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 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 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 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 contains: A starter which reteaches previously taught material, which can be edited to suit whatever you previously taught. An overview of what the Homefront was and how the concept of ‘Total War’ works, with a quote from a historian and examples of how it affects the home front. A few slides where the teacher can explain the adjustments to living that took place during the war, to ease into the main task. Students then use the two-page information sheet to complete the table provided with notes about the impact the war had on people at home. An opportunity to study a quote about total war and give examples of what they learnt that can verify or contradict the quote. A plenary to write a paragraph about life in the war. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Publisher Files

This lesson contains: A starter which reteaches previously taught material, which can be edited to suit whatever you previously taught. An on-board overview of the background to the Blitz and some of the statistics, so that students can work out that this war took its toll on civilians much more than the previous war. The slides then take students through the idea that aircraft are now much more deadly in this war, with examples from Spain, Poland and China, and then looking at Rotterdam as well. A discussion task for students to determine where the Nazis might attack given the choice of different targets on the map. Students might choose between cities, industry or military targets, and justify this choice. A main task to work through the guided reading in the booklet to discover what the Blitz was, what the intention was (from sources), and then what the impact of the Blitz was. These exercises are done in the students’ book. It uses on-board information to show the shelters, defense forces and subways being used, as well as a video from Blitz Street on YouTube. A final task to use the sources provided to answer what the cost of the Blitz was, and where this worked in crushing Britain. A plenary to examine photos of London during the Blitz and write how this would have affected the people living there. 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 which reteaches previously taught material, which can be edited to suit whatever you previously taught. An overview of the bombing of major cities and the purpose of the evacuations. Students looks at some sources and figures of those evacuated and draw assumptions about the meaning or intent behind some of the propaganda behind the evacuation initiative. The main task to study what the experiences were like. Students watch a video and discuss how reliable it is as a source, then look at the sources on the information sheet provided and find positive and negative experiences. Students then write about how lives were changed by the war. A plenary to consider what five items they would take with them if they were evacuated. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 1 x Publisher File

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 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

This lesson contains: A starter task to consider the traits of witches and what makes them scary. It also tests students’ prior knowledge of the punishment of witches. A task to draw a mind map in their books and then there are four slides of information about what the ‘witch craze’ was all about, based on common myths surrounding witches. The slides include info on how they look, what they go and about sabbats, witches marks and how people tried to ward off witches from their door. A task to study the first page of the information sheet to summarise why people became afraid of witches (based on superstition and fear) and then to find out how the witch craze began and how people started hunting for witches. A case study on five different women who were accused of witchcraft. The students find out what they did that raised this suspicion, and they decide whether there are any modern-day explanations that might explain what had happened. Students then determine, by colouring the small cauldron, how guilty in reality each woman was. The students then find out, from the slides, that all women were executed and this makes them see the injustice of the witch craze. A plenary to have students define some of the key words from the lesson. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 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. A quick reminder/discussion about why witches were scary to people in Europe at the time and what people worried might happen. An introduction to Matthew Hopkins and his role in the witch craze. Students read the information sheet and use it to answer a couple of questions about him in full sentences. A larger task to use the worksheet to label the different methods Hopkins used to discover the guilt of witches. Students look at familiars, herb use, pricking witches, waking witches, swimming witches, marks and moles and their actions as well. They have some extension questions to follow up on the information they have learned and extend their thinking. An overview of how witches were then punished, followed by the modern cultural depictions of witches. There is then a short activity to read the later Witchcraft Act of 1735 and to summarise how it ended the witch craze, including information on the last cases tried in the UK. A plenary to write a letter making arguments against Hopkins and his use of torture against witches as a way of summarising what they have learned. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 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. A brief introduction to the start of the war, and then students use the information presented on the PPT to complete the boxes on their worksheet to differentiate between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers, who they supported, what they wore and what their aims were. An activity to study the information sheet and find out about the different way in which musketeers and pikemen fought, as well as then labelling the two different soldiers based on the descriptions on the sheet. An activity to find out about the difficulty faced by soldiers when choosing sides. There are four large sources and for each, there is a question that analyses what is being said. The students answer these questions in their books with an extension to explain two reasons why soldiers found it hard to choose sides. A plenary activity which can be done as a whole class on the board. There is a summary task on an interactive website from British Civil Wars. It is a drag and drop activity which can be done as a whole class discussion. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 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. A video from YouTube which summarises the main events of the war. Students then use the information provided to find out about 4 such battles. The worksheet contains questions to elicit the key information. Students can extend their thinking by discussing what either side might have done differently to get a decisive victory. A chance to take a detailed look at Naseby, the battle which turned the tide of the war. Students are introduced to the location and the alignment of the troops. There is a video summary of the battle and how it was fought, and then the PPT provides a ‘talk through’ opportunity with animation to show the progression of the battle. A task to use the information to complete their worksheets and answer the questions. A final task to colour-code the main reasons why Charles lost the war, and then do a write up to say what the main reasons were. 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. An overview of the situation so far in the war and that neither side had won decisive victories. Students are then introduced to the new leaders Fairfax and Cromwell and the idea of a new ‘model army’, why it was created and what the intention was. An activity to then use an information sheet to answer questions on the key information about the new army and then to explain how the new types of troops might help them win. A task to study the rules laid out for the army. Students use the questions on the board to write about what made them religious, disciplined and brave. Students summarise the key provisions while doing so. A plenary to recount key words. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 1 x Publisher File

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 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 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 to consider the famous quote by Churchill. A run through of the situation in 1940 post-Dunkirk and the situation Britain was in. A Youtube video of WW2 in colour to bring it to life. Students complete a comprehension multiple choice set of questions as the video plays. An activity to consider the tactic advantages and disadvantages of both sides. A task to use a series of sources in groups to build an arguement for the significance of the battle using the ‘GREAT’ formula. A worksheet is designed for this purpose. A plenary to consider what factors won the Battle of Britain for the British. Attachments: 1 x Powerpoint Presentation 2 x Word Files 1 x Publisher File