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 looks at the influence of religion and the supernatural on people’s explanations for the cause of illness and disease in the later Medieval period.
The lesson includes a recap from previous learning, a focussed starter task, background information about the wider historical context, a set of learning tasks which are differentiated for higher and lower ability, extention task/s, a focus on the exam with a 12 mark question, a review (plenary) and finally a fact sheet which can be used as a replacement for any books.
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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
This lesson has a focus on the development of nuclear weapons from 1945 until the end of the 1950s along with its impact on US Soviet Relations at the start of the Cold War.
The lesson resources include:
1 x A4 Workbook Style Fact Sheet (PDF & PPT) – Included in every Cold War lesson!
1 x Main Power Point Lesson
The main Power Point Includes:
RECAP: Students given an A-Z grid and asked to think of one or two key terms they have already learned for this whole unit.
BACKGROUND: A basic slide covering the development of nuclear weapons. Allows the students a chance to understand and discuss the various types of nuclear weapons at this time.
STARTER: Questions and key terms to be discussed. A class clip which key questions to the side.
TASK 1: A printable comprehension sheet using the fact sheet from the lesson which is also provided.
TASK 2: Students to use the fact sheet to create their own timeline/living graph to show the development and threat level of each stage.
EXAM QUESTION: Explain the importance of the Arms Race to the development of the Cold War after 1945. Sentence starters and help given.
EXTENSION TASK: To infer meaning from a political cartoon about the Arms Race.
RECAP: 10 Key questions from the lesson.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free. 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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
This lesson covers the actions and Presidency of Ronald Reagan during the time known as the Second Cold War. Students will examine his tougher policy towards the Soviet Union and focus their attention on his ‘Star Wars’ Programme (Strategic Defence Initiative) and its importance and consequences at the time.
The lesson resources include:
1 x A4 Workbook Style Fact Sheet (PDF & PPT) – Included in every Cold War lesson!
1 x Main Power Point Lesson
The main PowerPoint includes:
Starter: Students are given 10 technological developments of the 1980s and from the descriptions, have to identify what they were. This will give the students historical context to the 1980s and the amount of technological and scientific progress at the time.
Background: Students will then be briefly taken through the background developments which cover Reagan’s main policies towards the Soviet Union and the increasing ‘war of words’ between the two sides.
Task Sheet: (See image) this sheet questions the student’s understanding of the main developments of Reagan’s Second Cold War and specifically the Strategic Defence Initiative. There are 13 questions in total on the worksheet which require a variety of skills such as source analysis and explanation of importance and consequences.
Recap: Students are given a table of 8 key terms from the lesson. Their task is to write a suitable question to achieve the key term as an answer. This task can be printed off for a written worksheet or simply displayed on the board.
Extension Tasks: Two political cartoons are shown about the Strategic Defence Initiative. Students need to analyse their meaning.
Exam Questions: Exam questions have been written for the students on this topic (consequence, narrative and importance).
Information Fact Sheet: A printable fact sheet has been provided for the students to use in place or or in addition to the text book.****
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free. 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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
This lesson examines the case study of Derek Bentley, with a focus on the public reaction to his sentence and how his punishment led to the abolition of the death penalty.
Slide 1: Title slide - To explain the controversy of Derek Bentley’s execution in 1953
Slide 2-4: Learning recap - key terms, with printable version for students and answers revealed.
Slide 5: Starter Task - Students read and listen to the lyrics of Elvis Costello’s Let him Dangle’ in order to infer information about the Derek Bentley case.
Slide 6: The story of the Derek Bentley case, written in a student friendly format.
Slide 7: Explanation practice table
Slide 8: Activity - students imagine they are on the side of the defence and the prosecution and write down what their arguments would be.
Slide 9: Learning Task questions with challenge
Slide 10 - 11: Practice 12 and 4 mark questions
Slide 12: Lesson Fact Sheet
To take into account copyright, all photographic and illustrative images have been attributed where appropriate and/or are all in the public domain. Clipart/vector images are all creativecommons.publicdomain.zero.1.0 which do not have to be attributed. If you have any issues regarding copyright please email me in the first instance.
This lesson examines how prisons have developed, especially with their specialisation and focus on the reform of young people.
Power Point 1:
Printable A4 Worksheets
Power Point 2:
Slide 1: To explain the development and specialisation of the prison system in modern Britain
Slide 2-3: Prison chronology recap activity
Slide 3: Key terms to help with the lesson
Slide 5-7: Discussion about the case of Vicky Pryce and Chris Huhne
Slide 8: Source inference about the prison population in Britain
Slide 9: Discussion - why has the prison population rapidly increased?
