian deities (the same as featured on our linked resources): Aphrodite, Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, Cronus, Demeter, Hades, Hephaestus, Hera, Leto, Persephone, Poseidon, Zeus
The three challenges offer a range of difficulty in terms of literacy and so helps provide a degree of differentiation whilst studying the same gods/goddesses.
The first is to read a piece of informative text (c 220 words) which covers all the deities and their area of influence and then complete a table -giving the relevant area for each god/goddess.
The second is to read a shorter piece of text (160 words) and then complete a family tree ; there is also a support version with the first letter given.
The third has a table giving the deities and their symbols/associated objects with a blank table to complete using this information -as well as a version for students to draw the appropriate symbol.
This resource provides students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of a range of whilst providing varying degrees of challenge/support. They are suitable for use in class -both as a main activity and as an extension task- as well as for homework / independent study
A resource to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of the history of Roman Britain.
This resource is designed specifically to help students in particular with the concept of chronology.
To help with understanding the passage of time there is a power point presentation that shows the intervals between events, from the invasion of 43 CE (ordered by Emperor Claudius) to the end of Roman control in 410 CE (when the appeal to Rome for help was rejected).
This has a range of 25 selected events and is designed to convey a sense of the passage of time by having the transition between slides vary in length depending on how many years actually passed between events.
Each slide has a date, event and appropriate illustration. (Each event slide is on show for five seconds and the whole presentation lasts for approximately five minutes).
There is also a ‘click through’ version of the slide show (same events) to enable the teacher to pause to give additional information or discuss the event with students.
The selection of events is not meant to be definitive for the study of that period (it’s a selection not a comprehensive timeline). It is also a compilation from a range of different sources this allows for an extra activity/challenge of students deciding what is missing/what could be left out?
AA simple sequencing activity to help develop chronological knowledge of Pre-Roman Britain (England)
There is a list of 24 events with dates -but events are listed alphabetically- and a blank table to enter the information into. So students need to sequence the dates first (there is a sheet/table to help them with doing this).
There is also a support version in which the table to complete has the dates in order so students just need to find the corresponding event.
The events are mostly those which feature in the linked resources on developing chronological understanding including the power point-from 6,000 BCE when Britain became separated from Europe with the submerging of Doggerland to the Roman Invasion in 43 CE
This resource is suitable for use in class as well as ideal for homework / independent study.
A set of thirty-five thirty pages of colouring sheets:
A resource to support work on this popular topic as well as being useful for cross curricular art and for use when providing resources for ‘school at home’.
Supplied as a pdf for ease of printing the images are taken from a range of public domain sources (mainly 19th century books). As they are mainly screenshots of old book pages this may be reflected in the quality of the outlines though many have been digitally enhanced to help provide an outline for colouring in.
The images have been selected to cover a range of topics from Britain (and some elsewhere) during the Anglo-Saxon Period including the Viking attacks and settlements. Includes workers, buildings, ships, coins, jewellery and the farming year etc.
A resource which uses graphs, data and ‘shopping’ activities to help develop both historical and mathematical knowledge and understanding.
There is a range of 20 topics including the transatlantic slave trade, Britain in 1851, The Great Powers before WW1. (See below for full list of contents.)
Helps students develop their historical understanding and use of relevant skills, especially gathering information from sources that are not just written. Activities include: Using information to complete charts; Extracting information from tables; basic accounts and shopping activities; completing data tables by using calculations.
Requires students to use basic numeracy skills such as interpreting data from graphs or pie charts (and presenting data in graph form); solving problems using multiplication, division etc as well as fractions/ratios.
These are used to help develop historical understanding such as relative casualty rates in WW1, cost of living in the 19th century, composition of 17th century society.
Ideal for use as a cover lesson or a stand-alone homework (or for resources for ‘school at home’)
Topics covered: Roman Numerals; England in the Middle Ages; Martyrs in the English Reformation; James I & VI- problems with money; Emigrating to the American Colonies -getting supplies; England in c1688; Making money from the slave trade; The French Revolution: The Terror; Britain from c1750 to c1900; The growth of Middlesbrough in the 19th century; Food, diet and prices in the 1840s; Britain in 1851; Empires; Britain in the 20th century; How well off were people in the 20th century?; The Great Powers before WW1; Casualties in WW1; Food prices in WW2; Population, life expectancy and infant mortality; Battles and casualties.
Updated for Charles III
This resource is a power point with a difference to support knowledge and understanding of chronology.
Each slide features a picture of the monarchs of England/Britain from Alfred the Great to Charles III. Each slide appears for a varied amount of time. This helps show how much real time they reigned for – in this presentation 1 second equals 4 years (so the presentation lasts for around 5 minutes)
A set of resources to develop and reinforce knowledge and understanding of Anglo-Saxon era British (English) history including the Viking raids and settlement, especially in terms of chronological knowledge and understanding.
