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 examines the reasons for the development of the Bow Street Runners and how this resulted in the first professional police force.
Worksheet 1: An alternative 2 page worksheet for students to complete
Worksheet 2: A set of different timelines (differentiated) for students to complete their study of the development of the police.
Slide 1: Title - To explain the early development of the police in Britain
Slide 2-4: Law enforcement recap - match up the key terms along with additional recap questions
Slide 5-8: Background information about law enforcement at the start of 1700 and the creation of the Bow Street Runners
Slide 9: Two clips covering the development of the Bow Street Runners and the police
Slide 10: Timeline task overview (links to the additional worksheets)
Slide 11: Follow up tasks and questions
Slide 12: Challenge Task - Comparison of two political cartoons about the development of the police
Slide 13-16: Examples of exam questions (4, 12 and 16 mark questions)
Slide 17: Lesson Review: Students have to decide which set of options provides the correct series of events with the development of the police
Slide 18: Lesson Fact Sheet
2023 UPDATE INFO: 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 the development in the prison system during the 18th and 19th century and the roles played by Robert Peel, Elizabeth Fry and John Howard.
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
Worksheet 1: Practice Exam Question and outline
Worksheet 2: The task sheet on A4
2023 UPDATE INFO: 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 includes all resources needed to teach the importance, narrative and consequences of Cominform and Comecon for Edexcel. A printable A4 fact sheet has been included at the end of the lesson which saves the use of the text book.
RECAP 1: Heads and Tails - match the Cold War key term to its meaning. Answers revealed in the presentation for students to peer mark afterwards.
RECAP 2: Vocabulary/Literacy - students select the terms which best describe the relationship between the USA and Soviet Union at this point in their study.
STARTER: A focus on the two terms Cominform and Comecon - what do they mean?
**BACKGROUND: **The possibility to run through the basics and the narrative of the announcement of the two organisations with your students.
TASK OPTION 1: Students to copy and complete a table to identify the main aims and outline Cominform and Comecon.
TASK OPTION 2: A printable worksheet for students to be used with the fact sheet.
EXAM FOCUS AND TASK: Another opportunity to focus on the narrative account. This time, students have the opportunity to complete a narrative timeline (see image) and link the causes and and consequences of each event together. Printable worksheet available and an example given to model what is expected.
**RECAP: **A 10 question quiz called ‘Cominform’ or ‘Comecon’? Students have to match the statement to the organisation it belongs to.
UPDATE 2023: Please note that all images (clipart/vector/illustrations/photographs) are in the public domain and are therefore classed as Creative Commons 1.0 unless otherwise attributed in the notes section of each slide. If you believe there are any errors, please email me directly in the first instance to resolve the issue.
2023 UPDATE INFO: To take into account copyright, images have been attributed where appropriate and are, to the best of my knowledge, all in the public domain. Images created by myself using Power Point tools have also been noted as creations of RAResources. Please contact me in person if you see any errors.
This lesson covers the actions and policies of Mikhail Gorbachev from 1985-1991. The lesson includes all the information needed in a helpful fact sheet to compliment your other resources.
RECAP: Missing terms quiz about the actions of President Reagan from lesson 16.
STARTER: A discussion question about the forms of technology available in the West by the 1980s and how this might show the difference between capitalism and communism.
STARTER: A cartoon for the students to discuss showing Mikhail Gorbachev and the ‘breaking up’ of the Soviet Union. Students have to interpret the cartoon as a way into the lesson.
STARTER: 3 sources. Students should read each one and ‘infer’ what they can about the actions of Gorbachev.
BACKGROUND: Various, clear slides to outline the events and actions taken by Gorbachev in this time before the students read further.
TASK: Students are asked to complete a fact file about Gorbachev. Students are given an outline of suggested headings for this fact file from basic facts to a description of each of his actions. They will then be prompted to examine his importance and such turning points in the Cold War.
PLENARY: Key term ‘Who/what am I?’
FACT SHEET: All of the information needed for the students on one sheet.