Slide 10: Source inference about the prison population of age and gender
Slide 11: Background information about the changing attitudes towards children in prison.
Slide 12: The main changes to the penal system after c.1900
Slide 13-17: A variety of short clips about young people in prisons. This will go along with the worksheets provided.
Slide 18-19: Practice exam questions
Slide 20: An additional activity which looks at the public attitudes towards prisons in modern Britain.
Slide 21-22: Key term crossword with answers revealed
Slide 23: Lesson Fact Sheet
To take into account copyright, all photographic and illustrative images have been attributed where appropriate and/or are all in the public domain. Clipart/vector images are all creativecommons.publicdomain.zero.1.0 which do not have to be attributed. If you have any issues regarding copyright please email me in the first instance.
This lesson has a particular focus on the treatment of minority groups other than the Jews who will be covered in more depth in lesson 27.
This lesson includes:
Clear learning aims/targets
Provoking starter tasks and discussion activities
Printable worksheets
Engaging background information
Challenge tasks
Exam links
Learning Review
Fact Sheet linked to the GCSE specification
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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
This lesson examines the development in the prison system during the 18th and 19th century and the roles played by Robert Peel, Elizabeth Fry and John Howard.
Worksheet 1: Practice Exam Question and outline
Worksheet 2: The task sheet on A4
Slide 1: Title - To explain the development and reform of prisons between 1700 - 1900
Slide 2-3: Previous lesson recap about punishments from this time
Slide 4: Short clip reminding students of the way prisons were run before 1700.
Slide 5: Source and information sheet for students to recap the problems that faced the previous prison system
Slide 6: A slide to record student ideas
Slide 7: BBC Class Clips about Victorian prisons
Slide 8: Background information about Humanitarianism
Slide 9: Elizabeth Fry
Slide 10 and 11: Image based information about the development of prisons
Slide 12: The role played by Robert Peel with prison reform
Slide 13: Learning Task - students to identify and categorise the reasons why prisons reformed
Slide 14: Follow up qiestions
Slide 15-16: Recap crossword with answers revealed
Slide 17: Lesson Fact sheet
Slide 18: Example practice exam questions
To take into account copyright, all photographic and illustrative images have been attributed where appropriate and/or are all in the public domain. Clipart/vector images are all creativecommons.publicdomain.zero.1.0 which do not have to be attributed. If you have any issues regarding copyright please email me in the first instance.
This resource has been specifically designed to support students in their answers to the three main source based questions given in the Edexcel GCSE History exam paper.
The one page print out can be used as a book insert while studying a unit, a table top guide as well as a useful revision resource to prepare for exams. Particular attention is given to the ‘How useful’ question which appears in two exam papers.
The three questions covered in the guide are:
Inference - used in Paper 3
Follow Up - used in Paper 1
Source Usefulness - used in both Paper 1 & 3
This resource would also be ideal for the use with students in KS3 as a way to make them familiar with core GCSE History skills.
UPDATED NEW SPEC. 2025/6: This lesson examines the problems faced by Irish, Jewish and Eastern European migrants in Whitechapel and the increasing tensions between migrants and local residents.
The lesson resources include:
1 x A4 Workbook Style Fact Sheet (PDF & PPT)
1 x Main 24 Slide Power Point Lesson
The Power Point Lesson Includes:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of lesson key questions and aims
Slide 3: Features of Whitechapel Quiz
Slide 4-5: Key Term Recap activity with answers
Slide 6: Starter 1 - Immigration discussion
Slide 7: Starter 2 - Source analysis with prompt questions and challenge
Slide 8-9: Background information - Which migrant groups came to Whitechapel and why?
Slide 10-11: Task 1 - Match Up Activity - Based on useful key terms for the lesson
Slide 12-13: Task 2 - Migrants in Whitechapel worksheet with printable version
Slide 14-15: Exam Focus - One feature questions with printables and examples
Slide 16-18: Exam Focus - Usefulness source analysis with printable worksheets
Slide 19: Exam Focus - Follow Up question sheet and example
Slide 20: Challenge Questions
Slide 21-22: Learning Review Quiz - with answers
Slide 23: Lesson Fact Sheet
Slide 24: More from RA Resources
This lesson has been updated in line with the amended specification and exam questions ready for the 2025/6 examinations.
