This outstanding resource has been designed to provide stretch and challenge for students studying reasons why Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1935 -35. The key theory underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. It can also be used as a starter, plenary, revision or as a focus for an assessment activity. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors which explain why Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1935 - 36. The document is provided in Microsoft Word so you can edit the resource if you wish to customise it further by changing any of the key factors that I have included. Once students have cut out the cards out they are set three tasks including: Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons to explain why Italy invaded Abyssinia in 1935 -36. Record and explain the reasons for your choices. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills as well as their understanding of the topic. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: Why did the League of Nations fail 1919 - 1939? Know: Why did Italy invade Abyssinia in 1935 - 36? Understand: How were these factors were linked to the weaknesses of the League? Evaluate: Which factors were the most important in Mussolini’s decision to invade? WILF - What Am I Looking For? Identify and describe: Why Mussolini invaded Abyssinia? Explain: How these reasons were linked to the weaknesses of the League? Analyse: Which factors were the most important in Mussolini’s decision to invade? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This outstanding resource has been designed to provide stretch and challenge for students studying why the USSR and Germany signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939. The key theory underpinning this type of strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. It can be used as a starter, plenary, revision or assessment activity. If you are looking for something more suitable for lower and middle ability then please check out my card sort matching exercise on this topic. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards that explain why both Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact in 1939. The document is provided in Microsoft Word so you can edit the resource if you wish to customise it further by changing any of the key factors that I have included. Once students have cut out the cards out they are set three tasks including: 1. Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. 2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. 3. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons to explain why Germany and the USSR signed the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Record and explain the reasons for your choices. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills as well as their understanding of the topic. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: How far was Hitler responsible for the outbreak of the SWW in 1939? Know: What were the terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Analyse: Why did Stalin and Hitler sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Skills: Cause, Consequence, Evaluation and Judgement. WILF: What Am I Looking For this lesson? Identify and describe: The terms of the Nazi-Soviet Pact Explain: Why did Germany & USSR sign the Nazi-Soviet Pact? Analyse: How far Hitler was responsible for the outbreak of the SWW? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This outstanding diamond 9 activity has been designed to provide stretch and challenge for students studying why Germany hated the Treaty of Versailles, 1919 . It can be used as a starter, plenary, revision or assessment activity. If you are looking for something more suitable for lower and middle ability then please check out my card sort matching exercise on this topic, which can be downloaded from my TES shop. This resource will easily work alongside any main steam textbook or resource on this topic. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors which describe the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, 1919. The document is provided in Microsoft Word so you can edit the resource if you wish to customise it further by changing any of the key factors that I have included. Once students have cut out the cards out they are set three tasks including: 1. Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. 2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. 3. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons why Germany hated the Treaty of Versailles. Record and explain the reasons for your choices. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills as well as their understanding of the topic. The aims and objectives of this lesson are: Theme: The Treaty of Versailles Know: What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? Understand: What were the economic, political, territorial and military consequences for Germany? Evaluate: which of the terms would most Germans have found the most humiliating? Skills: Analysis, Evaluation, Discussion & Collaboration. WILF - What Am I Looking For? Identify and describe: the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, 1919? Explain: The economic, political, territorial and military consequences of the treaty for Germany? Analyse: Which consequences or terms were the most humiliating for Germany? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop, where many have been bundled together to provide you with further savings. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This outstanding resource has been designed to provide stretch and challenge for students analysing the key reasons why it was difficult to maintain law and order in the American West. The key theory underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. It can be used as a starter, plenary, revision or assessment activity. If you are looking for something more suitable for lower and middle ability then please check out my card sort matching exercise on this topic, which can be downloaded from my TES shop. This resource will easily work alongside any main steam textbook or resource on the American West. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors which explain it was difficult to maintain law and order in the American West. The document is provided in Microsoft Word so you can edit the resource if you wish to customise it further by changing any of the key factors that I have included. Once students have cut out the cards out they are set three tasks including: 1. Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. 2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. 3. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons to explain why it was difficult to maintain law and order in the American West. Record and explain the reasons for your choices. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills as well as their understanding of the topic. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: The American West Know: What were the key reasons why maintaining law & order was difficult? Understand: What roles did social, economic, geographical factors as well as the values and attitudes play of the people at the time, play in making law enforcement difficult? Evaluate: Which was the most important factor? WILF - What Am I Looking For? Identify and describe: what were the main reasons why maintaining law and order was difficult? Explain: What roles did social, economic, geographical, factors as well as the values and attitudes of people at the time, play in making law enforcement difficult? Analyse: Which was the most important factor? Kind Regards Roy