There is a range of distinct resources covering events, places, life etc. They are all suitable for use in class -both as a main activity and as an extension task- and many are suited to homework / independent study – as well as resources for ‘school at home.’
There is a power point presentation of a range of 26 events - from 449 CE -the traditional date for the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons in England-to 1066 CE and the end of Anglo-Saxon England following the Norman invasion and victory at Hastings. (Each slide has picture & one sentence summary)
One version of the above plays automatically to give a sense of the passing of time each event slide is on show for five seconds and the whole presentation lasts for approximately five minutes.
Two related activities develop this study of events with tasks using a selection of the same developments/events - The first is a set of printable ‘cards’ which can be used for sorting or matching tasks (such as the matching pairs game) – each event is on a separate ‘card’ from its date, organised in sets of 10 -there are two sets, but each can be used separately or the two combined to increase the difficulty level.
The second is a set of ‘domino cards’ to provide a more supported matching challenge; these feature the same events and each ‘card’ links to another forming a ‘domino’ like chain (which again can be used as a set of 10 or both combined for greater challenge).
There is also a time-line based sequencing task featuring 24 events (taken from the power point)- A simple sequencing activity to help develop chronological knowledge. There is a list of events with dates -but events are listed alphabetically- and a blank table to enter the information into. So students need to sequence the dates first (there is a sheet/table to help them with doing this).
There is also a support version in which the table to complete has the dates in order so that students just need to find the corresponding event
There are five of the word search and a combined word search & quiz challenge.
Each comes in a range of versions to provide differing degrees of challenge: each wordsearch has a grid and words (name/ places/terms) to find – the same names so that all students are covering the same answers whatever the level of support/challenge. The six topics are: Life x2, People(s) x2 and Places.
In each set the first version is a ‘traditional’ one with the words provided.
Then there are four versions with a quiz: this has the same words to find but they aren’t provided -first you need to use the clues (questions) to work out what word you are searching for.
One just has the clues then there are three supported versions (each of the four has the same clues): the first has the first letter of the answer; the second has the number of numbers in the answer and the third has both the first letter and number of letters.
Finally there is a set of 35 colouring pages (pdf) the images are taken from a range of public domain sources (mainly 19th century books). As they are mainly screenshots of old book pages this may be reflected in the quality of the outlines though many have been digitally enhanced to help provide an outline for colouring in. They have been selected to cover a range of topics from Britain (and some elsewhere) during the Anglo-Saxon Period including the Viking attacks and settlements. Includes workers, buildings, ships, coins, jewellery and the farming year etc.
Word search and mini quiz combined
A set of word searches to help develop knowledge of migration to the British Isles –both individuals born abroad and nationalities that have provided many migrants to Britain over the centuries. Has twenty of each of a range of individuals and nationalities.
There is a set of four different word searches – two on individuals, two on nationalities.
In each set the first version is a ‘traditional’ one with the words provided.
Then there are four versions with a quiz: this has the same words to find but they aren’t provided -first you need to use the clues (questions) to work out what word you are searching for.
One just has the clues then there are three supported versions (each of the four has the same clues): the first has the first letter of the answer; the second has the number of numbers in the answer and the third has both the first letter and number of letters.
This provides students with the opportunity to develop their knowledge of a range of individuals or groups who were born abroad / moved to Britain whilst providing varying degrees of challenge/support. They are suitable for use in class -both as a main activity and as an extension task- as well as for homework / independent study or a cover lesson activity or as a resource for ‘school at home (maybe even as staff challenge!)
The four word-searches cover the following groups/individuals:
Africans, Angles, Asians, Belgians, Chinese, Danes, Flemings, Germans, Huguenots, Indians
Irish, Normans, Norwegians, Polish, Romans, Russians, Saxons, Somalians, Syrians, West Indians
Prince Albert, Montague Burton, Joseph Conrad, Mo Farah, Lucian Freud, Alec Issigonis, Boris Johnson, Judith Kerr, Doreen Lawrence, Michael Marks
Karl Marx, Freddie Mercury, Rupert Murdoch, Rita Ora, Shantra Patak, Prince Phillip, Cliff Richard, Salman Rushdie, Charles Saatchi, JRR Tolkien
A set of resources to develop and reinforce knowledge and understanding of Ancient Egypt, especially in terms of chronological knowledge and understanding.
There is a range of distinct resources, covering deities, people, places , events etc all of which are suitable for use in class -both as a main activity and as an extension task- and many are suited to homework / independent study – as well as resources for ‘school at home.’
There is a power point presentation of a range of 22 events - from 3100 BCE (founding of the First Dynasty) to 30 BCE (Roman annexation of Egypt). (Each slide has picture & one sentence summary)
One version of the above plays automatically to give a sense of the passing of time each event slide is on show for five seconds and the whole presentation lasts for approximately five minutes.
