This is an editable and printable knowledge organiser for the Treaty of Versailles. It is excellent when printed in A3 (and laminated if you can!) or even as A4 and can be used at KS3 level or KS4 GCSE!

This lesson contains: A chance to recap the Feudal System and ask students to remember the peasants’ place in society. A series of slides to discuss with the students. This leads to some interesting conversation as you cycle through the images. For each, students consider whether the image shows working life, home life or entertainment/spare time. You can then explore what you see and what you can learn. A main task for students to research about the lives of peasants in villages. They use the information cards provided which have lots of facts and evidence on. The students make notes about work, comfort and homes, diet and food and dangers and difficulties in their books using either a mind map or by putting four sections on a full page. A plenary to describe features of the problems faced in villages. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 1 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter based on medieval life but this can be edited to test the recall of whatever your students have been studying. A video to introduce what towns may have been like in Medieval England. A series of slides which you can talk through with students to introduce towns - they can create a mind map of the main features of medieval towns. This covers, with images, where they were built, how they were planned, town charters, guilds, roles of mayors and councils and some of the jobs people did. A main task to study 5 key sources in a large table. Students are guided with questions to extract the main things they can learn about towns from these sources. The questions should elicit the main learning from them. They then write this in the table. A plenary to compare towns and villages. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 1 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter which revises previous content on dictators, but this can be edited to suit what you have been teaching. An introduction to Italy’s position after WW1, including the economic difficulties and the disappointment with the Treaties. Students write 2-3 sentences based on the slides about why Italy was in a difficult position. An introduction to Mussolini, his background and his beliefs. This includes the founding of Fascism. A main activity to use the information pages to complete a bio of Mussolini, including his fascist beliefs and the reasons people supported his ideas. A video from YouTube that goes over how Mussolini marched on Rome. This is followed by a page of information to complete the final section on the worksheet. A plenary with review questions based on the lesson. Resources: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter to review the previous lesson on Mussolini but this can be edited to cover whatever you have recently covered. A brief overview of Mussolini’s position now that he is in power, but how limited his power actually was at the start. this includes some analysis of the methods he will go on to use to maintain his power, including comparisons to the Roman Empire fascis, salute, architecture etc. A video which explains how Mussolini increased his own powers and turned Italy into a dictatorship. The video has been edited by myself to include the check points of how dictators strengthen their control, and the video ticks as it plays through. A main task to study 5 information cards about Mussolini and to write 2-3 pieces of info from each onto the A4 scale provided. Students rank the information to show that Italians supported, were convinced or were forced. A plenary to consider the views of a historian about how persuasive Mussolini was. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter to recap some key words from the dictators course, but you can edit this to fit whatever you recently studied. A brief intro to Hitler’s upbringing and actions in the early Nazi Party. This is brief but gives a small overview - the point here is not to focus on things at KS4 depth, it’s only meant to be light touch as the main focus at KS3 for this lesson is on beliefs about how to make Germany better. This is supplemented by a video about Fascism and Hitler’s role in it. this is from YouTube. There is a brief gap fill consolidation task. An activity to study a series of sources about Hitler and to fit the evidence into the table next to the problems going on Germany at the time. this shows the connection between the problems and the solution Hitler proposed to deal with them. A task to then study some statements from characters on the information sheet provided. This allows the students to say who would support Hitler’s ideas and then justify why they would like that problem solved. This builds the ideas that the Nazis were supported by different groups in society. A plenary to summarise the key learning from the lesson. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A ‘do now’ starter which can be edited to fit whatever you taught previously. A chance to recap the end of the Revolt and watch a video that helps cement the knowledge. Students should read an interpretation and infer the main reason for Wat Tyler’s death. A discussion of whether the Revolt, on the face of it, seemed like a failure. This then triggers a task to study lots of interpretations and develop the main arguments about the revolt’s immediate, short- and long-term impact on England. An extended writing opportunity to argue whether, overall, the revolt was a success or failure, using criteria. There should be a final opportunity to complete the progress tracker sheet and do final reflections on the enquiry. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A ‘do now’ starter which can be edited to fit whatever you taught previously. A chance to bring the monarchs up to date and connect Richard to the previous ones. Students will understand his situation as a young king inheriting a long war. Students will be taken through the key developments of the enquiry so far and how the different groups have been affected, with peasants being the only group that have seen very little improvement even after the Black Death. They study statements and determine the main grievances of the peasants. Students will study a comic strip (editable) about the events of the revolt and complete a task to document the main events each day and assess the threat level of each. A chance to reflect on what the revolt shows about the power no possessed by each social group. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A ‘do now’ starter which can be edited to fit whatever you taught previously. A recap of John’s situation with the barons and introduction to the Magna Carta. A task to study the provisions of Magna Carta against the grievances of the barons and make a judgement as to whether it dealt with John adequately. A video which reinforces the impact of Magna Carta on future kings. Optional (if time) reading on the Barons War. A final task to weigh up the impact of Magna Carta. Students study the information and pick out the facts which help them make assertions about the short- and long-term consequences. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A ‘do now’ starter which can be edited to fit whatever you taught previously. An overview of john’s birth and position within the family tree, with a comparison between perceptions of him and his brother Richard, using sources which can be discussed or annotated. An on-board walkthrough of John’s problems as king, including a Guernsey link. A task to study the information on John’s reign. Students weigh up the good and bad things he did against the criteria of what a good king must do, with a potential to do extended writing at the end. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 3 x Publisher Files

