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.
Activities to help students develop their historical understanding and improve their ability to comprehend sources.
A set of 20 source-based activities – topics include castles, slavery & factory reform. (See below for full list of contents.)
There is a range of different approaches including ‘4,3,2,1’; ‘Who/What/Where etc’; extracting key points; combining information from a range of sources and comparing different sources…
Ideal for use as a cover lesson or a stand-alone homework (or for providing resources for ‘school at home’).
Topics covered:
Why the Romans wanted an Empire; Viking attack; Domesday book; Castles; The killing of Wat Tyler; The murder of Thomas Becket; King John: A good or bad king?; The defeat of the Spanish Armada; The Divine Right of Kings; Why did the New Model Army win?; The trial of Charles I; Was Oliver Cromwell a good leader?; Child workers in cotton mills; Living in an industrial city; Capturing slaves; Changes in Britain c1750-c1900; Factory Reform; Why did some people emigrate from Britain?; Why did people support Hitler?; Who was to blame for WW2?
A set of linked resources and activities to help develop knowledge of Britain before the Roman conquest.
There is a power point with a map showing a number of Celtic/Iron Age tribes in England, Wales and Southern Scotland: Atrebates, Brigantes, Corieltauvi, Cornovii, Dumnonii, Durotriges, Iceni, Novantae, Ordovices, Regnenses, Silures, Votadini (selected in part to give a wide geographical on the map). As this is just a selection of the multitude of tribes it allows for an extra activity/challenge of students deciding who else should be included/who could be left out?
There are also slides to print out with the names missing (or just the first letter provided) for students to complete (the list is contained in the word document).
The word document lists the tribes with their approximate modern day areas and has three separate activities.
The first is a set of printable ‘cards’ with the name of the tribe and its approximate modern day area for the tribes on 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 tribes and the main modern day areas.
Together the set provides a range of ways of developing knowledge of Pre-Roman Britain and most activities are suitable for homework or adapted for ‘school at home’.
366 events/people from the history of Wales-from pre-Roman times to the Modern day.
This is a resource to support learning about Welsh history throughout the year
There are two linked components -featuring the same events/people.
On the power point presentation every day has its own slide with the featured person or events associated with Wales.
In the word document each event/person has a page with a short pen sketch of c250-300 words.
The people range from the famous such as Dylan Thomas to the less well known such as Frances Hoggan. Similarly the events cover a range from the rebellion of Owain Glyndwr to the first person to swim the Bristol Channel. (This is a companion resource to our other ‘Years of’ so we have tried to avoid duplicates but this has not always been possible)
An informative resource especially suitable for use in assembly or tutor time.
Word search and combined word search & quiz
A set of eight of the more challenging version of the always popular activity - it comes in a range of versions to provide differing degrees of challenge: each wordsearch has a grid and to find the same answers so that all students are covering the same range of people, places and terms whatever the level of support/challenge.
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 people, places and terms relating to WW1 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!)
This wordsearch (& quizzes) features a range of people, places and terms:
Before WW1: A: Alliance Arms Race Colony Dreadnought Empire
Entente power reason rivalry Triple
Before WW1: B: Austria Balkans Britain Bosnia France
Germany Hungary Italy Russia Sarajevo
Before WW1: C: assassinate Black Hand cause chance mobilise
opportunity plan plot Princip timetable
The Great War: A: aerial Belgium Eastern Front Line Gallipoli
Holland Palestine Schlieffen Turkey Western
The Great War: B: Africa blockade Falklands India Jutland
Marne Mons submarine Somme Verdun
The Great War: C: artillery barbed wire gas machine gun messenger
minefield No Mans Land system support trench
The Great War: D: bomb fatal gas mask grenade headquarters
munitions periscope rifle supplies wound
The Great War: E: America Clemenceau Foch Haig Hindenburg
Lloyd George Neutrality unrestricted Wilhelm Wilson
After WW1: Armistice clause disarm League Mandate
Reparations Rhineland Treaty Versailles War Guilt
A resource to encourage purposeful talk and for students to reflect on their values.
Each Moral Dilemmas provides a situation (such as finding money in the street) and asks student’s how they would respond –individually or as a group.
Moral dilemmas are part of life and so their discussion fits into many areas of school life; ideal for use in tutor time -especially in encouraging talk with a focus and helping tutors learn more about their group.
Suitable also for use in PSHE/Citizenship and RE –saving the need to devise suitable scenarios.