In this lesson, students will be able to explain the reasons why Queen Elizabeth I signed the death warrant for her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. Students will first learn about why Mary, Queen of Scots was a threat to Elizabeth’s power. They will then analyse a painting of Mary, Queen of Scots’ execution before being able to understand the reasons for and against Elizabeth ordering her execution.
The lesson includes one main power point lesson as well as a fact sheet about the events leading up to the execution and a blank timeline.
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 provides an excellent introduction to the reign of King James I in England following the death of Elizabeth I. The lesson helps students explain why James VI of Scotland was chosen as the successor to Elizabeth I. Students are then given a range of sources and historical interpretations to form their own opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of King James I. Finally, students will use a fact sheet about James I to help them understand the growing tensions in England between the king and his parliament and religion.
The 14-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews as well as engaging background information about King James I.
Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you.
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 contains a variety of resources and activities to help students learn about the causes, events and overall impact of the Great Plague in England, 1665. For example, students will study the famous nursery rhyme, ‘Ring o’ Roses’, examine extracts from the diary of Samuel Pepys, analyse the orders given by King Charles II to help prevent the spread of the plague, discuss the similarities between the plague and recent Covid outbreak, analyse various sources and statistics about the Great Plague and have an opportunity to create their own poster warning people about the plague.
The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and challenge questions for higher ability students. There is a choice of printable resources to suit different ages and abilities. The lesson is mainly aimed at KS3 students between the ages of 11-14 but can easily be adapted for younger or older students.
Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you.
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 can be specifically used for Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) British Depth Study – Henry VIII & his Ministers OR it can be easily adapted to teach students about how Thomas Cromwell was able to cleverly secure an annulment from Catherine of Aragon. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Cromwell:
Why did Henry VIII want to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon?
How did Thomas Cromwell secure the annulment?
How did securing the annulment further Cromwell’s career in Henry’s government?
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:
2x A4 printable worksheets for students to write on
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – How did Cromwell secure Henry’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon?
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3: As You Enter Warm Up: Which statement best describes religion in England at the start of Henry’s reign? Answer given with challenge question to follow.
Slide 4: Learning Recap 1: Students use images to help them recap why Henry VIII wanted to annul his marriage with Catherine of Aragon.
Slide 5-6: Learning Recap 2: Students aim to recap the role of 6 key individuals to help explain why the annulment to Catherine had failed by 1529.
Slide 7: Starter Task: A problem solving discussion task. You can then return to this at the end of the lesson.
Slide 8: Task – Students to be given two sided A4 worksheet (also included in the resource)
Slide 9: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Slide 10: Example Exam Questions
Slide 11-12: Learning Review Quiz – with answers revealed
Slide 13: 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.
This highly accessible resource can be used as a revision booklet, a set of knowledge organisers or be easily adapted into a lesson-based workbook to accompany students’ learning about the American West.
All knowledge & example exam questions are based on the most recent updates to the GCSE specification ready for the 2025 exam series. For example, the booklet will refer to Indigenous Peoples, rather than Plains Indians and ask students to ‘Explain ONE consequence’ rather than two.
It includes 32 pages and each A4 page includes:
An outline of the topic area
Information directly linked to the GCSE specification
Key terms linked to the topic area
Questions and activities
I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the resource if you feel it has been effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as your feedback is highly valued.
All images used in this resource 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.
For Edexcel GCSE History (1-9) Period Study – The American West c.1840 – c.1890.
This is the final lesson of this historic environment unit and examines how police methods changed as a result of the failures of the Jack the Ripper case. In particular, the lesson looks at environmental changes to Whitechapel, the changes to communication methods and the Bertillon System. There is also an opportunity for student to complete a practice follow up question and the lesson also includes a sheet which includes all the forms of ‘sources’ students can use to answer this question.
UPDATE 2023: Please note that all images (clipart/vector/illustrations/photographs) are in the public domain and are therefore classed as Creative Commons 1.0 unless otherwise attributed in the notes section of each slide. If you believe there are any errors, please email me directly in the first instance to resolve the issue.
