The American West, c1835-c1895, GCSE 9-1 Edexcel The aim of this lesson is to explore the consequences of the Battle of Little Big Horn as public perceptions of the Plains Indians changed from weak savages to a real threat. Students are introduced to General Custer before analysing some text on the causes of the Battle and his subsequent defeat. For further challenge, they are then given some fragments of sentences which they have to fill out and complete. They are also required use key words to evaluate the consequences of the battle and recognise a new direction of policy for the US Government when dealing with the Plains Indians. The plenary is to create a brewing pot of ingredients which led to Custer’s last stand and defeat. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. Some retrieval practice is also included to recall the significance of treaties. It comes in Powerpoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

The American West, c1835-c1895, GCSE 9-1 Edexcel The aim of this lesson is to explore the consequences of overstocking the open range and the subsequent move to small ranches after the Great Die up of 1886-87. Students are required to tackle some GCSE exam question practice from the start as they have to work out reasons why and the consequences for the changes to the cattle industry. They also analyse the impact on cowboys and reasons for a decline in their demand. Students are also challenged into deciding which policies went before or after 1887 and what constituted this new change in direction. The plenary requires them to demonstrate what they have learnt in the lesson using a summarising pyramid. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. It comes in Powerpoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

The American West 1835-1895, GCSE 9-1 Edexcel The aim of this lesson is to examine the consequences of the extermination of the buffalo and the effect on the Plains Indians way of life. Students analyse the reasons how the buffalo were exterminated and then discuss why this was possible, with some prompts to help them. They also have to answer some key questions on the impact of this extermination and are required to plan a debate taking on the role of a white settler or a Plains Indian. There is some follow up exam question practice using the ‘consequences’ question worth 8 marks, with help given if required. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. Some recall retrieval practice is also included using the Blockbusters game, complete with changing colours and music! It comes in Powerpoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

The British Empire The aims of the lesson are to decide who were the main beneficiaries of British rule in India. The opening slides introduce the views of modern historians to those at the time such as Cecil Rhodes, with a video link setting the scene for British rule in India and a thinking quilt to challenge students. Throughout, students are encouraged to gather and analyse the evidence to make their own judgements and conclusions. There are some beneficial aspects to British rule shown such as the building of railways, the provision of education and the introduction of law and order in the country. A focus on Mumbai’s railway station facade and its network cites the legacy of Empire as well. But at the same time a lack of sympathy for traditional customs and religious beliefs, an inadequacy of Indian officials in Government and the promotion of British wealth and power above all else will give students a lot of conflictory evidence. In the plenary, students will rate how beneficial an Empress Queen Victoria actually was for bringing India under direct British control. 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 lessons are fully adaptable in PowerPoint format and can be changed to suit.

The American West, c1835-c1895, GCSE 9-1 Edexcel The aim of this lesson is to recognise the implications of the passing of the Dawes Act of 1887 and the final assimilation of the Plains Indians by the US Government. Students begin and end the lesson with a retrieval wheel using key words they have to define, which have been used throughout the course. Students are also challenged into deciding which policies went before or after 1887 and what constituted this new change in direction. They analyse the Dawes Act in detail and make inferences from it before they evaluate its impact on the Plains Indians. There is also some source analysis to complete as well as colour coding a thinking quilt linking key terms and their definitions. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. It comes in Powerpoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

The Norman Conquest The aims of this lesson are to understand what the crusades were about, the significance of Jerusalem and the Holy Land and why medieval Europe answered the call of the Pope to fight there. There is some context given to the Holy Land at the start of the lesson, with some analysis of the Holy sites in Jerusalem and their significance as well as a map showing the journey of the crusaders. Students are given a character card at the start of the lesson and discover the reasons why they abd others embarked on a ‘religious’ crusade. They will plot what happens to their character throughout the lesson and learn the final consequences of their chosen actions. There are a number of differentiated learning tasks to complete, including analysis of sources and text as well as video footage, questions and plenaries to complete. This is an engaging, challenging and interactive lesson which requires students to think independently and justify their choices as well as considering the morality, the significance and impact of all five crusades of Medieval Europe. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end using a rate ‘o’ meter to show the progress of learning. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. It comes in PowerPoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

Edexcel GCSE 9-1 Medicine Through Time, c1250-present These key individual flashcards aim to get the students thinking of key people and their significance in medicine. I always find students have revised thoroughly for exams, but do not push their grades into the higher brackets as they focus on content rather than the individual’s impact and importance, particularly over time. These flashcards are great when addressing the 12 mark ‘explain why’ question, particularly when arguing over rapid change. There are 33 individuals listed, including those for the Historic Environment; The British sector of the Western Front. Students can use them in class (I use them as starters and plenaries) or to take home and use for their own personal revision programme. I also display them in the classroom (enlarged) and use when teaching this unit of study. The resource comes in Powerpoint format if there is a wish to adapt and change.

