World War II The aim of this lesson is to decide if everyone celebrated VE Day and the end of World War 2 in May 1945. At first glance, it would appear so as famous pictures at Trafalgar Square show soldiers and civilians alike celebrating as well as the famous faces on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Students are also given information about the lead up to the German surrender in the form of a quiz, in which they have to choose the right options to gain points. However, further investigation reveals the Americans were still fighting the Japanese in the Pacific, as well as prisoners of war still held captive around the world. Students also have to consider the terrible losses people had gone through and therefore had little cause to celebrate. I have also included some curious questions such as why did divorce rates surge at the end of the war or why were there rumours that soldiers were to be trained in jungle warfare? There is lots of video evidence from the time to accompany the lesson as well as a talking heads plenary, which analyses which leader said what at the end of the war in Europe. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. The resource includes retrieval practice activities, suggested teaching strategies and differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 The aim of this lesson is to understand how the Soviet Union reacted to any deviation from Soviet policy and control in 1968-9. Students will learn how and why Dubcek introduced a series of reforms to give his people greater freedoms. Having analysed the reforms, students have to decide if they were social, political or economic and which problems were the greatest threat to the stability of Czechoslovakia in 1968. Students will also study Dubcek’s road map to peace and are asked some challenging questions using the information provided. The Soviet reaction is evaluated in a series of options for the students to choose and some differentiated source analysis. Finally, the impact of the Brezhnev doctrine is assessed for Czechoslovakia, relations between the satellite states, relations between the USA and the Soviet Union as well as the reputation of the USA internationally with their response to the crisis. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout this and subsequent lessons to show the progress of learning. The lessons in this bundle are therefore linked together to build up a picture of how diplomacy, propaganda and spying led two Superpowers with opposing political ideologies to create tensions, rivalries and distrust as well as subsequently forming mutual understanding and cooperation over the time period in question. The resource includes retrieval practice, suggested teaching strategies, differentiated material and GCSE question practice. It comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Superpower relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 This lesson aims to explore the reasons why the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and the effect it had on Détente and international relations. Students are given a quick Geography lesson before deciphering some text mapping to work out the events leading up to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. They are also required to complete some questions relating to the Carter Doctrine as a consequence of the invasion. There is a colour coding activity to complete on the impact of the invasion as well as a true or false quiz on the deterioration of international relations. The plenary uses statistics to get the students thinking about the human as well as the financial cost of the war. There is some GCSE question practice to complete, with help given and a student friendly markscheme if required. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout this and subsequent lessons to show the progress of learning. The lessons in this bundle are therefore linked together to build up a picture of how diplomacy, propaganda and spying led two Superpowers with opposing political ideologies to create tensions, rivalries and distrust as well as subsequently forming mutual understanding and cooperation over the time period in question. The resource includes retrieval practice, suggested teaching strategies, differentiated material and GCSE question practice. It comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Rise of Dictators The aim of this lesson is for students to assess and judge the character and legacy of Stalin. The lesson begins by discovering what the students already know about Russia today or about Stalin. They will also analyse some video footage, complete a true or false quiz and then use this information to prioritise some significant facts about his early life. The main task will involve students evaluating how evil Stalin was, by giving him a rating out of 10 for a number of his policies during his rule of the Soviet Union. This can be followed up by an extended writing exercise, using prompts and key literacy words to help. A connect 4 interactive plenary activity will consolidate the learning of the lesson of Stalin’s life and his dictatorship of the Soviet Union. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout this and lessons to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Rise of Dictators The aim of this lesson is to assess whether Mussolini’s legacy can be compared to Julius Caesar. Did he match up to his accomplishments such as the Julian calendar, being a successful military leader, a consul of Rome as well as an Imperator. Students begin by explaining what they already know about Italy and its historical past. They also analyse the rule of Julius Caesar and what he achieved in his lifetime. They will then be given facts about Mussolini’s early life and use the information to make a judgement about him as a person, using key words and a writing framework if required. The main task will then involve them plotting Mussolini’s life on a graph taking into account his successes and failures. From this, they will then be able to evaluate if he indeed deserves to have a similar reputation and legacy to Caesar, whom he admired and attempted to emulate in his Fascist Dictatorship from 1922-43. There is some excellent video footage to accompany the lesson, together with challenging tasks culminating in a ‘what is the question task’ and an ‘odd one out’ activity. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes some retrieval practice on Dictators, suggested teaching strategies, differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