This lesson looks at what the Domesday Book was, why William ordered it and what its significance was. There is a particular focus on categorising explanations with the terms: military, financial, legal and political.
The lesson includes: Clear learning aim with learning outcomes linked to GCSE grades, a recap from previous learning, an engaging starter task, a choice of tasks for all levels and learning styles, printable worksheets, clearly written instructions in the notes section of each slide, exam practice questions, a plenary, differentiation for higher ability students and a fact sheet which can be used on its own or alongside other resources you may have.
2023 UPDATE INFO: To take into account copyright, photographic and cartoon images have been attributed where appropriate and are all in the public domain. At times, the images I have wanted to use have been restricted and so you may wish to use your own. Images created by myself using Power Point tools have also been noted as creations of RAResources. Please contact me in person if you see any errors.
This lesson covers the impact of Florence Nightingale on improvements in hospital care and nursing.
The lesson includes:
Clear learning aims and achievements
Recap task: Recapping previous improvements in hospital care
Starter activity & Background: Students given plenty of discussion and problem solving tasks while being taken through the early life of Florence Nightingale.
Task Sheet 1: A table where students select and then explain the impact that Nightingale had (printable)
Task Sheet 2: An additional task sheet with further tasks and aspects to think about.
Exam focus: Three exam questions linked to the lesson.
Plenary: Which statistic for which fact?
Additional Research: Link to the National Archives
Challenge Question: Linking Nightingale to Covid-19
FACT SHEET: Every lesson comes with a fact sheet which can be given to the students as a replacement for a text book. This means you will not need any other resources for the lesson unless you feel you would like to offer more…
Please be kind enough to leave a review if you have found this resource effective.
2023 UPDATE INFO: To take into account copyright, photographic and cartoon images have been attributed where appropriate and are, to the best of my knowledge, all in the public domain. Images created by myself using Power Point tools have also been noted as creations of RAResources. Please contact me in person if you see any errors.
This lesson covers the development of anaesthetics from before 1700 to 1900. Students focus on the advantages and disadvantages of each type of anaesthetic, in particular chloroform but also why there was so much progress in this time.
The lesson includes:
Clear learning aims and achievements
Recap task: What improvements were made to hospitals during this time.
Starter activity: What is the difference between an antiseptic and anaesthetic? Source study of early surgery using a choice of two paintings.
Background information: Information about anaesthetics used before and after 1700 as well as the James Simpson story.
Think & Discuss Slide: What would the advantages be of anaesthetics to the patient and the surgeon?
Task Sheet 1: A basic outline of a timeline task.
Task Sheet 2: A differentiated timeline task which includes the dates and boxes needed.
Task Sheet 3: A further differentiated timeline with extension questions.
Exam focus: A structure for a 12 mark exam question and well as example questions from the topic.
FACT SHEET: Every lesson comes with a fact sheet which can be given to the students as a replacement for a text book. This means you will not need any other resources for the lesson unless you feel you would like to offer more…
Please be kind enough to leave a review if you have found this resource effective.
2023 UPDATE INFO: To take into account copyright, photographic and cartoon images have been attributed where appropriate and are, to the best of my knowledge, all in the public domain. Images created by myself using Power Point tools have also been noted as creations of RAResources. Please contact me in person if you see any errors.
This is a bundle for the Unit 2 GCSE History Edexcel. The lesson bundle includes:
Lesson 10: The Homestead Act (1862)
Lesson 11: The Transcontinental Railroad
Lesson 12: Homesteaders and improved farming methods
Lesson 13: Increasing lawlessness in the American West
Lesson 14: The growth of the cattle industry
Lesson 15: The changing role of the cowboy
Lesson 16: Rivalry between Homesteaders and Ranchers
Lesson 17: The impact of cattle ranching, gold mining and the railroad on the Plains Indians
Lesson 18: Government Policies (Peace Plan and Indian Appropriations Act)
Lesson 19: Conflict of the Indian Wars - Little Crow’s War, the Sand Creek Massacre and Red Cloud’s War.