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.
Welcome to RA Resources.
This lesson examines Queen Mary I’s decision to marry King Philip II of Spain. Students will first compare modern reasons for marriage before contrasting that with the events of Mary’s Reign.
They will then evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the marriage (from the point of view of Mary I) before using these ideas to write a letter to her expressing and explaining their views about the marriage.
The lesson pack includes:
1 x Fact Sheet about the events leading upto and including the marriage
1 x Letter structure sheet for students to write their letter to Mary I
1 x Main Power Point presentation which includes a variety of starter tasks, discussion points, an overview of the main task as well as a number of challenge questions to stretch the most able.
This lesson examines the reasons why there was opposition to the civil rights movement in the 1950s and with this includes a study of the murder of Emmett Till.
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.
The presentation includes:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Lesson Key Questions
Slide 3-5: Unit Recap of the main civil rights groups with answers and printable resources
Slide 6: A higher ability starter task which recaps the main civil rights groups
Slide 7: A Source Inference practice question
Slide 8: A ‘How useful’ practice question with help to structure and answer the question
Slide 9: Model answer to the ‘How useful’ question.
Slide 10: Printable student answer sheet for the ‘How useful’ question
Slide 11: Think & Discuss question
Slide 12-14: Animated background information about the murder of Emmett Till and growth of opposition to civil rights
Slide 15: Printable student worksheet (including source based questions about Emmett Till)
Slide 16: Printable table for students to make notes about the reasons for opposition and evaluate their role
Slide 17-18: Practice 12 mark ‘Explain why’ question with advice about structure and how to answer the question
Slide 19: Challenge question
Slide 20-21: Unit 1 recap quiz of the key individuals and name included in unit 1.
Slides 22-23: Lesson fact sheets based on the Edexcel specification
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. 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 the key events of the Freedom Summer (1964) , the Mississippi Murders (1964) and the march for voting rights from Selma to Montgomery in 1965. Students analyse how these key events caused publicity as well as the continued opposition towards black voter registration from groups such as the KKK and WCC.
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.
The lesson includes:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Lesson Key Questions
Slide 3-7: Recap Activities covering Campaign C and the March to Washington with printable student version and answers
Slide 8 : Starter Task Discussion about the importance of black Americans gaining the vote.
Slide 9-10: Background information and tasks covering the Freedom Summer and Freedom Schools
Slide 11: Background information about the Mississippi Murders
Slide 12-15: Background information about voting rights in Selma and the march to Montgomery
Slide 16: Discussion and task covering the various pressures placed on President Johnson for further civil rights laws.
Slide 17: Student worksheet/question sheet about the events covered in the lesson.
Slide 18: Source analysis question sheet (includes two sources)
Slide 19-20: Learning Review Statistic Match Up
Slide 21-22: Fact Sheets created in line with the Edexcel specification.
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. 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 the causes and events of the Watts Riots and the significance of the Kerner Report. It also evaluates the success/failures of King’s Campaign in the North.
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.
The lesson includes:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Lesson Key Questions
Slide 3-5: Black Panther Recap - Word fill with answers and a printable version for students
Slide 6: Source starter task
Slide 7-12: Engaging background information about the three events including further source analysis and photographic evidence
Slide 13: Learning activity - students have to sort the statements about King’s Campaign in the North into ‘successes’ or ‘failures’. This includes an additional source task based on the same idea.
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Slide 15-16: Learning Review Quiz with answers revealed
Slide 18-19: Lesson fact sheets based on the Edexcel specification
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. If you feel any errors have been made please contact me directly in the first instance to resolve the issue. Thank you.
This lesson helps students to explain the reasons that led to the abolition of the death penalty in the later years of the 20th century.
Power Point Presentation 1: Two A4 worksheets to go along with the main power point lesson
Power Point Presentation 2:
Slide 1: Title slide - To explain the reasons for the abolition of the death penalty in Britain
Slide 2: Topic Recap Quiz
Slide 3: Topic Recap Quiz answers
Slide 4: Starter Task - what can students infer from the graph about the impact of the abolition of the death penalty?
Slide 5: Discussion - why do students think the death penalty was abolished in this time (prompt questions also given)
Slide 6-8: Background information about the events which led to the abolition.
Slide 9: How to structure a point, evidence and explain paragraph
Slide 10: A table from which students can note down the Point, evidence and explain for each factor that caused the abolition of the death penalty.
Slide 11: Two challenge tasks
Slide 12-13: Practice exam questions
Slide 14: The lesson fact sheet
Slide 15: The factors that cause change 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.
