Cold War The aim of this lesson is to explain how Germany was divided post 1945, as agreed at the Potsdam Conference and analyse the subsequent Berlin blockade and airlift which followed. Students learn the intentions of both the USA and USSR and how this played out in the Cold War theatre of Europe. This is a great opportunity for students to be creative as they plot the preceding events on an airport landing strip, using symbols and signs found in every international airport. They will track the obstacles thrown up by Stalin and the immediate problems this caused in Berlin as he attempted to prevent any further western moves in Germany and with his aim of starving the West Berliners into submission. Therefore this is intended to be a fun, challenging and engaging lesson to suit all abilities. The central enquiry of this and subsequent lessons is to ask why did civilians fear for their lives? Students will map out their ideas each lesson (which can be plotted in different colours or dates to show the progress of their learning and centred around the key question) and build up a picture of how these and different countries in the world responded and acted in this new nuclear age. The resource comes in PowerPoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change and is differentiated. I have also included suggested teaching strategies to deliver the lesson.

AQA GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is twofold: to introduce the A Level course and its requirements and then to assess the strengths of Germany before 1914. The course requirements are outlined to the students and how it will be assessed through the two examination components of source analysis and essay writing. The second part of the lesson analyses the three Reich’s in Germany and how it was governed from 1871. A colour coding activity on Germany unification, questions on the impact of World War I on Germany and its political structure under the Kaiser will allow students to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Germany in 1914. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to understand the political vacuum left in Germany after the abdication of the Kaiser and the political consequences for Germany. Students begin with a definition task using some key words and phrases linked to the Treaty. They are then introduced to the political machinations of Ludendorff and the implications of the Peace Note. A chronological and multiple choice task as well as a ‘Am I a robot?’ exercise allow students to grasp the consequences of the abdication of the Kaiser and analyse the political parties vying for ascendancy in the Republic. Some exam question practice completes the lesson using sources, with a model answer given if required. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the effects of hyperinflation upon German society. There is much debate on whether Germany had the ability to pay its reparations; students have to decide how exaggerated German woes actually were. Moreover Germany had been suffering from inflation since 1918; students again have to decide why the government pursued an inflationary policy and how this was enforced politically upon them. Students are also required to assess the winners and losers of hyperinflation and who was affected in the short, medium and long terms. Finally there is a literacy bodged plenary to complete together with some source exam question practice, with a planning sheet and generic markscheme if required. There is a 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.

The British Empire This lesson focuses on the upheaval of the lives of the indigenous peoples of Australia with the coming of the Europeans. The lesson starts by looking at their customs and traditions and how these were quickly attacked through the attitudes and settlements of the colonists. A ‘Horrible Histories’ version of events is also scrutinised and questioned on its accuracy. I have included some comprehension questions and source scholarship using an extract from the brilliant ‘Empireland’ by Sathnam Sanghera which explains the atrocities committed in Tasmania by the colonists. Paintings from Governor Davey of Van Diemen’s Land can also analysed so the students are able to prioritise the most significant changes the colonists made to Australia and the legacy of the British Empire. The lesson comes with retrieval practice activities, 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.

