This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that the US economy had weaknesses in the 1920s. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons, and who was most affected by different problems – this is scaffolded for weaker students. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, farmers unemployed, black Americans and others.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that the American West was lawless. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons, and there is a further extension question for more able students. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, social, economic, cultural political and other factors.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that life in trenches was difficult. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons, and there is a further extension question for more able students. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, health//hygiene, time, mental health and others.

A card sort to show the events which led to the outbreak of the Civil War in 1642. This is a very flexible activity and can be used with all abilities. Students can decide which causes fit into each of the three categories - political, economic and religious (these are defined on the sheet). Students can use more than one colour for any that overlap categories. Students can also decide which were the fault of the king, and which were the fault of Parliament. More able students can categorise the long- and short-term causes. Students are invited to make and explain judgments on the most important causes, and on whether the King or Parliament was to blame. This can be used as the base for a piece of extended writing. The card sort can be done as a venn diagram using the second sheet.

Thus is a resource of KS4. Students watch the YouTube link and can discuss the effects of the fear of communism. The link contains use of a term now considered racist. Students then make a diamond 9 on the different effects of McCarthyism. This can lead to extended writing or a debate.

This card sort allows students to view opinions of Caesar and classify them as either positive or negative. More able students can explain judgements as to which was the best and worst part of Caesar’s rule.

This is a card sort designed to allow students to categorise and prioritise reasons that the Soviet Union failed in Afghanistan. More able students can use the cards to explain their thoughts on the most important reason for the USSR’s failure. This could also be done as a venn diagram using the second sheet.

A resource for KS4. Firstly, students watch the YouTube link and answer questions about the Red Scare. Secondly, students decide whether the Red Scare was justified or not, by marking different pieces of evidence. This can lead to a PEE paragraph or debate.

The first resource is an information sheet which students can use to identify the successes, partial successes and failures of the Gulf War. More able students can decide for themselves how successful the Gulf War was. The second resource is a card sort designed to allow students to categorise and prioritise the successes, partial successes and failures of the Gulf War. More able students can use the cards to explain their thoughts on the most important successes and failures - in the short and long term, and apply their knowledge to a GCSE style essay question. The task could also be done as a diamond activity. This is an ideal activity for preparing students for longer-answer exam questions. It allows discussion to develop as students explain their thoughts and defend them in front of their peers.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that D Day was successful. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons, and there is a further extension question for more ale students. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, the actions of the Allies, Germany’s weaknesses, planning, leadership and others.

A lesson on the development of Medieval Parliament. Students begin by discussing what they know about Parliament today. They then look at information on the slides, which should be printed off and stuck around the classroom. They fill in thee activity sheet as thy look around.There are extension questions for the more able students at the end of the activity sheet. Students complete a judgemental paragraph at the end of the lesson. There is a writing frame and key words to help less able students.

This is a card sorting resource on the development of Britain’s rule from the 1750s to 1947. There is a differentiated resource for lower ability students. Students are invited to sort the cards into categories: a) violence/war b) peaceful protest c) political power / government. Lower ability students can look at what was violent / non-violent. They then place the cards into chronological order, and can use the timeline to indicate where Britain’s rule was secure or weak. More able students can be challenged to decide how strong or weak each event showed British rule to be. Students can then answer the following questions on British India: 1. What event showed that British power was at its strongest? Why? 2. What event showed that British power was at its weakest, before 1947? Why? 3. What do you suggest about British rule in India over the years? Think of rise and fall of power. Why do you think that this was? This can lead to a class debate or piece of extended writing.

This is a whole-lesson on Martin Luther King. it contains a link to the ‘I have a Dream’ speech, an information sheet on Martin Luther King 's beliefs and a factfile on Martin Luther King, differentiated for the lower ability students. The factfile can be turned into a spider diagram, or students can categorise information in it into Martin Luther King 's views, actions and consequences of actions. Students have a writing frame on which to base an evaluation of Martin Luther King’s significance. Students finish by considering the effect of non-peaceful protest.

The worksheet is a card sort / Diamond 9 activity for students, with a differentiated version too. Students are invited to categories and prioritise the reasons that the American Revolution happened. Students should answer the question underneath the card sort, and then more able students can attempt the extension questions. This can lead to discussion / debate on why the revolution happened. The powerpoint contains objectives, key words, background information and a video and task on the course of the revolution. The worksheet forms part of the lesson as described on the ppt.

This is a KS3 resource for the character of Charles II. Students decide whether or not they would have liked him. As a starter, they brainstorm the qualities of a good king. they can explain positive and negative aspects of his personality by highlighting information sheets, differentiated for higher and lower ability students. Key words are provided in the powerpoint. This can lead to a debate in class - split them to defend / attack Charles’ personality - and/or a piece of extended writing on whether he was a good / bad character. Different writing frames are included in the powerpoint. My classes love it every year. YouTube clip supports lesson as a way in.

This is for GCSE History. Students have three sheets which they can work through. the powerpoint is slide with definitions of the impotent / undeserving / deserving poor 1. Laws against begging and why they failed - Students match the law to why it failed, and higher ability students can take note of whose reign each was passed in. More able students can answer two extension questions to compare the laws of Henry VIII to Elizabeth. 2. The Act for the Relief of the Poor – 1601 - Students match up which parts of the Poor Law fit to which people. Terms of the poor law are underneath - you may want to cut the sheet in half so that terms and the chart are not together. Refer to the PowerPoint if needed for this. There is an extension question underneath the chart for the more able. 3. Effectiveness of the Poor Law - students colour code or use as a card sort the strengths and weaknesses of the Poor Law. They can consider the biggest strength and greatest weakness, before making an overall judgement on the effectiveness of the Poor Law. The best responses will suggests that whilst the effect was limited, it was a significant step and certainly better than anything attempted before.

An interactive decision-making sheet for students to fill in. They place themselves in the position of the League and decide what they would do in each scenario. More able students have a version where they explain heir choices and evaluate the actual responses of the League. There are extension questions on the powerpoint on the actual responses of the League. The final slides cover the Geneva Protocol, with questions on its role. Information on each scenario is provided, as is space for students to give an explanation of each of their choices. Use the powerpoint to support whole lesson, especially when covering the actual responses of the League. This could be done as a group, paired or individual activity.

A chronology activity for events of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It can ether be done as a numbering activity, or as a card sort. Each description is numbered, at present, for teacher’s ease of reading. Remember to tipp-ex out the numbers before use. There is a differentiated sheet for lower-ability students. More able student can explain which was the most significant of the consequences, in the short and long term. They can relate to the protesters themselves and the wider Civil Rights movement/USA. This is an ideal activity for preparing students for longer-answer exam questions. It allows discussion to develop as students explain their thoughts and defend them in front of their peers.

This is a resource for the new GCSE, although could also be used with KS3. Students put the events in Mary’s life into order. There are differentiate card sorts for core and lower ability students. Answers are on the powerpoint slides. Students are invited to answer extension questions when they have finished the sorting excersize. The Youtube link is a run through of Mary’s life, which could be shown either before or after the card sort activity.

This is a card sort designed to allow students to categorise and prioritise reasons that Henry VIII made the Break with Rome. More able students can use the cards to explain their thoughts on the most important reason for the Break. The task could also be done as a diamond activity. It could be done as a venn diagram using the venn diagram template. This is an ideal activity for preparing students for longer-answer exam questions. It allows discussion to develop as students explain their thoughts and defend them in front of their peers.