Thank you for viewing this lesson pack. This lesson examines how Henry Tudor came to power and the methods he used to maintain his power and control over England and Wales between 1485-1509.
All of the resources for the teaching of the lesson are included in this pack:
1 x Power Point which provides fun and engaging activities such as a starter task, background information, problem solving activity/quiz, main task outline, challenge questions and learning review
1 x A4 Worksheet to help students structure their work for the lesson
1 x Information sheet about Henry Tudor.
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.
In this lesson, students will learn about the early life of Elizabeth I as a princess growing up in the royal household. The lesson will cover the type of lessons she excelled in at school, her education at home and her relationship with her family.
Students will be able to complete a number of activities to demonstrate their knowledge of Princess Elizabeth’s education such as writing a school report for her.
The lesson includes a number of activities which can be adapted to students of all ages, two fact sheets, starter and learning review tasks and a number of other discussion questions.
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.
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.
In this lesson, it is presumed that students already have a basic understanding of the reasons why the Spanish sent the Armada in 1588. The lesson covers the main events of the invasion from the Spanish Armada setting off from Lisbon to the final wreckage of the Spanish ships around the coast of Scotland and Ireland. Using the resources and fact sheets, students will be able to track the events on their own tracking map. This knowledge will then allow them to begin explaining the reasons for the Spanish defeat.
This single resource contains:
1 x main lesson PowerPoint
1 x A4 tracking map for students to complete
1 x BONUS Spanish Armada crossword
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 way to introduce students to the era of the Stuart English/Scottish monarchs between 1603 and 1714. Students will learn about the end of the Tudor reign after the death of Elizabeth I and then be given engaging activities to help them complete a timeline of the main Stuart monarchs and seven key events which took place during the reign of the Stuarts.
The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews. The outcome will be the completion of a timeline which shows the chronological order of the Stuart Monarchs and the main events of the time.
The lesson contains:
1 x Main Power Point (11 slides)
3 x Choice of A4 timeline templates for student to complete using the facts from the main Power Point
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 provides students with a range of resources to help them decide if Oliver Cromwell should be labelled a ‘Hero’ or a ‘Monster’. Students will be provided with easy-to-follow facts about Cromwell which they have to categorise into ‘hero’ or ‘monster’. They will also examine a range of historical sources about Cromwell and evaluate the reliability and usefulness of them. There is also an opportunity for students to complete an extended piece of writing to demonstrate their knowledge of the arguments on both sides before they give their own opinion about Oliver Cromwell.
The 18-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and historical sources about Oliver Cromwell.
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.
In this lesson, students will be able to learn about the creation of the two military alliances in Europe by 1914. Students will understand why the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente were formed, the theory behind the military alliances acting as a deterrent and finally the idea behind the domino effect. Students will also consider the geographical and strategic impact of the alliances.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: As you come in warmup activity – what causes war?
Slide 4: Starter Task: What is an alliance and why might countries form an alliance?
Slide 5: Image/map led background information about Europe by 1914.
Slide 6-7: Image/map led background information about the creation of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
Slide 8-9: Activity 1: Creating a map of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente. Printable maps included.
Side 10: Learning Pit-Stop – The Domino Theory.
Slide 11: Activity 2: The geographical and strategic impact of the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente.
Slide 12: Follow up challenge questions
Slide 13-15: Learning Review 1: Filling in the missing terms, with printable resources included.
Slide 16: Learning Review 2 activity
Slide 17: A copy of the map used which can be edited
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.
In this lesson, students will learn about the wide-ranging contributions made by the soldiers from Britain’s Empire during the First World War. Students will first learn which colonies contributed soldiers and then explain why men from the British Empire volunteered and what contributions they made to Britain’s role in the war.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Slide 1: Title slide
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3-4: As you enter warm up – identify the colonies of the British Empire map and answers. Challenge questions included.
Slide 5: Background Information about Britain’s colonies and Britain’s role as the ‘Mother Country’.
Slide 6: Starter Task – Recruitment in the colonies – a source from the Prime Minister of Canada
Slide 7-8: Activity 1: Recruitment posters from the colonies – three examples of recruitment posters which students have to analyse. A printable worksheet also included.
Slide 9: Background Information – India’s contribution to the First World War.
Side 10: Background Information and discussion activity
Slide 11: Useful clips
Slide 12: Printable fact sheet
Slide 13: Printable worksheet
Slide 14: Extended writing task – Explain the importance of Britain’s Empire.