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free. 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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
UPDATED For the new Edexcel GCSE spec. and exam question structure ready for 2025/26
This 19 slide lesson covers all the information and activities students will need to fully understand the structure of Early Elizabethan society and government. For example, it looks at the role of the Privy Council, Secretary of State and Royal Court as well as the social hierarchy of the day.
This resource contains:
1 x A4 Fact Sheet/ revision sheet covering Early Elizabethan Society & Government (PPT & PDF)
**
1 x Main Updated Power Point:**
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2-3: Warm Up - What do you already know about Elizabeth I? Includes printable worksheet
Slide 4-5: Warm up Tudor Society Quiz with answers revealed.
Slide 6: Class discussion task
Slide 7-8: Elizabeth I starter quiz with answers revealed
Slide 9: Introduction to Early Elizabethan Society & Government
Slide 10: What is a society, government and hierarchy?
Slide 11-12: Task 1 - Elizabethan hierarchy activity with answers
Slide 13-14: Task 2 - Table fill activity with printable resources
Slide 16-18: Task 3 - Practice exam questions (one feature question)
Slide 19: Lesson fact sheet based on the 2024/5 new specification.
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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
**This lesson examines the tensions which grew between the Plains Indians and the white settlers which then resulted in the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851. **
The lesson resources include:
1 x A4 Workbook Style Fact Sheet (PDF & PPT) – Included in every American West lesson!
1 x Main Power Point Lesson
This lesson includes:
Clear learning aims/targets
Provoking starter tasks and discussion activities
Printable worksheets
Engaging background information
Challenge tasks
Exam links
Learning Review
Fact Sheet linked to the GCSE specification
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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
In this lesson, students will learn about the specific features of Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement. They will explain the details of the Act of Supremacy, Act of Union and the Royal Injunctions. They will also look at the short term impact of the Religious Settlement
This lesson includes:
1 x Fact sheet - The Religious Settlement (PDF & PPT)
The Main Power Point Lesson Includes:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2-3: Previous learning gap fill quiz with answers (covers the religious divisions between Catholics & Protestants in England)
Slide 4: Video clip link to BBC Bitesize with questions
Slide 5: Starter Task - What would you do if you were in Elizabeth’s shoes?
Slide 6: An outline of the main three features of the Religious Settlement
Slide 7: Task 1 - An outline table task
Slide 8: Printable worksheet
Slide 9: Follow up challenge questions
Slide 10-12: Example assessment questions with printable worksheet
Slide 13: Learning Review 1 activity
Slide 14-15: Learning Review 2 activity with answers
Slide 16: Lesson fact sheet in line with GCSE specification
All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free. 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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.
This bundle is an opportunity to purchase all three of my lessons which cover the causes of the First World War. These lessons act as a perfect way to introduce the First World War to your students and enable them to fully understand the long-term and short-term causes of war in 1914.
Every lesson is fully resourced and contains a wide range of activities, tasks, engaging background information, fact sheets and printable resources - all aimed at students between the ages of 11-16. All lessons offer challenge as well as accessible activities and information for lower ability/younger students.
The bundle includes:
Lesson 1: The formation of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente
Lesson 2: The M.A.I.N. Long-Term Causes of the First World War
Lesson 3: The Assassination of Franz Ferdinand and the Road to War
I always warmly welcome any positive reviews you are able to give and thank you for the time you spend doing this. Enjoy the lessons!
Students will examine Henry VIII’s main religious reforms between 1534-40 and then evaluate the impact that the Reformation had on the English Church. **
**
This lesson examines the following questions:
What religion reforms took place between 1534-40?
What was the role of Thomas Cranmer and Thomas Cromwell with these reforms?
What was the overall impact of the Reformation on the English Church?
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Henry VIII’s Religious Reforms – What was the impact of the Reformation on the English Church?
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3: As You Enter Warm Up Discussion: What is meant by the term ‘reformation’.
Slide 4-5: Recap Activity: Which religious beliefs are Catholic and which are Protestant – sorting activity with answers revealed.
Slide 6-8: Starter Task: Key religious term match up. The terms will be useful to know to fully understand the religious reforms. Answers revealed and includes printable worksheets.
Slide 9: Starter Task 2: Source analysis about the way Henry VIII dealt with opposition.
Slide 10-11: Background Information: Information about the influence of Protestant Reformers and Catholic Traditionalists on Henry with the dangers they faced if they pushed the king too far.
Slide 12-13: Task 1: A chart students fill in to show Henry’s religious reforms and how Catholic/Protestant they were. Includes a printable student worksheet.