AQA GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to judge how far Jewish people assimilated themselves into German society. Students learn about how many Jewish people became important figure in Weimar society from producers and directors in the film industry, political editors, journalists as well as being successful in finance, banking and cabinet ministers. They will also assess how events such as the Barnat scandal turned some Germans against the Jewish community and finally judge for themselves how assimilated they had become by 1929. The plenary is a flash card activity where the students link people and events to themes throughout the lesson. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the success of Stresemann’s policy of fulfilment. Was his commitment to fulfilment just a devious policy to cover up his nationalist agenda or is this too harsh a judgement and Stresemann remains one of the outstanding political figure of the Weimar era? Students begin by learning what fulfilment was and how the Allied powers viewed Germany by 1924. They will then analyse what Stresemann achieved such as the Locarno Pact, Kellogg-Briand and Berlin Treaty. However further analysis reveals some secret dealings with Russia and rearmament; in some exam question practice students will be required to make a judgement as said above. He plenary asks students to unscramble some key words from the lesson and explain their context. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to assess the stability and strength of coalition governments during the ‘Golden Age’ of Germany. Students begin by assessing why this time has been called a period of political stability, with extremist group and anti-Republican parties losing support. They hava a number of statistics to analyse as well as making a judgement as to how stable the Republic really was. The election of Paul von Hindenburg will give them ammunition as well as information about the political parties to attempt some GCE question practice at the end. The plenary gives some humour to the political machinations of the Weimar Republic where students have to answer questions by splatting bubbles. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution. Students are introduced to the reasons why a constitution was introduced and a new Republic set up. They then have to analyse the details of the constitution, assessing its strengths and weaknesses. This also includes deciding the winners and losers and the issues still facing Germany as a consequence. There is a focus on some key details such as Article 48 and the rule by Presidental decree as well as the survival of some undemocratic institutions. There is some exam practice to complete if required, complete with hints and tips and a generic markscheme included. The plenary concludes with a find and fix activity, There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to examine the terms of the Treaty of Versailles and assess the German reaction to it. Students begin by completing a missing word task to gauge the German ‘acceptance’ of the Armistice. They learn about Wilson’s 14 points and in groups put themselves into the shoes of the Big Three to decide how to punish Germany, with prompts given for help. Students also examine and analyse the terms of the Treaty and decide where German pride, economic and military power were challenged. They then have to determine how justified German complaints were against the Treaty and whether they were being too unrealistic. This is followed up by some exam question practice, complete with a detailed markscheme. The plenary asks them to think of answers for because, but and so questions to challenge thinking. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to question whether the ‘new woman’ in the Weimar Republic was no more than a myth. The beginning of the lesson focuses on social welfare and who was entitled to what at the end of the war. However, students learn how many people felt cheated by the system and assess why so many different groups felt aggrieved. In the second part of the lesson, students ascertain who was classed as the new woman in Weimar Germany. They also evaluate whether the new freedoms afforded to women were in fact inconsequential in areas such as politics, employment and sexual freedom. Case studies for four women are scrutinised before students complete some exam practice, with help given if required. The plenary requires students to compete some fragmented sentences. There is a 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.

Cold War The aim of this lesson is to analyse the causes and consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis, its significance and its effect on future relations between the USA and USSR during the Cold War. In an anger management task, students link various emotions to emojis as they learn why tensions (and therefore anger) between the USA and Cuba escalated following the coming to power of Fidel Castro and his subsequent alliance to the USSR. In a text mapping exercise they analyse how Castro defied the West by organising the placement of nuclear missiles on Cuba and how Kennedy reacted to this report and the stark choices he faced, urged on by the Hawkes and Doves in his assembled special committee, Excomm. Furthermore students undertake an interactive quiz which is designed to be engaging and challenging as they have to make 13 decisions in the 13 days of the crisis. The plenary is an interactive blockbusters and there are links to video evidence as well a recall, retention and retrieval task. The central enquiry of this and subsequent lessons is to ask why did civilians fear for their lives during the Cold War? Students will map out their ideas each lesson (which can be plotted in different colours or dates to show the progress of their learning and centred around the key question) and build up a picture of how these and different countries in the world responded and acted in this new nuclear age. The resource comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change and is differentiated. I have also included suggested teaching strategies to deliver the lesson.

Cold War The aim of this lesson is to explore the moon landings and the subsequent conspiracy theories which suggest it was faked and not real at all. Students have to decide why it was so important for the USA to be the first to put a man on the moon and prioritise their reasoning using their knowledge of the Cold War. They analyse footage from the time and are introduced to Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to emphasise this audacious achievement in 1969. However they also analyse sources from the time and different interpretations making their own sustained judgements as to whether the moon landings were fake or fiction. They finish with writing an extended piece on the evidence they have selected and are given some argument words to help if required. The plenary required them to judge if further facts are fake or authentic news. The central enquiry of this and subsequent lessons is to ask why did civilians fear for their lives during the Cold War? Students will map out their ideas each lesson (which can be plotted in different colours or dates to show the progress of their learning and centred around the key question) and build up a picture of how these and different countries in the world responded and acted in this new nuclear age. The resource comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change and is differentiated. I have also included suggested teaching strategies to deliver the lesson.