The objectives are to encourage students to
discuss and so develop their speaking and listening skills;
reflect on their values and how to treat others with respect
The resources supplied are a power point with 40 different dilemmas which are also supplied in a word document. They cover a range from ‘cheating’ at sport (the officials don’t notice an infringement) to who would you give a heart transplant to if the choice was a former alcoholic or a former chain smoker -so that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ answer.
A set of resources ideal for use with the 2024 General Election, especially for those young people who are able to vote for the first time. Resources included:
A brief guide to the voting process -from the electoral register to the count.
Information on election results since 1892 -the major parties share of the vote and number of seats won plus the winning Prime Minister-power point plus word document
Information and activities on a range of PMs who were first in some way 1 from the first (Walpole) to the first female (Thatcher) – wordsearch, crossword and variety of comprehension tasks (‘5,4,3,2,1; True/false; questions) (1 +last peer!)
Information and activities on all PMs from Walpole to Sunak (includes word searches, sorting and listing activities) -power point plus word document
How democratic is the UK? This resource encourages students to consider a range of ways in which the UK falls short- including the gender make up of representatives and how election results do not reflect votes cast. Information provided then a range of discussion points -ideal for work on British Values-power point plus word document
A set of resources to develop and reinforce knowledge and understanding of Ancient Sumer (Mesopotamia), especially in terms of chronological knowledge and understanding.
There is a range of distinct resources, covering 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 25 events - from from c5000 BCE -start of the Uruk period and increasing urbanisation to c1760 BCE when the Babylonians conquered Mesopotamia. (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 22 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 three 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 (names/ places/terms) to find – the same names so that all students are covering the same answers whatever the level of support/challenge. The three topics are: people(s), places, terms
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.
A set of three crosswords to help reinforce knowledge of Ancient Sumerian history (people, places and terms -though mixed up to allow for the creation of appropriate layouts). To provide a differing level of challenge each crossword comes with a support version with the first letter of each answer.
They are suitable for use in class -both as a main activity and as an extension task- as well as for homework / independent study
Finally there is a set of 37 colouring pages (pdf) ;the images are taken from a 19th century book (now public domain As they are 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 animals, abstract art and images of human figures.
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.
A set of resources to develop and reinforce knowledge and understanding of Roman Britain, especially in terms of chronological knowledge and understanding.
There is a range of distinct resources covering people, places, events, life 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 25 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). (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 26 events (most 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 six 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: Britain and Empire x2, Life x2, People and Places x2.
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.
A map based activity relating to a range of Roman settlements -a slide showing a selection and map sheets to complete (one blank, one with first letter provided for support, a third also has the modern name for additional support); there is also a word document which 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 (traditional style word searches).
Finally there is a set of 18 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 Roman Occupation of England (and Wales): Includes pottery, soldiers, buildings, ships and coins etc.
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.
A set of resources to develop and reinforce knowledge and understanding of Ancient British (English) history -from before the Roman Conquest, 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 25 events - from 6,000 BCE when Britain became separated from Europe with the submerging of Doggerland to the Roman Invasion in 43 CE. (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 six 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: People(s) & Places x2,Terms x2, Technology x2.
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 map-based activities -one relating to a range of Iron Age tribes and one to a range of Ancient sites. For each there is a slide showing a selection of tribes or sites and map sheets to complete (one blank, one with first letter provided for support).
For the tribes there is a word document which lists the tribes with their approximate modern day areas and has three separate activities.
The first is a set of printable ‘cards’ with the name of the tribe and its approximate modern day area for the tribes on 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 (traditional style) word searches covering most of the names of the featured tribes and the main modern day areas.
For the sites there is a traditional style word search.
Finally there is a set of 17 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 Northern Europe) before the Roman Invasion of England: Includes jewellery and coins, weapons, tombs, abstract art etc.
A collection of sets of colouring pages for a range of ancient civilisations etc. (240 pages in all)
Sumer (37 pages)
Egypt (48 pages)
Greece :2 sets: Gods, religion and home life & Soldiers, workers & leisure) (40 pages each)
Romans (40 pages) plus one for Roman Britain (18 pages)
Stone Age to Iron Age Britain. (17 pages)
Supplied as pdfs for ease of printing the images are taken from public domain sources (mostly 19th century books). As they are 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.
Across the sets they cover a wide variety of topics such as Gods, workers, soldiers, buildings, ships, coins, pottery, abstract art -some also include naked athletes etc.