The British Empire The aim of this lesson is to discover how tough it was to colonise the New World for British settlers and why America fought for its independence from Britain. The lesson begins with the Pilgrim Fathers and students discuss the reasons why they and many families began to settle in the New World. Further analysis requires students to judge how tough it was to set up in America and the impact they made on the local communities they came into contact with. Having made their judgements, students can engage in an extended writing task with key words and a writing frame to use if required. The second part the lesson analyses the reasons why the colonists became so angry with Britain and claiming no taxation without representation. Students are then required to give reasons as to why a war ensued and the significance of George Washington of the Declaration of Independence. A true or false plenary focuses on the legacy of Britain’s Empire in America and its links to today. The lesson comes with suggested teaching and learning strategies, differentiated materials and is linked to the latest historical interpretations, video clips and debate. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. The lesson is fully adaptable in PowerPoint format and can be changed to suit.

The French Revolution The aim of this lesson is to analyse the events of the Storming of the Bastille and the subsequent significance of the Flight to Varennes Students learn through key questioning and some text analysis how and why the Bastille was attacked. There are some brilliant video links to accompany this. They will then be required, using a storyboard, to decipher what happened next and explain how these events led to a new France. They will also learn how Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to escape to the border and using a cauldron of significance, evaluate which key ingredients ultimately led to their recapture and eventual execution. The Octagon plenary allows the students to summarise what they have learnt in the lesson, from sights and sounds to numbers and actions for example. The lesson comes with retrieval practice activities, differentiated materials, suggested teaching and learning strategies and is linked to the latest historical interpretations, video clips and debate. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. The lesson is fully adaptable in PowerPoint format and can be changed to suit.

The French Revolution The aim of this lesson is to question who supported the French Revolution both internally and externally The lesson begins with the students giving their own opinions as to whether they would support the Revolution. They are then given the context with a literacy challenge, as to how attitudes at the time began to change with the September Massacres of 1793. No lesson is complete without James Gillray’s ‘Un petit Souper a La Parisienne’, which is analysed. Some help with prompts and guidance is given if required. A study of the British reaction is also scrutinised as students learn how opinion became divided with the published works of Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine. The main task is to analyse how different groups within France reacted; these include the Church (with a model answer given on how to complete the task), the Sans-culottes, nobles, Jacobins and Girondins and finally Counter-Revolutionaries. Students can feedback and present their findings to the class. The plenary required a talking heads activities and to distinguish which group would be attributed to the various comments and opinions used. The lesson comes with retrieval practice activities, differentiated materials, suggested teaching and learning strategies and is linked to the latest historical interpretations, video clips and debate. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end to show the progress of learning. It is fully adaptable in PowerPoint format and can be changed to suit.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to question preconceived ideas of Henry being a strong and successful King. Students will need to analyse video and source evidence as well as complete some multiple choice questions to decide how much of a strong and successful king he really was. They will also study the Tudor family tree and explain why he might have had a more secure and legitimate claim to the English throne than his father did. There is a missing word activity for the plenary as students work out the correct answers to what they have learned from the lesson. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to assess the early problems Henry faced as King. Students begin by prioritising the problems he faced and also deciding if they were short or long term. There is also some focus reading where they will be required to take notes by categorising the information required. Some video analysis using David Starkey will also give some context to the start of Henry’s reign. There is some exam practice to complete with a supplied writing frame and an introductory model answer to use if required. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to understand how and why Wolsey rose to become Henry VIII’s chief minister. Students are at first given a quick summary of Wolsey’s rise and subsequent fall from power with some differentiated questions to answer. A more detailed and in depth study with some focused reading will require them to assess Wolsey’s character and strengths on his rise to prominence and then give an analytical written account using key evidence. The plenary focuses on some key spellings, knowledge and statistics learned in the lesson. There is some question practice to complete if required, together with a writing frame focusing on the factors helping Wolsey in cementing his position as Henry’s right hand man. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is discuss and debate the ‘virtues’ of Cardinal Wolsey. Students are given various interpretations of Cardinal Wolsey’s time in office. They have to decide which of these best fits his character. They are given a number of sources to interpret and analyse before making they make own conclusions in front of their peers. Students will then be able to complete a source based exam practice question, with a writing frame and markscheme provided. The last part of the lesson revisits the head, heart, bin, bag scenarios. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The purpose of this lesson is to introduce Henry VII’s foreign policy aims. Students are introduced to a map of Europe in 1485 and have to make comparisons and connections to countries on a map of Europe today. They will learn who the major players were in Europe at the time, such as France and evaluate the threats they posed to Henry VII. Students learn the three main aims of Henry’s foreign policy and have to justify which one is being applied to the various treaties and agreements reached with various foreign powers. The plenary checks their understanding of the lesson using a talking heads activity, as they have to decide which European leader would make the given statements from the screen. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to evaluate how Protestant the country had become by 1547. Students are required to estimate from the start which percentage they think the country had changed its religion, before they study the evidence and give their final evaluations and conclusions. The evidence ranges from the Reformation Parliament, the Ten and Six Articles, Royal Injunctions, changes in doctrine, the influence of his wives as well as humanism. The plenary focuses on a describe, explain, list, correct and erase activity. There is some exam practice to also complete, together with a planning sheet, some focused help and a markscheme supplied. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the role Henry VIII played in Europe and if he did indeed play third fiddle throughout. Students begin the lesson by recapping Henry VII’s foreign policy and are also introduced to the new players in Europe in their respective countries. They are given numerous facts and scenarios where Wolsey and Henry attempt to assert their authority and political craft in Europe, from which students decide how effective and far reaching their policies were. They will be required to justify their decisions at the end and ultimately decide if they were major players in Europe or just pawns of France and Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor. The plenary analyses an extract, from which students use their newly acquired knowledge to test its judgement. There is some exam practice to complete with writing frame and markscheme to use if required. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