Slide 15: Challenge Questions
Slide 16-17: Learning Review – Which country/colony am I?
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 and your 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 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 all about Cardinal Thomas Wolsey’s rise to power. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Wolsey:
Who was Thomas Wolsey and what was his background?
What main events led to his rise to power in Henry VIII’s government?
Why did Thomas Wolsey gain so much power at the start of Henry VIII’s reign?
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 blank timeline to outline the main events in Wolsey’s rise to power
1x A4 worksheet to help students categorise the main reasons for Wolsey’s rise to power.
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Henry VIII & Wolsey – Why did Wolsey Rise to Power?
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3-4: Previous learning Recap activities
Slide 5: As You Enter Warm Up – What kind of person would make a suitable advisor to Henry VIII?
Slide 6-7: Starter – Analysis of historical interpretations about Wolsey. Also includes a printable worksheet for students to complete.
Slide 8: Task 1 – Thomas Wolsey Timeline instructions
Slide 9-12: Task 2 – Key Term Activities with printable worksheet
Slide 13: Task 3 – Explaining Wolsey’s rise to power (linked to additional A4 worksheet
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Questions
Side 15: Example Exam Questions
Slide 16-17: Learning Review Quiz – With answers revealed
Slide 18: Lesson Fact Sheet – Based on the GCSE Edexcel Specification
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 have an opportunity to analyse the portraits of King Henry VIII. They will be able to explain why portraits were so important to Henry VIII as well describe the common features of all Henry VIII’s portraits.
This lesson can either be used in a unit of work about the Tudors and Henry VIII or as a stand-alone lesson covering Henry VIII. It can also be used to help students analyse the art of the Tudors.
This is a fully resources lesson which includes a warmup, starter task, engaging background information, various learning activities, challenge tasks and learning reviews.
The lesson includes the following:
Resource 1: 4x A4 worksheets to help students analyse the portraits of Henry VIII and a worksheet aimed at higher ability students to analyse the importance of portraits.
Resource 2: Power Point
Slide 1: Title slide – The importance of Portraits to Henry VIII
Slide 2: Outline of the main lesson aims
Slide 3: Lesson Warm Up Activity: Why do we take pictures of ourselves?
Slide 4: Key Term Analysis – What is a ‘portrait’?
Slide 5: Starter Task – Students have to pick one portrait from a choice of three which they think Henry VIII should use as his ‘official’ portrait.
Slide 6-7: Background information about Tudor portraits and the artist Hans Holbein the Younger.
Slide 8: Background Information about how portraits were forms of propaganda.
Side 9: Task – Portrait analysis task instructions (links to the A4 worksheets included with the resource)
Slide 10-11: Task – What was the purpose of portraits? Filling in the missing term task with answers.
Slide 12: Task – Tudor Vs Modern Day portrait analysis
Slide 13: Follow Up Challenge Task Questions
Slide 14: Learning Review Activity
Reviews are really important to me and if you have enjoyed the lesson, it would be great if you could do this. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this and your 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 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 Lord Chancellor Thomas Wolsey’s foreign policies and the threat to Henry VIII from other countries in Europe. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16
This lesson examines the following questions relating to Wolsey’s foreign policy aims:
What were Wolsey’s foreign policy aims?
What was the purpose of Wolsey’s foreign policy aims?
What was Europe like during the reign of Henry VIII?
What were the threats from other countries in Europe?
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 map-based worksheet
1x A4 printable worksheet to explain the threats to England from Europe
1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – Thomas Wolsey’s Foreign Policy Aims
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3: As You Enter Warm Up Question: Why is war expensive?
Slide 4-5: Starter Task 1: The Geography of Europe in the 1500s activity – with answers revealed.
Slide 6-7: Previous Learning Recap – 8 multiple choice questions from the topic so far which will also help with the subject knowledge for this lesson.
Slide 8: Starter Task 2 – Should Wolsey aim for war or peace with his foreign policy?
Slide 9: Task 1 – Source analysis activity
Slide 10: Background information – Map based information about each of the European nations during the 1500s.
Slide 11: Task 2 – Worksheet based activity
Side 12: Task 3 – Explaining the threats to Henry VIII and England in the 1500s – links to the A4 worksheet
Slide 13: Task 4 – Explaining Wolsey’s foreign policy aims.
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Tasks
Slide 15: Example exam question – ‘Two features’.
Slide 16-17: Learning Review Activity
Slide 18: Lesson fact sheet
Slide 19: Original Map which can be edited for personal use.
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.