This is a cut and stick activity. Students must decide which of the terms relate to war guilt, reparations, military restrictions and land. There is a differentiated version for lower ability students. Students then decide on the worst of the punishments, placing themselves in the position of Germany. Students are invited to consider the extent to which the terms of the treaty met the aims of the Big Three. This can lead to a piece of extended writing on which would be the worst aspect of the Treaty, or on comparing aspects of the treaty as per GCSE high–mark questions. Videos can be used to support learning.

A cut and stick activity which leads to a piece of judgemental writing on successes of the League of Nations. Students match up point of success to the evidence surrounding it. They stick each matched point and piece of evidence into the table. This could alternatively be recorded in the venn diagram. They then give their own explanation, such as ‘This was a more / less meaningful success because…’ Students can categorise and prioritise the different aspects of success, into areas such as local peacekeeping, global peacekeeping and global improvement. More able students can explain which was the most significant of the achievements, in the short and long term. This is an ideal activity for preparing students for longer-answer exam questions. It allows discussion to develop as students explain their thoughts and defend them in front of their peers.

A lesson on the development of thee British Empire. A blank copy of a world map is attached for a labelling exercise of the colonies of the Empire. Students complete card sorting activity on the reasons for the development of the empire. They can be challenged to come up with their own categories, or those on the table in the PowerPoint can be used. It can be done as a diamond 9 activity for more able students. There is a differentiated copy for lower-ability students. Students can decide on the key reason(s) and give their own explanation. It could also be one as a venn diagram using the venn diagram template, Finish by explaining the main trading routes, and have students draw these on their blank map.

This is an interactive information sheet for GCSE students. Students look through the information about sod houses. They can make a storyboard on how sod houses were created. They are then invited to look at problems for people living in sod houses, and finally make a comparison with tipis by filling in a similarities and differences table. This can lead to a piece of extended writing comparing sod houses and tipis.

This is a cut and stick or card sorting resource for the History A GCSE syllabus. Students can firstly arrange the problems for the Mormons which happened a) before or during the journey to the Great Salt Lake and b)on arrival at the Great Salt Lake. More able students can then arrange them in order of importance as an extension. The second part of the activity is to match the solutions to the problems. Some have multiple solutions, others just one. More able students can decide on the most effective solution to the problems, and a discussion can be generated on the reasons for the Mormons’ success, such as the leadership of Brigham Young, or dedication of the individual Mormons. This can lead to a piece of extended writing on the Mormons’ journey.

This is a card sort for GCSE / A level students to arrange into chronological order the events in Hitler’s rise to power. There is a differentiated version for lower ability students. They are currently in the right order! As an extension, students can identify and explain 1/2/3 events which they feel were turning points in Hitler’s rise. This can lead to an extended piece of writing, or discussion.

This is a card sort or diamond 9 activity designed to allow students to categorise and prioritise the reasons that Japan invaded Manchuria. Students are then challenged to justify their decision on the most important of the reasons, and give their own reactions to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria, evaluating the key reason and thoughts on the League’s role. Categories could include, but not be limited to: Manchuria (unique location / problems) Japan’s strength League members’ weakness Others It can be done as a Venn diagram using the second sheet.

This is an activity for GCSE students. They should arrange the events into chronological order - it can be done as a card sort, cut and stick or a numbering exercise. They then have a series of questions to answer to explain and justify their thoughts on the reactions of Hitler and Chamberlain. It finishes with an exam-style question for the new GCSE spec.

This is a card sort or diamond 9 activity designed to allow students to categorise and prioritise reasons for the American entry to WWII. More able students can use the cards to explain their thoughts on the most important reason for the American entry to WWII, and decide how important Pearl Harbour was. Categories could include, but not be limited to: Pearl Harbour and aftermath USA’s desire to help allies Political desire to join the war Nazi aggression It could be done as a venn diagram using the second sheet.

A resource for students to compare and contrast the lives of Hitler and Stalin. I use it as an introduction to sixth form units, or with high-ability year 9s. There are definitions of key words to help with literacy, and information sheets on aspects of the lives of Hitler and Stalin. Students read the information, either displayed around the room or printed off as handouts. They fill in the table of information about each character, and then complete the similarites and differences section.

This PowerPoint allows teachers to show students some of the goods, ideas and knowledge that retuned to Europe from the Holy Land. The details on the third slide can be brought up on the whiteboard one by one for students to fill in to their own copy of the table, or the slide can be printed and used as a cut and stick.

This is a source based assessment in which students look at a source about King John, and decide how accurate it is. A writing frame and mark scheme is included. The mark scheme applies NC levels, but can easily be converted to GCSE-style grades.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that the KKK were a menace to black Americans. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less serious reasons, and there is a further extension question for more able students. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, violence, non-violenmce and ceremonies.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that Islamic medicine was different to Europe’s. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, knowledge, doctors/surgeons, religion, care for the sick and others.

This is a resource for GCSE students. Students look at reasons for the Plains Indian Wars starting, and look at the incidents surrounding the Sioux and the US Government. Students firstly put the events into chronological order. They are then invited to answer questions on why the Indians were angry at the Government, and how the Government justified its actions - Manifest Destiny. Students can explain which they feel were the most offensive to the Indians. This can lead to an extended piece of writing. There is a differentiated version of the cards for lower ability students.

This is a card sorting resource to allow students to judge the effectiveness of the NHS. Students can sort the cards into groups to do with costs, public health and other factors. Students can sort the cards into groups to do with positives and negatives. There are questions at the bottom of the sheet, for more able students, to do with the best/worst point about the NHS, and are invited to explain their own thoughts. This can lead to a piece of extended writing on the effectiveness of the NHS.

A card sort which allows students to place in chronological order the events (from Aug. 1961 to 1965) which saw the construction of and life under the Berlin Wall. Students can explain what they think are the most important events in the story of the Berlin Wall. They can place themselves in the position of a) East Berliners, b) West Berliners c) the USSR, d) the USA and write an explanation of their feelings.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that the US economy boomed in the 1920s. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons. There is also an exam question, suitable for the new GCSE. This can lead to a class discussion. Categories could include, but not be limited to, new products/services, new techniques/technologies, confidence in banks/economy and others.

This is a diamond 9 card sort to categorise and prioritise the reasons that the League failed in the 1930s. As an extension, you can challenge students to explain the more / less important reasons, which were short and long term factors and some examples of each factor. This can lead to a class discussion, or an exam question on why the League failed. Categories could incllude, but not be limited to, Hitler, the League’s members, the actions of powerful countries, the actions of Britain and France, the League’s weaknesses, and others.

This is a card sort or diamond 9 activity designed to allow students to categorise and prioritise reasons for the outbreak of WWII. As an extension, students can use the cards to explain their thoughts on the most important reason for the outbreak of WWII, and apportion responsibility to the major nations involved. More able students have a differentiated resource which allows them to exemplify and explain each of the reasons given. Categories could include, but not be limited to: The Treaty of Versailles The League of Nations Hitler’s foreign policy It could be done as a venn diagram using the second sheet.