Key Stage 3 lesson for a scheme of work on The Rise of The Dictators. In this lesson we recap on the causes of the Russian Revolution. We then introduce the idea of Communism and Karl Marx’s beliefs. The pupils look at the scenario he envisaged may result in Communism and summarise the stages and draw symbols to represent each stage. We then look at Lenin’s actions to change Russia. The pupils divide his changes into good ideas and bad ideas and explain why. We then look at how much the West feared communism in a ‘thermometer’ analyis. The pupils have to justify how much the governments of Western democracies feared communism at that time. We finish with a ‘to what extent’ question. I hope this proves useful and saves you some time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

Key Stage 3 lesson for a scheme of work on The Rise of The Dictators. In this lesson we look at the Russian Revolution of 1917 and its causes. We begin by looking at Tsar Nicholas II, we then watch a video clip on the reasons for the Revolution. We use info cards and visual hexagons to examine the causes in more detail. We then look at the rise of the Bolsheviks and the pupils create a scroll through history to explain the events of the rise of Bolshevism. We look at a source featuring Lenin and finish on a “to what extent” question. I hope this proves useful and saves you some time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

Revision task for geographical/historical issues. The sails are factors that contribute to progress, the anchors are factors that hinder progress in tackling the issue. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

Another retrieval practice slide that is fully editable so please feel free to download and adapt. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

A Key Stage 3 one hour lesson, but can easily be stretched to a double or two singles. This is an alternative way of teaching this subject and the pupils just love it. The presentation includes the scripts, characters and sound effects for amusement. There is a variety of roles for pupils of different reading abilities and confidence. The pupils can fill in a worksheet as the play progresses. There is also a feedback summary activity for pupils to choose to answer an question on an aspect of the story. The lesson is a lot of fun and could even be done as a play or assembly. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the actions taken to end WWI. We start with a simple true or false retrieval practice quiz. We then have a recap of the Hundred Days Offensive with some questions. We then use a thermometer analysis to look at increasing problems for Germany and the pupils explain why they have given the ratings that they have and explain what the most serious issues for Germany were. We then look at the events of the signing of the armistice and the pupils look at the terms of the agreement. They record how the German public would react to the terms of the armistice and explain why. We then compare two sources from General Hindenburg and the pupils look for and explain differences. We then finish the lesson with a video clip and a task to see to what extent the terms of the armistice were too harsh on Germany. This could be done as a simple show of hands or a full written task. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the Hundred Days Offensive and the ending battles of WWI. We start with a simple ‘if this is the answer, what is the question?’ retrieval practice quiz. We then have a brief recap of the events of the failed Ludendorff Offensive and Germany’s precarious position. We then look at Foch’s plan for the offensive in a video clip and the pupils think about Germany’s preparedness for the offensive. We then follow events in a series of event slides. The pupils read the information on the board and record the German army’s level of control at that point on the Western Front. This could be done as a round the room or carousel activity. The pupils reflect on what the critical events were. We then use a source comparison question as consolidation and finish with the pupils writing a bio-poem to General Ludendorff. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the reasons for the offensive, the events of the offensive and its ultimate failure. We start with a simple multiple choice retrieval practice quiz. We then have a brief recap of the situation for all sides at the beginning of 1918 and the reasons why Ludendorff felt a major offensive was the only option. After a brief look at Ludendorff’s backstory we watch a video clip whilst the pupils answer questions on the plan itself. We then look step by step at the events of the offensive and the pupils summarise and answer questions. We then record Ludendorff’s reaction as the news of problems with the offensive reaches him. The pupils need to justify why he would react in that manner. We then look at the reasons for the failure of the offensive by using a source and complete some exam practice using a 16 mark ‘to what extent do you agree’ question with guidance. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the war at sea, the Germans use of U-boats and unrestricted U-boat warfare and America’s decision to enter the war. For the Conflict & Tension 1894-1918 unit. We start with a simple retrieval practice quiz. We then look at the U-boat threat in detail, firstly by looking at the design and function of the U-boats and then by watching a video clip where the pupils answer questions about how they were used. The pupils then consider how the British responded to the threat and what innovations were adopted. We then progress to look at the sinking of the Lusitania and the pupils complete a tensionometer to record the rising tensions between the USA and Germany. We look at a source “Destroy this Mad Brute” and the pupils answer questions. There are two plenary options to assess the impact or potential impact of America entering the war. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

Another quick retrieval practice slide based on field sketches. This one is High Force Waterfall on the River Tees. Hope it proves useful. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

A simple coasts retrieval practice starter using a geography field sketch. Please feel free to use and adapt as you see fit. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