This critical thinking skills activity has been designed to provide stretch and challenge for students studying why did Germany hate the Treaty of Versailles . The key theory underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. If you are looking for a more traditional exercise then please check out my card sort matching exercise on this topic, which can be downloaded from my TES shop. This resource will easily work alongside any main steam textbook or resource on this topic. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors which describe the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, 1919. The document is provided in Microsoft Word so you can edit the resource if you wish to customise it further by changing any of the key factors that I have included. Once students have cut out the cards out they are set three tasks including: 1. Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. 2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. 3. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons why Germany hated the Treaty of Versailles. Record and explain the reasons for your choices. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their understanding of the topic. The aims and objectives of this lesson are: Theme: The Treaty of Versailles Know: What were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? Understand: What were the economic, political, territorial and military consequences for Germany? Evaluate: which of the terms would most Germans have found the most humiliating? WILF - What Am I Looking For? Identify and describe: the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, 1919? Explain: The economic, political, territorial and military consequences of the treaty for Germany? Analyse: Which consequences or terms were the most humiliating for Germany? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop, where many have been bundled together to provide you with further savings. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This outstanding lesson has been developed in challenging schools and field tested in the classroom over many years, aims to enhance students’ critical thinking skills during the exploration of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. Suitable for students across all ability levels, this versatile resource serves as a starter, plenary, revision tool, or assessment activity, with a particular focus on challenging high-achieving students who require stretch and challenge. Following a short presentation, students engage in a diamond 9 activity to categorize consequences into ‘short’ and ‘long term’, before deciding which four were the most important or historically significant. Designed to cater to a diverse range of learners, this lesson includes supportive writing frameworks and thinking skills review tools to guide students in their decision-making processes and foster meaningful discussions and critical thinking. When you purchase this resource, you will be able to download two fully editable office documents, a Word document containing the diamond 9 activity and a supporting PowerPoint presentation. Both have also been uploaded as PDFs. The PowerPoint contains aims, objectives, differentiated outcomes, information slides, historical sources, starters, templates, writing frames, tasks and activities. Meanwhile, the Word document includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a sellection of ‘short’ and ‘long term’ consequences of the Peasants’ Revolt. Once students have cut the cards out, they are set three tasks including: Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. Sort the remaining diamonds to show which are ‘short’ or ‘long’ term consequences. Record and explain your reasons. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important consequences of the Peasants’ Revolt. Record and explain your reasons. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop not only their critical thinking skills but their understanding of the topic. Please see the detailed preview for more information. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: Medieval Society Know: What happened after the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381? Understand: Which changes were ‘short’ and ‘long’ term consequences? Evaluate: Which consequences were the most significant? Skills: Source Analysis, Cause, Consequence, Change & Continuality. WILF – What Am I Looking For? Can You Describe: What happened after the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381? Can You Explain: Which changes were ‘short’ and ‘long’ term consequences? Can You Evaluate: Which consequences were the most important?

This carefully crafted resource, developed by seasoned educators and field tested and improved in the classroom, aims to enhance students’ critical thinking skills during the exploration of the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381. Suitable for students across all ability levels, this versatile resource serves as a starter, plenary, revision tool, or assessment activity, with a particular focus on challenging high-achieving students who require stretch and challenge. Following a short presentation, students engage in a diamond 9 activity to categorize consequences into ‘short’ and ‘long term’, before deciding which four were the most important or historically significant. Designed to cater to a diverse range of learners, this lesson includes supportive writing frameworks and thinking skills review tools to guide students in their decision-making processes and foster meaningful discussions and critical thinking. When you purchase this resource you will be able to download two fully editable office documents, a Word document containing the diamond 9 activity and a supporting PowerPoint presentation. Both have also been uploaded as PDFs. The PowerPoint contains aims, objectives, differentiated outcomes, information slides, historical sources, starters, templates, writing frames, tasks and activities. Meanwhile, the Word document includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a sellection of ‘short’ and ‘long term’ consequences of the Peasants’ Revolt. Once students have cut the cards out, they are set three tasks including: Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. Sort the remaining diamonds to show which are ‘short’ or ‘long’ term consequences. Record and explain your reasons. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important consequences of the Peasants’ Revolt. Record and explain your reasons. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop not only their critical thinking skills but their understanding of the topic. Please see the detailed preview for more information. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: Medieval Society Know: What happened after the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381? Understand: Which changes were ‘short’ and ‘long’ term consequences? Evaluate: Which consequences were the most significant? Skills: Source Analysis, Cause, Consequence, Change & Continuality. WILF – What Am I Looking For? Can You Describe: What happened after the Peasants’ Revolt in 1381? Can You Explain: Which changes were ‘short’ and ‘long’ term consequences? Can You Evaluate: Which consequences were the most important?