Two related activities develop this study of events with tasks using a selection of the same developments/events - The first is a set of printable ‘cards’ which can be used for sorting or matching tasks (such as the matching pairs game) – each event is on a separate ‘card’ from its date, organised in sets of 10 -there are two sets, but each can be used separately or the two combined to increase the difficulty level.
The second is a set of ‘domino cards’ to provide a more supported matching challenge; these feature the same events and each ‘card’ links to another forming a ‘domino’ like chain (which again can be used as a set of 10 or both combined for greater challenge).
There is also a time-line based sequencing task featuring 20 events from the power point- A simple sequencing activity to help develop chronological knowledge. There is a list of events with dates -but events are listed alphabetically- and a blank table to enter the information into. So students need to sequence the dates first (there is a sheet/table to help them with doing this).
There is also a support version in which the table to complete has the dates in order so that students just need to find the corresponding event
There are four of the word search and a combined word search & quiz challenge.
Each comes in a range of versions to provide differing degrees of challenge: each wordsearch has a grid and words (name/ places/terms) to find – the same names so that all students are covering the same answers whatever the level of support/challenge. The four topics are: Gods, People(s) x2, Places.
In each set the first version is a ‘traditional’ one with the words provided.
Then there are four versions with a quiz: this has the same words to find but they aren’t provided -first you need to use the clues (questions) to work out what word you are searching for.
One just has the clues then there are three supported versions (each of the four has the same clues): the first has the first letter of the answer; the second has the number of numbers in the answer and the third has both the first letter and number of letters.
There are two resources specifically focussed on a range of Gods & Goddesses. Firstly a power point on 19 deities (+ Karnak) -For each one there is a slide with a picture and their main ‘responsibility’. This is a ‘click through’ presentation with a contents slide so that if preferred the teacher can select a specific deity.
Secondly two linked activities that cover knowledge in a different way to a conventional worksheet. The first resource is a set of printable ‘cards’ with one half having the name of either a God/Goddess associated with Ancient Egypt and the other half a sentence on their role etc. These can be used for matching pairs activities (Answers provided!)
The second resource is similar but set out as a set of dominoes to allow for greater variety and a degree of support.
Finally there is a set of 48 colouring pages (pdf) the images are taken from a range of public domain sources (mainly 19th century books). As they are mainly screenshots of old book pages this may be reflected in the quality of the outlines though many have been digitally enhanced to help provide an outline for colouring in. They have been selected to cover a range of topics including Gods, embalming, workers, soldiers and animals.
This free resource is taken from a collection of resources that illustrate the role that Imperial forces played in WW1 -did you know that over 1m Indian troops served?
The wordsearch features fifteen of the nations that supplied troops and labourers to the Allied war effort.
In the full collection there is also a power point with a map slide showing the main contributors to the Imperial forces with each linked to a brief information slide; this information is also provided in a word document.
A worksheet looks at where Imperial soldiers fought and how many there were from around the globe.
Ideal for study of the British Empire as well as ‘Black History’
A set of linked resources and activities to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of the chronology of British history.
This is an important part of the History National Curriculum but one which often causes students difficulty.
This is a sample of a selection from a range of these resources.
These are taken from the resources focussed on KS3.
These resources are designed specifically to help students in particular with the ordering of events. To help with understanding the passage of time there is a power point presentation that shows the intervals between events.
This has a range of selected events and is designed to convey a sense of the passage of time by having the transition between slides vary in length depending on how many years actually passed between events.
Each slide has a date, event and appropriate illustration. (Each event slide is on show for five seconds and the whole presentation lasts for approximately five minutes).
As a bonus there is also a ‘click through’ version of the slide show to enable the teacher to give additional information or discuss the event with students.
The selection of events is not meant to be definitive for the study of that period (it’s a selection not a comprehensive timeline!) – this allows for an extra activity/challenge of students deciding what is missing/what could be left out.
The same events are on a word document and to help with improving knowledge there are activities which involve matching events to dates etc.
The first involves sorting set of five different events into the correct order – available on power point and word document.
The second is a set of printable ‘cards’ which can be used for sorting or matching tasks (such as the matching pairs game) – each event is on a separate ‘card’ from its date (organised in sets of 10).
The third is a set of ‘domino cards’ to provide a more supported matching challenge; each card has an event and a date that links to another event -so making a sequence of events.
There are available the following sets of resources: (KS3)
Periods in British History
Medieval Times (2 sub sets – England ; Britain and other nations)
Tudors and Stuarts (2 sub sets – Tudors ; Stuarts)
Industrial Revolution (and farming etc – 3 sub sets: 1694 to 1803; 1803 to 1846; 1851 to 1901
Britain (and the world) c1714 to c1900 (3 sub sets: Britain and the World; Politics and Reform ; Society and Culture
Britain in the 20th century (2 sub sets – Britain in the 20th century; Britain and the world)
There are also resources on KS2 topics