An Ordnance Survey themed retrieval practice starter slide. With differing levels of question difficulty according to the contour lines and various map symbols for the pupils to try to recall. Please feel free to download and adapt. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the war at sea, the naval blockade and the Battle of Jutland for the Conflict & Tension 1894-1918 unit. We start with a simple retrieval practice timeline quiz. We then have a recap on the naval arms race before looking at why a blockade was an effective tactic against Germany and the impact that the blockade had on Germany at home. Pupils explain each effect and try to explain how this would impact Germany. We then look at the early engagements in the Indian and Southern Atlantic Ocean before looking at the new German approach using ‘bait ships’. The pupils analyse the events of the Battle of Jutland using sources and an information strip and reach a reasoned conclusion as to who won the battle. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

This is the template I use to get the pupils to predict what a physical landform might look like in the future. Please feel free to adapt and use!

AQA GCSE history lesson on the Third Battle of Ypres & The Battle of Passchendaele for the Conflict & Tension 1894-1918 unit. We start with a simple retrieval practice timeline quiz. We start by looking at the position of Ypres on the Western Front and it’s tactical significance. We then look at the fighting that had taken place at Ypres since the start of the war. The pupils watch a video clip and answer some questions. We then complete a text analysis of the build up to the Third Battle of Ypres and Passchendaele. The pupils highlighting allied successes and failures. We then look at the events of the battle itself, the pupils anticipate problems and also answer questions on a summary strip of the events. We then watch some clips about the battle and look at some photo sources of Passchendaele to give a sense of the battle. The pupils then complete a battle summary sheet using the information gained so far. We then compare the Somme and Passchendaele in a hexagon Venn diagram looking for similarities and differences in military tactics, outcomes, individuals involved. We finish with a to what extent type plenary, where we look at the impact the weather had on Passchendaele. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the Battle of The Somme for the Conflict & Tension 1894-1918 unit. We start with a simple retrieval practice quiz. We then introduce Douglas Haig and his warning to British Politicians of the need to accept more losses in order to defeat the Germans. We then look at Rawlinson and Haig’s plan for July 1st. The pupils summarise the stages of the plan and write any concerns they might have about the tactics used. We then have a text analysis of the events of the battle with the pupils highlighting the successes and failures of the allied troops. We then look at the criticism of General Haig for the losses and how the soldiers felt about the offensive. We then complete a battle summary sheet before tackling an exam question. We finish with an Ode to Douglas Haig if there is time. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on the battle of Verdun for the Conflict & Tension 1894-1918 unit. We start with a simple retrieval practice quiz. We then look at the location of Verdun and why the German’s thought that an offensive there would be effective. The pupils watch a video clip and answer questions on Falkenhayn’s plan, we then look at the events of the battle. The pupils read a sample of text and answer the questions relating to the text around the outside. We then move on the the aftermath and the pupils complete a battle summary sheet. There is a source activity and exam practice question. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on how the assassination of Franz Ferdinand happened in June 1914. We start with a simple retrieval practice quiz. We then look at Gavrilo Princip’s past and discuss how Princip was one of many who had a deep hatred of Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia. We then look at the events of the 28th June and the movements of Franz Ferdinand that day, the pupils create an annotated map for this, we then, after watching a brief video clip and considering the aftermath, write a narrative on how events in The Balkan’s lead to the assassination. There is an optional bio-poem task on Princip also. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on how the assassination of Franz Ferdinand start a chain reaction of declarations of war in 1914. We start with a simple retrieval practice quiz. We then have a brief recap of the murder of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo. The pupils have a picture source to look at. We then look at Austria-Hungary’s demands of Serbia. The pupils record the demands and explain how acceptable the demands are to Serbia. We then look at the events of the July Crisis is a sequence of slides. The pupils will record the tension levels in Europe as the events progress by creating a bar chart until a pan-European war is declared. The pupils then revisit the alliance source (a threatening situation) and answer some questions based on the source. We finish with a 16 mark “To what extent” question with some guidance on what the pupils can write about. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer

AQA GCSE history lesson on how the major European powers took to re-armament before WWI. We start by looking at the British Empire at the end of the 19th Century. The pupils then complete a hexagon task on Britain’s status and position before the war. The pupils gather information on: The empire, Britain’s problems, British society, economic power, ruling Britain and military power. There are some info slides for this and could be taught as a gallery activity, round robin or timed notes etc. We then look at what ‘splendid isolation’ meant in terms of foreign policy. The pupils then rank the threats to Britain’s isolated status and explain what the main threats to Britain was at that time. We then look at a source of the signing of the Entente Cordiale before completing an extentometer activity on the cause of Britain’s abandonment of isolationism. Hope you find this useful and it saves you some planning time. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/markthegeographer