Lesson examining the factors that influence how members of congress decide to vote - pupils can examine the pressures members of congress face and examine which factors are the most important in deteriming how a congressman may vote on a certain issue. This can be adapted by using specific examples - especially on wedge issues.

Lesson examining the use of the filibuster and to what extent the legislative process is difficult - using past exam question and a Virtual Learning Environment Task - but this can easily be adapted for paper within the lesson simply by printing copies of the articles pupils can share.

Lesson examining the legislative process in the USA using first a simple explanation, building to a more detailed explanation and then dviding the legislative process up into 7 key stages.

Lesson examining significance and criticism of committees - prior knowledge of role and powers of the different committees would be essential as this lesson focuses on encouraging analysis, including essay map exercise for group planning of an exam answer.

Lesson examining the role and powers of the various congressional committees - used to develop skill of scanning large text for information (using Phillip Allan textbook) with teacher generated 'core notes' on roles and powers of the different types of committees and committee chairs.

End of topic test for Parliament topic

Lesson examining events of the Battle of Hastings and whether Harold lost or William won - pupils encourage to explain what advantages Harold had, how William demonstrated good leadership and the role of bad luck in Harold's defeat.

End of topic test for Parliament topic - using staged and levelled questions that relate to the levels of the mark scheme for exam questions e.g. level 1 - identifying, level 2 - context, level 3 - explaining - this can be developed for other topics and further levels/stages added depending on the skills needing to be developed.

Lesson examining who had the stronger army - William or Harold. Lesson examines how wars are fought today and what factors could influence the outcome of the war. Pupils then use these factors to examine who's army was stronger - including picture sources of different soldiers for analysis and evaluation. Plenary = quizbusters.

Lesson examining what pupils would have done if they were Harold including decision making game, and letter writing task as a military adviser to Harold.

Last lesson of the constitution topic recovering content and exam skills through pupil assessment of a sample exam question, discussion of assigned marks and how the exam answer can be improved.

Lesson examining the flexibility of the constitution - how and why has the constitution managed to survive? How flexible is it? Encouraging pupils to make a thorough assessment of how the constitution works in practice.

Lesson introducing the constitutional amendments with examples of amendments approved by Congress and not approved by Congress - could be used in conjunction with articles on a wedge issue e.g. flag burning

Lesson introducing the Bill of Rights

Lesson preparing pupils for a 45 mark Q in timed conditions - with mark scheme, how to get an A tips etc.

Lesson asking pupils to consolidate knowledge from constitution topic so far to make judgements as to who holds the power, and apply new knowledge to 15 mark exam questions.

Lesson introducing the system of checks and balances with contextual examples that pupils can use in exam answers to support their analysis.

Lesson introducing the separation of powers - building on the knowledge of checks and balances to investigate whether 'separate' institutions is a more fitting description than 'separate' powers.

Lesson introducing the presidential system including the features of the presidential system and the provisions in the constitution and guiding principles of the US congressional system.

Lesson examining the different types of democracy and sovreignty evident in the US political system with a design-a-constitution activity