AQA A Level 1C The Tudors: England 1485-1603 The aim of this lesson is to assess the short and long term impact of the dissolution of the monasteries. Students learn about the role monasteries played in English society and how they became a fundamental part of the break with Rome. They are given the facts of the dissolution by numbers to help them evaluate the impact of the dissolution as well as the techniques Cromwell used to close them. There are some great video links included as well as shocking revelations brought to light. The plenary allows students to reflect on how various sections of society accepted or disputed the dissolution. There is an enquiry question posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning throughout the lesson and subsequent unit of work. The lesson comes in PowerPoint format and can be changed and adapted to suit. The lesson is differentiated and includes suggested teaching strategies.

Suffragettes The aim of this lesson is to evaluate how much the vote gave independence to women in the roaring twenties. Students have to assess how and why women became more confident and empowered with new technology and the introduction of the reckless flapper, shocking society with her wild behaviour. There is video evidence, text mapping and source analysis for the students to complete to aid them in justifying their decisions. Students will also evaluate the role of four pioneering women in a differentiated task by colour coding batteries to rate their contribution to ‘girl power’. There is a chance to complete some extended writing using importance words as well as adding appositives to simple sentences in the plenary. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, retrieval practice, differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Superpower Relations and the Cold War, 1941-91 The lesson aims to explore the significance of the formation of NATO and the Warsaw Pact Students are given the context of why each organisation was formed and then have to analyse each flag and explain the important of each symbol using prompts to guide them. Furthermore students will need to discover how far Stalin is telling the truth about the Warsaw Pact in a true or false quiz. There is a GCSE practice question on importance to complete with help if required and a model answer given. Finally, students complete a checkpoint retrieval activity and challenge tasks to finish and reinforce the learning of the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout this and subsequent lessons to show the progress of learning. The lessons in this bundle are therefore linked together to build up a picture of how diplomacy, propaganda and spying led two Superpowers with opposing political ideologies to create tensions, rivalries and distrust as well as subsequently forming mutual understanding and cooperation over the time period in question. The resource includes retrieval practice, suggested teaching strategies, differentiated material and GCSE question practice. It comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

AQA GCSE 9-1 Elizabethan England, 1568-1603 This lesson aims to explain how English planning for the Armada was forward thinking, complete with technological innovation, daring courage and just a little bit of luck mixed in. Students have a choice of differentiated materials at their disposal to analyse historical significance of these English innovations and the Commanders involved. Students also have a chance to use causational equations to promote linking ideas together to provide sustained lines of reasoning required for the higher level 4 answers in the marksheme There are some exemplar answers given at the end to emphasise common mistakes and how students can achieve the highest grades, which are typical of those analysed in AQA GCSE courses such as ‘getting to grips with Elizabethan England.’ The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited to show the progress of learning. The resource includes suggested teaching strategies, retrieval practice, differentiated materials and comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

Edexcel 9-1 Medicine in Britain, Thematic study and historic environment This lesson aims to set the scene for the beginning of trench warfare and the problems for medical treatment on the battlefields of World War 1. Students will analyse the setting up of the trenches, how and why they were dug, which equipment they needed and how they used the trenches to defend and attack the enemy. They also assess the lie of the land and how this impacted on medicine and the wounded and the problems created. Activities include retrieval practice, evaluation of the terrain, use of video evidence as well as GCSE question practice, with help given if required. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. It comes in PowerPoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.