This lesson includes: A starter which can be edited to fit whatever you previously taught. An on-board introduction to Henry III’s reign and his family tree as well as anticipating whether he can learn from John’s mistakes. The teacher takes the students through a few slides with mistakes Henry also made and they weigh up how similar he is to his father. There is an activity to summarise what they have learned. An on-board introduction to Simon de Montfort and the Provisions of Oxford. Students use the on-board information to complete some questions on this. A main task to read an information sheet about the 2nd Barons War and the eventual death of de Montford. The students complete some comprehension questions and then analyse the text to draw out facts about how the parliament worked. This is done on the worksheet provided and has a summary of the equivalent workings of today’s parliament. A plenary to update the optional consolidation table for the whole scheme of work on Medieval Power. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 3 x Publisher Files

This lesson includes: A starter activity to recap previous learning. An on-board introduction to Henry II becoming king and the kings that came before him starting with William I. Students learn about the Angevin Empire and the extent of Henry II’s power. An on-board explanation of the rising power of the Church and Henry’s frustrations with Church courts. Students find out about the ways criminals could escape justice through Sanctuary and Benefit of the Clergy. This is followed by an exercise to summarise what they have learned so far. An activity to read the story of Henry and Becket and to complete a questions on the timeline worksheet provided. This is extended by asking students to identify 1-2 moments where both men were responsible for the falling out. A plenary for students to reflect on the mistakes made and how things may have gone differently. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter image to provike discussion about the event itself and what may have happened. An on-board overview of the Blitzkrieg and how it trapped the English using my own maps to discuss the retreat, conquest of Paris and the trapped troops. A task to use the information provided to complete some questions about the event itself. A discussion about whether the statistics reveal whether this was a success or failure. An activity to use a series of sources provided to build arguments for both sides of the argument. An opportunity for a judgement. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: Background about the situation in the war and the Nazi invasion. Students consider why the Nazis invaded Russia using the on-board prompts. A run through of Hitler’s intentions for Russia and his message to the troops. A discussion of why the Blitzkrieg failed in Russia, in stages, with images. An activity using the information provided to complete a fact file page to record the statistics and the events. A small study of Stalingrad. A colour-coding activity to decide the most severe consequences of the attack for Germany and the war. An opportunity to decide if it was a turning point and study some sources which provoke thought. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter to study a source and analyse the message. Background information on the rise of Hitler and how things began to change while the Nazis were in power. A chance to write down some key words, such as persecution, genocide and pogrom. A video giving the background of changes in Nazi Germany with footage from the time. A main activity to sort 18 cards in chronological order, then write them onto the timeline of persecution over time. This is different from other timelines as you also have to write them onto the timeline higher or lower based on severity, with an extension to colour-code the different types of persecution (economic, political etc.). A review task at the end by agreeing or disagreeing with a historian’s views. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 3 x Publisher Files