Slide 14: Task 2: How much religious change was there? What was the impact of the Reformation on the English Church?
Slide 15: Task 3: What was the impact of the religious changes on ordinary people and why?
Slide 16: Background Information: An image of the front cover of the Great Bible with information and discussion questions included.
Slide 17: Follow up challenge questions.
Slide 18: Follow Up Research Tasks.
Slide 19: Example Exam Questions
Slide 20-21: Learning Review Quiz 1: 13 questions of varied difficulties with answers.
Slide 22: Learning Review Quiz 2: What’s the Question?
Slide 20: Lesson Fact Sheet
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 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 examines the following questions relating to Henry’s marriage with Catherine of Aragon:
Why did Henry VIII marry Catherine of Aragon?
What was the marriage between Henry and Catherine like?
Why did Henry VIII want to annul the marriage with Catherine of Aragon by 1527?
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/diagram of the reasons for the annulment
1x A4 printable worksheet explaining the reasons
1x A4 printable worksheet based on historical interpretations of Catherine of Aragon.
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Why did Henry VIII Annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon?
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3-4: As You Enter Warm Up: Divorce in the modern world discussion and quiz with answers revealed.
Slide 5-6: Learning Recap 1: Catherine of Aragon multiple choice quiz with answers revealed.
Slide 7: Key Term Explanation: What is the difference between divorce and annulment?
Slide 8: Background information: Portraits of Catherine and Anne Boleyn.
Slide 9: Interpretation Task: What is the difference between the two historical interpretations of Catherine of Aragon?
Slide 10: Task 1: The reasons for the annulment activity and challenge questions.
Slide 11: Task 2: An optional creative writing task.
Side 12: Example exam questions
Slide 13-14: Learning Review Quiz with answers
Slide 15: Lesson fact sheet
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.
In this lesson, students will explore a number of portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and use them to explain why portraits were so important to Queen Elizabeth and other Tudor monarchs.
Students will have the opportunity to analyse the features and details of some of Elizabeth’s famous portraits to gain an understanding of their symbolism and how Elizabeth used them as a form of propaganda.
The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students.
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. Thank you.
This lesson examines the various tactics used by the US military in Vietnam including: Operation Rolling Thunder, Operation Ranch Hand, Search & Destroy and the use of ground troops.
The lesson includes:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Lesson Key Questions
Slide 3-4: Picturegram Recap of Vietcong tactics with answers revealed
Slide 5: An overview of the problems of US tactics in Vietnam
Slide 6: An overview of Operation Rolling Thunder
Slide 7: An overview of Sending in Ground Troops
Slide 8: An overview of Search & Destroy missions
Slide 9-10: An overview of the use of Chemical Weapons and Operation Ranch Hand
Slide 11: Table type activity for students to evaluate the success/effectiveness of each tactic.
Slide 12: Lesson Worksheet (including source based questions)
Slide 13-16: Practice Exam Question: Interpretation difference with student friendly answer sheets
Slide 17: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Slide 18-20: Learning Review: Key Term Match Up (with printable student version)
Slide 21-25: Lesson fact sheets based on the Edexcel GCSE specification
I have included two fact sheets (one slightly differentiated) with the information needed for this part of the course which can be found on the final two slides. Therefore, no other resources are needed for the teaching of this lesson.
Please note that all images (clipart/photographs/vectors) used in this presentation, to be best of my knowledge, are copyright free and in the public domain unless otherwise attributed in the links. A number of clipart images have also been purchased for commercial use from ‘Artsy Bee Kids’. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me directly in the first instance to resolve the issue. Thank you.
This lesson examines and asks the students to evaluate the most significant impact of migrants in Britain during the modern period.
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: GCSE graded lesson outcomes
Slide 3: Recap activity 1 (Why did migrants come to Britain during the modern period?)
Slide 4-5: Long term recap activity - What impact have migrants had over time - filling in the missing terms (with answers)
Slide 6: Instructions for activity 1 - a sorting task
Slide 7: The table of facts which can be printed for students to organise into categories
Slide 8: A slide which focus students on the idea of the overall impact of migration rather than the facts about what contributions migrants have made.
Slide 9: Which impact was the most significant?
Slide 10-11: 4 mark practice exam questions
Slide 12: 12 and 16 mark practice exam questions
Slide 13: Recap diagram
Slide 14-15: Lesson fact sheets
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 resource is for personal use only and for copyright reasons should not be copied/amended for commercial use.