The Holocaust The aims of this lesson are to explain who was put on trial at Nuremberg, the crimes they were charged with and their category of criminality ranging from major offenders to followers. Students begin by learning about Denazification and how this was implemented immediately after the war, before Cold War tensions took over. They also learn why Nuremberg was chosen as the place for the trials. The main task requires them to analyse up to 8 individuals and how they ‘conducted’ themselves during World War II. Students then have to decide which of the four war crimes they committed and which category of prisoner they would come under. They also have to judge whether their sentences would be death by shooting, hanging or a prison sentence. The verdicts are given later in the Powerpoint so students can check and compare their answers. There is an accompanying video task which looks at Nuremberg 75 years on, with some brilliant footage of holocaust survivors and the son of Hans Frank, the Butcher of Poland. The central enquiry of this and the other lessons in the bundle is to ask who was to blame for the holocaust? Students 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 a lightbulb) and build up a picture of how difficult it is to blame a single individual or event for this catastrophe. 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.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to explore how and why the D-Day landings were a success. Students are given the details about the Atlantic Wall and learn how Hitler’s attempts to design and build it ultimately led to its flaws and weakness in repelling the Allied forces in June 1944. Furthermore, students have to decide which landing site would be more advantageous to the Allies, the port of Calais or the beaches of Normandy. They also analyse the various ingenious inventions of the Allies from the Mulberry Harbours to the underwater PLUTO pipeline. There are some excellent visual sources to accompany the lesson and well as video footage from the BBC. 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. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout to show the progress of learning.

World War II The aim of the lesson is to question whether the America was justified in dropping two atomic bombs of Japan in 1945. Students will give their initial thoughts and reasons why before evidence is presented before them. Various modern interpretations suggest that Japan was about to unconditionally surrender and therefore the use of the atomic bomb was unnecessary. Therefore students are given the context of the war in the Pacific with four scary facts - the Japanese refusal to surrender in battle, the treatment of prisoners of war, the role of Kamikaze pilots and the end of the war in Europe in April 1945. There are some fabulous video links and visual images to analyse. The final task requires students to categorise information into reasons why America decided to use its lethal weapons, including a show of power to Stalin and the Soviet Union. The plenary uses a true or false quiz to check recall and understanding. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to question whether countries should accept refugees in times of war. The start of the lesson examines who refugees are and why they may have to leave their country of origin in times of war. A modern day example of Syrian Refugees coming to Britain is used. Students are then questioned about how the Governments of the World, including Britain, reacted to refugees with their worries and quotas put in place. A case study of the Kindertransport is used with the story of one such Jewish refugee. Students will decide how this refugee might have felt with examples using the text. There is also a statistical challenge and a true and false plenary quiz aimed at correcting some misconceptions. Finally some excellent video footage is used to accompany the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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

World War II The aim of this lesson is to analyse the reasons behind Hitler’s invasion of Poland and to evaluate if his actions were justified. Within this lesson, students learn about Blitzkrieg, making comparisons with the static and attritional First World War and understanding how the German Army had learnt from their previous mistakes. Students have to also complete a thinking quilt to test their comprehension and literacy skills as it requires them to explain and justify these initial German successes in 1939 and 1940. The plenary finally asks the students to predict what is about to happen in the future through conjecture and formulation their opinions using the information from the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to decide if everyone celebrated VE Day and the end of World War 2 in May 1945. At first glance, it would appear so as famous pictures at Trafalgar Square show soldiers and civilians alike celebrating as well as the famous faces on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Students are also given information about the lead up to the German surrender in the form of a quiz, in which they have to choose the right options to gain points. However, further investigation reveals the Americans were still fighting the Japanese in the Pacific, as well as prisoners of war still held captive around the world. Students also have to consider the terrible losses people had gone through and therefore had little cause to celebrate. I have also included some curious questions such as why did divorce rates surge at the end of the war or why were there rumours that soldiers were to be trained in jungle warfare? There is lots of video evidence from the time to accompany the lesson as well as a talking heads plenary, which analyses which leader said what at the end of the war in Europe. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited at the end 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.