This lesson includes: A starter to recap the previous lesson on the breakdown of Becket’s relationship with Henry. A chance to study the image of Henry being whipped and have students guess/discuss what is going on. A recap on the board of the breakdown in relations between the two men, and how the final scene played out when Henry called out about the ‘troublesome priest’. Students then read 3 sources and answer a series of questions about the death of Becket using the sources to extract the information. They write which source told them the information at each point so that they can grasp the importance of studying multiple sources. A short video from YouTube to followup on the death of Becket and it’s implications. A main activity to study the consequences of the death of Becket and write out the impact it had on the king, Becket’s memory, the Church etc. so assess how it affected the king’s power. A plenary to update a progress sheet Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 3 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: Background information about James’ ascension to the throne and some of the issues his reign might cause, such as him being Scottish, the son of an executed traitor, having a wife that favours Catholicism and his beliefs about Divine Right of Kings. Students discuss each point as you move through the slides. An activity to study two quotes by different historians who see James differently. Students will return to these quotes later as they decide whether James was a popular king or not. A short video from YouTube about James’ life and reign for background information. A main activity for the students to study a double sided information page containing lots of information about James. Students complete the worksheet to show his policies and decisions about different matters. This task is extended by considering things that would have made James popular, and things that wouldn’t have. A plenary to return to the quotes and to choose which side they are on by writing up their own judgements about James. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter to recall other WW2 operations. Background into the D-Day landings, from tehran to the the situation in Europe at the time with the Atlantic Wall. A discussion to plan an attack on France against the Nazis. A YouTube video discussing the planning that went into D-Day with a gap fill consolidation task. An overview of the invasion on the board, including the paratrooper landings, the deception tactics, the bombardment and the invasion itself. A YouTube video giving an overview of the invasion while students complete the comprehension questions as it plays. A brief colour-coding activity to determine the consequences. A source task plenary. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 1 x Publisher File

This lesson contains: A starter which reteaches previously taught material, which can be edited to suit whatever you previously taught. An overview of the war and its global impact. Students then see two short examples of why people fought and look at the different experiences of a person from British Africa and British Caribbean. They might speculate as to why these experiences were different. An overview of why people from the empire fought. Students then take notes in a mind map or bullet point format from the board. A main task to study 7 information cards, one from different parts of the empire, and to assess their contributions. They record these on the worksheet. A video and then excerpt to judge whether empire troops received recognition and the respect they deserved for their contributions. The video and excerpt give different interpretations of this so that students can make a judgement. A plenary to support or contradict David Olusoga’s quote about the empire and its contribution. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 3 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter task that has questions that can be amended or altered based on what you have been previously teaching. Background information about James (in case you have not previously done a lesson him). There is also a slide to get the students engaged by showing that the Gunpowder Plot has lot of exciting elements in it. A discussion about the importance of Parliament, before students study an information sheet about the Plot itself and complete a fact file table to record and comprehend the main facts of the event. A few slides on the consequences of the plot and then a few slides to show what happened to the plotters. The main activity to discuss the two main theories about the plot, whether it was a genuine plot, or whether Robert Cecil knew about it all along. The students then use a number of sources to analyse the event and make a judgement about what it shows about the guilt of the plotters. Students note down suspicious information, then make a judgement about whether the plotters were framed. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files