This outstanding diamond 9 activity has been designed specifically to help students develop their critical thinking skills whilst studying the consequences of the Black Death on Medieval Britain. It can be used with the full spectrum of ability as a starter, plenary, revision or assessment activity, bit it is primarily designed to provide stretch and challenge for the more able. If you are looking for a main stream resource, then why not check out my card sort activity on this topic? It can be downloaded separately from my TES shop or as a bundle with this resource. When you purchase this resource you will be able to download a both a PDF and a fully editable Microsoft Word document which can be differentiated further if you wish. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include a selection of ‘short’ and ‘long term’ consequences of the Black Death. Once students have cut the cards out, they are set three tasks including: Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. Sort the remaining diamonds to show which are ‘short’ or ‘long’ term consequences. Record and explain your reasons. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important consequences of the Black Death. Record and explain your reasons. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop not only their critical thinking skills but their understanding of the topic. Once stage 3 is complete. students could then have a go at writing an extended answer on 'what were the consequences of the Black Death? The aims and objectives of this lesson are: Theme: Medieval Society Know: What changed as a result of the Black Death? Understand: What were the long and short term consequences of the Black Death? Evaluate: Which consequences were more important? WILF: What Am I Looking For? Identify and describe: What changed as a result of the Black Death? Explain: Which changes were short or long term consequences? Analyse: Which changes were more significant or important?

This great diamond 9 activity has been designed to help students studying the problems facing Elizabeth I, when she became Queen in 1558 . It has been designed to be used with the full spectrum of leaners, but is particularly useful for stretching the critical thinking skills of the more able. If you are looking for a main stream resource, then please check out my card sort on this topic, which can be found in my TES shop. This resource has also been bundled and discounted with other resources on this topic. When you purchase this resource you will be able to download a fully editable Microsoft Word document which can be differentiated further if you wish. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include one of the key problems facing Elizabeth when she became Queen. Once students have cut the cards out, they are set three tasks including: Remove any problems that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between them. Record and explain your reasons. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important problems facing Elizabeth I in 1558. Record and explain your reasons. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class to explain their choices. This is absolutely critical if you are going to develop the critical thinking skills that you are looking to develop via a diamond 9 activity. Once students have sorted the cards, you can extend their understanding of the topic further by discussing or explaining in an extended piece of writing which problem was the most significant or important. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: The reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 1558 - 1603 Know: What problems faced Elizabeth I when she became queen in 1558? Understand: Which problems were linked to money, religion, poverty, defence, relations with other countries, marriage? Evaluate: Which problems posed the greatest threat to Elizabeth I? WILF – What Am I Looking For? Identify & describe: What problems did Elizabeth I? Explain: Which problems were linked to money, religion, poverty, foreign relations, marriage and defence? Analyse: Which problem posed the greatest threat to Elizabeth I? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This great diamond 9 cctivity is designed to help students studying the key reasons why the Native Americans were defeated by the US government. It can be used as a revision tool, starter or plenary for the full range of ability and should work alongside any main stream resource on this topic. If you are looking for something more suited to lower and middle ability students, then I have several more tradition card sort on this topic. When you purchase this great resource you will be able to download a fully editable Microsoft Word document which can be differentiated further if you wish. The resource includes nine diamond shaped cards which include one of the reasons why the Native Americans were defeated. Once students have cut the cards out, they are set three tasks including: Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. Make a smaller diamond shape using the four most important reasons to explain why the Native Americans were defeated. Record and explain your reasons. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explain. This is absolutely crucial for developing those critical thinking skills that we associate with diamond 9 activities. Once students have sorted the cards, you can extend their understanding further by discussing or writing an extended answer explaining which factor played the most important role in their defeat. The aims and objectives of this lesson are: Theme: The American West Know: How were the Native Americans defeated by the US Government? Understand: How did the US government undermine the Native American way of life? Evaluate: Which factor was the most important in undermining their way of life? WILF - What Am I Looking For? Identify and describe: How did the US Government defeat the Native Americans? Explain: What tactics and strategies did they use to undermine their way of life? Analyse: Which factor or combination of factors was the most successful? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This outstanding lesson is designed to provide stretch and challenge for middle and upper ability students studying why the Slave Trade was abolished in 1807? The core task revolves around students sorting a series of diamond shaped cards which explain why the slave trade was abolished revolving around economics, religion, slave resistance and the work of the abolitionists. The accompanying PowerPoint has been designed to provided to help facilitate the lesson, set the scene and provide a range of activities to help deepen and extend your students understanding of the debate. If you are looking for a similar activity for lower and middle ability students, then please check out my card sort on this topic. When you purchase this resource, you will be able to download two documents. The first is a single page Word Document which includes aims, instructions and nine diamond shaped cards tobe sorted. The second resource is a thirteen slide PowerPoint presentation which has been designed to help facilitate the lesson. It includes starters, plenaries, information slides, and additional activities that could be used to support your students including a source analysis of the views of four historians. For more information please see the detailed preview which includes screen shots of most of the slides. The aims and objectives of the lesson are: Theme: Britain and the Transatlantic Slave Trade Know: Why was the Slave Trade abolished? Understand: What different factors influenced Parliament in 1807? Evaluate: Which factor was the most influential in persuading MPs? Skills: Cause, Consequence, Significance & Collaboration WILF – What Am I Looking For? Identify & describe: Why was the Slave Trade abolished? Explain: What different factories influenced Parliament’s decision in 1807? Analyse: Which factor was the most influential in persuading MPs? If you like this resource then why not check out my other resources on this topic in my TES shop, where many have been bundled together to provide you with further savings. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy

This great resource is designed to help students understand why the causes of the First World War 1914 - 1918. The pedagogy underpinning this strategy is that when we rank items, either statements, objects or images, we are required to make explicit the over- arching relationships by which we organise our knowledge and connect our learning. It can used as a starter or plenary and is suitable for middle to upper ability students as a stretch and challenge task. If you would like something aimed at middle to lower ability students, then please check out my card sort of this topic in my TES shop. This task is primarily designed to help students prioritise the different factors in preparation for an extended answer or essay. The resource nine diamond shaped cards which include a range of factors to explain the causes of the First World War. Once students have cut the cards out they are set three tasks including: 1. Remove any reasons that you don’t think are important. Record and explain why you have removed them. 2. Arrange the remaining diamonds to show any links that you can find between the different reasons. Record and explain your reasons. 3. Make a smaller diamond shape using what you think are the four most important causes of the First World War. At each stage students should be feeding back to their group or the class and explaining their choices. The discussion and explanation around the choices that they have made are critical in helping them develop their thinking skills as well as their arguments for writing their essay. The aims and objectives for this lesson are: Theme: Causes of the First World War 1914 - 1918 Know: What were the causes of the First World War? Understand: What were the political, economic and social causes of the First World War? Evaluate: Which factors were the most important? WILF: What Am I Looking for? Identify & describe: The main reasons why the First World War started in 1914? Explain: How did each factor help to start the war? Analyse: Which factors were the most important? If you like this resource then why not check out my TES shop where you can find many similar ideas and resources. For example, we have a much simpler card sort on the causes of the First World War aimed at middle and lower ability students. You can also follow ‘The History Academy’ on Twitter, Google Plus, YouTube and Facebook for the latest updates or even to get in touch and chat about how you have used this resource or to ask questions. We aim to produce cheap and affordable resources for either the price of a good cup of coffee or a happy meal so that you can spend more time doing the things that you want. Anyway, have fun and stay in touch via social media for the latest updates. Kind Regards Roy