World War II The aim of the lesson is to question if it is right to help your enemy. Once the students decide what a collaborator is and the punishments involved, they have to make a judgement if they agree with collaborating in times of war or not. Their opinions are challenged throughout the lesson. They analyse the reasons for collaboration and complete a thinking quilt which challenges their literacy and evaluation skills. There are some brilliant sources to accompany the lesson, including visual images from the time as well as a case study of Chaim Rumkowski who helped the Nazis believing it was the key to Jewish survival in the ghettoes. The plenary is a retrieval practice activity deciding which is the odd one out. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to question whether the breaking of the Enigma Code led to Britain winning the Second World War. Having watched the ‘Imitation Game’, I was fascinated to learn more about the story of Alan Turing and the injustice he received at the hands of the British Government. I was therefore inspired to write this lesson for my department especially after his contribution to the war effort and his brilliance of mind. The first task naturally is for students to crack the code and find out what they will be learning about in the lesson. They will also learn about the significance of Bletchley Park and how the code for the Enigma Machine was deciphered by Turing and his team in Hut 8, using a missing word activity. A thinking quilt will also test and challenge their understanding of his early life, his work during the war as well as his legacy. There are some excellent video links using the bbc website and an exert from the film above. The plenary will finally test their understanding of the lesson, using a true and false quiz as well as images to link to the key ideas of the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

The American West 1835-1895, GCSE 9-1 Edexcel The aim of this lesson is to understand the significance of the Johnson County War and the consequences of the range wars between Homesteaders and Cattle Barons. Students are given the context of the range wars, before they have to predict what might happen as they are given 12 key scenarios ranging from the growth of the WSGA, the killing of Ella Watson and Jim Averill and the beginning and end of the Johnson County war. The plenary is a horse race team game where a series of questions are asked. Correct answers allow their horses to progress around the course. There is some follow up exam question practice using the ‘consequences’ question worth 8 marks with help given if required. The resource is differentiated and gives suggested teaching strategies. Some recall retrieval practice is also included using a talking heads activity. It comes in Powerpoint format which can be amended and changed to suit.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to understand how the Allies won the Battle of the Atlantic, a phrase coined by Winston Churchill during the war. Churchill himself felt this was one of the most serious threats facing the Allies and therefore during the lesson, students have to evaluate and explain how serious the threat was, before analysing the different ways the Allies subsequently reduced the threat of the U boats. Students learn why the Atlantic was so vital to Britain and how the U boat wolf packs impacted on supplies and rationing in Britain. There is various video footage to use from the BBC, as well as the boasts of Uncle Albert from Only Fools and Horses. A find and fix activity for the plenary checks student understanding of the lesson and allow them to discuss what they have learnt. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to understand how the British Government prepared for war and why it introduced rationing. The lesson begins by deciding which foods were rationed and why. Students will also have to work out which foods also became unavailable and the reasons for this. There has always been an assumption that as foods were rationed and restricted, people on the Home Front therefore struggled to make ends meet. Students are given information on all the goods rationed and compare this to the recommended weekly healthy intake per person today. As they will soon find out, rationing did not always mean everyone suffered as a result. Students will also be required to analyse the effectiveness of some posters at the time, encouraging people to grow their own food and well as a comprehension task and a challenging thinking quilt on clothes rationing. The plenary uses flashcards to question their understanding of the lesson. The lesson comes complete with embedded videos and a lesson plan on how to use the activities. It is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

The English Civil War The aim of this lesson is to evaluate the reign of Charles II who was determined to stamp his authority and bring back some sense of ‘normality’ to the country. Students will be given the context of his return with a Head and Tails activity and an excellent video, in which they will have to justify his cautious return. As well as reassessing how his brought back ‘partying’ to the country, some source scholarship requires students to summarise paragraphs and create images and headings to show and clarify understanding. Students will also have to put themselves in the shoes of Charles to sort out some of his problems in the restoration. A ‘talk like an expert’ activity for the plenary will show off their new found knowledge and skills from the lesson. The lesson is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.

World War II The aim of this lesson is to assess how Channel islanders survived the war with the only occupation of British soil by German armed forces. Britain had taken the decision to leave the Channel islands undefended. Therefore students are questioned as to why this decision was taken and how they might feel being at the mercy of the German occupation. Use of a text and a thinking quilt will help students analyse the ways in which islanders survived, through rationing, acts of resistance and their treatment by the German soldiers garrisoned there. The Germans attempted to make it a model occupation with respect shown to the islanders, but with curfews and censorship, students have to evaluate if this was the case. Some excellent video footage will also explain the treatment of prisoners of war moved to the island to help build the Atlantic Wall defences and how they attempted to manage under appalling conditions. Some real life testimony from survivors is also given to allow students to evaluate fully the significance of the occupation and survival techniques developed to survive. A big thank you in my research for this lesson goes to Dan Snow and his podcast on the occupation as well as the book by Duncan Barrett, ‘When the Germans came’, as well as testimony from a family friend who is still a resident on Jersey. It is enquiry based with a key question using a lightbulb posed at the start of the lesson and revisited throughout 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.