The Cold War The aim of this lesson is to explore the winds of change within the USSR as Perestroika and Glasnost are introduced with the appointment of Gorbachev as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. But despite all the achievements he made, was it all in vain and just how successful was he with the Soviet Union in his short six years in office? Students are required to emoji rate the problems facing Gorbachev in 1985 and then justify the most serious one using a pressure gauge. Furthermore they have to evaluate how successful his policies were and how they were received in the west as compared to back home. A thinking quilt at the end challenges their thinking as they have to group all they have learnt into categories and then explain the significance of each fact. The central enquiry of this and subsequent lessons is to ask why did civilians fear for their lives during the Cold War? Students will map out their ideas each lesson (which can be plotted in different colours or dates to show the progress of their learning and centred around the key question) and build up a picture of how these and different countries in the world responded and acted in this new nuclear age. The resource comes in PowerPoint formats if there is a wish to adapt and change and is differentiated. I have also included suggested teaching strategies to deliver the lesson.

AQA GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the problems for Ebert in the very early stages if the Weimar Republic. Students begin at first by assessing the value of a speech given by Philip Scheidemann. This is an introduction to the source based question and using a COP technique, with help given if required. They are then introduced to Friedrich Ebert and have to prioritise the biggest problems he faced as leader. Students are also introduced to the Ebert-Groener Pact. They are then given numerous scenarios of which they have to decide why he needed the help of the army and justify their choices. Finally students have to decide which events posed a threat from the left or right wing. This culminates in the Spartacist rising from which they answer questions and predict the consequences for the Republic. The plenary is a true or false task on the elections to the constituent Assembly. There is a 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 GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to assess the strength of the Weimar economy under Stresemann. Students recap in the Ruhr crisis before they had to complete sentences to predict how the economy will fare under Stresemann. They are given a exam question to plan and prepare using the information provided – they will need to focus on the economy’s short and long term strengths and weaknesses. The thinking hats plenary uses differentiated questions for the students to decide the extent of the recovery. A final source exam question can be used for a homework with a planning sheet and generic markscheme provided. There is a 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.

World War I The aim of this lesson is to question how successful Lord Kitchener’s recruitment drive was in 1914 and how ‘frightening’ it might be to sign up. The lesson shows students how the themes of heroism, patriotism, shame and anti-German feeling led to thousands of young men volunteering to join the army. Students are led through video footage, an extract from Private Peaceful and Government posters to analyse how these four key themes were utilised. They also learn about the success in the recruitment of Pals Battalions from the Caribbean and India, to the Footballers Battalion of Walter Tull, as well from towns across the country. They will also learn about the horror and frightening consequences of this policy especially with what happened to the Accrington Pals in 1916. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout the lesson and this unit of study 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.

AQA GCE A Level Democracy and Nazism: Germany 1918-45 The aim of this lesson is to judge how rebellious the youth of the Weimar Republic really was. Students are required to complete some source scholarship and evaluate a range of information to make up their minds before tackling an exam practice question. They analyse how they were educated and the provision of schooling along class lines as well as there affinity to youth groups and youth gangs. The plenary however challenges this negativity and gets students to think of positive aspects of youth culture. Some exam question practice concludes the lesson, complete with planning sheet, hints and tip and a generic markscheme. There is a 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 GCSE 9-1 Elizabethan England, 1568-1603 The overarching aim of this and the subsequent bundle of lessons is to question and explore how Elizabeth tried to assert and establish her authority in the early years of her reign. The lessons are therefore linked together to build up a picture of her difficulties in trying to overcome this. This lesson focuses on the threat posed by the Puritans and how Elizabeth dealt with this threat, despite prominent members in her Government, such as Walsingham, being Puritans. Students begin by understanding the nature of Puritanism and how they disagreed with the religious settlement. They are given information about a number of controversies raised in Elizabeth’s reign and by colour coding decide how much of a threat they posed. A threat’o’meter give an overall picture which they will have to justify where their judgement lies. This lesson also focuses on two GCSE questions with a ‘write an account’ and a ‘How convincing is the Source?’ question given for GCSE exam practice. Students can answer both or choose which one to tackle. The information is included in the lesson to assist in their answers. 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.

The Tudors This lesson aims to find out the real reason for the sinking of Henry’s flagship, the Mary Rose. The lesson starts with Henry crying (literally) and students have to decode a message to find out why. Students are then given four options as to why it sank, from which they give their initial opinions. Further analysis of video footage and written evidence will allow them to form their own judgements to be able to complete an extended writing task. This lesson uses Henry as a talking head, discussing how it was impossible to sink it in the first place, due to his genius and finally responding to the students’ evidence in a witty plenary. This lesson is engaging and fun and gives a different perspective of looking at Tudor seafaring and what was aboard the ships of the time. 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.