Keystage history

Outstanding Lessons: Key Stage 1

If you have ever searched the internet for inspiration for your history sessions you will know how frustrating it can…

Using artefacts to help children’s historical understanding at Key Stage 1

Since the early 90s, artefacts have become increasingly available either to purchase or to loan. Many firms offer useful replicas…

Any changes for your history teaching in 2026? I’ve got one

As you will know from the headlines of the government’s recent curriculum review among the changes being recommended concerns local…

Top 10 activities for local history

Whilst the activities you choose to use in your local history study will very much depend on the nature of…

Teaching Local History at Key Stage 2

So, where do we start if we haven’t a clue about Local History? Unlike all other areas of study Local…

8 tough choices for KS1 history subject leaders. Reinforcement or needless repetition?

Plotting your choice, and sequence, of topics at KS1 is much more difficult than many people imagine. And you can’t…

How well do your pupils understand the concept of historical interpretations? A quick diagnostic quiz

Teaching about interpretations in history is one of the hardest challenges KS2 teachers will face. When pupils are searching for…

How to improve your pupils’ writing in history at KS2

‘Low floor-high ceiling’: From short jogs to full marathon Without wanting to do anything that runs counter to your school’s…

Bournemouth – significant people and events

Bournemouth is an influential coastal town known for its strategic location, natural environment, and contribution to learning and innovation. Established…

Edinburgh – significant people and events

Edinburgh is an influential city because it has long been a place where ideas grow and important decisions are made….

Leicester – significant people and events

Above all, studying Leicester provides brilliant opportunities to look at diversity. Ethnic groups make up the majority of the population…

Brighton – significant people and events

Brighton is an influential seaside city known for its creativity, diversity and bold ideas. It grew as a popular resort…

London – significant people and events

London is an influential city because it has been a centre of power, ideas and culture for hundreds of years….

Cardiff – significant people and events

Cardiff is an influential capital city where ideas, leadership and culture meet. It grew from a small town into a…

Belfast – significant people and events

Belfast is an influential city because it is a place of building, learning and big change. It grew quickly as…

Sheffield – significant people and events

Sheffield is a city of makers, famous for “steel and skill.” For a long time, hot furnaces and busy workshops…

Bristol – significant people and events

Bristol is an influential city in the South West of England because it has been an important place for travel,…

Nottingham – significant people and events

Nottingham is an influential city in England because it has inspired important ideas, stories and people for centuries. It is…

Newcastle – significant people and events

Newcastle is an influential city in the North East of England because it helped power Britain’s growth and inspired many…

Liverpool – significant people and events

Liverpool is one of Britain’s most influential cities because its port is connected the country to the wider world and…

Southampton – significant people and events

Southampton is an influential city on England’s south coast because it has connected people, places and important events for centuries….

Glasgow – significant people and events

Glasgow is one of Scotland’s most influential cities because it has helped shape important ideas and people. In the past,…

Birmingham – significant people and events

Birmingham is one of Britain’s most influential cities because it has helped shape big ideas and important people. In the…

Manchester – significant people and events

Historically significant people associated with the city of Manchester and surrounding area. Manchester is one of Britain’s most historically influential…

Victorians – end of unit quiz

Throughout this unit, we’ve explored what life was like in Britain during Queen Victoria’s long reign, from bustling factories and…

Using the Maya topic to look at changing interpretations

One of the hardest ideas to teach young children is that history is a construct and liable to changing interpretations….

Looking for a new stimulus to teach arrival of Christianity in Saxon Britain?

Earlier this summer (2025) this very rare coin was found, one of the earliest Anglo-Saxon coins in existence. What makes…

Reaction to new curriculum review – November 2025

In the Times today, 6 November, Michael Gove the architect of the existing National Curriculum, predictably weighed in with a…

Historian’s palette – characteristics

We often talk about historical thinking on the site but what about historical writing. How do you help children to…

Historian’s palette – significance

We often talk about historical thinking on the site but what about historical writing. How do you help children to…

Historian’s palette – interpretations

We often talk about historical thinking on the site but what about historical writing. How do you help children to…

Historian’s palette – change and continuity

We often talk about historical thinking on the site but what about historical writing. How do you help children to…

History in the new curriculum review – November 2025

While you weep at the demise of the teaching of fronted adverbials! ( ha, ha) you will take comfort in…

Mystery picture – hidden meanings in a Tudor painting

One of the exciting things about teaching history is watching the penny drop with pupils who discover that history is…

Historian’s palette – using sources

We often talk about historical thinking on the site but what about historical writing. How do you help children to…

Historian’s palette – causation

We often talk about historical thinking on the site but what about historical writing. How do you help children to…

Using mini whiteboards in history

So you have you set of mini whiteboards, your zip bag of pens and your whiteboard cleaners. What next? Mini-whiteboards…

Henry and Katherine of Aragon: a love story less well told?

A recent find in a field in Warwickshire is to be sold and the hope is that the British Museum…

Mayan civilisation KS2 – end of unit quiz

You’ve explored the incredible world of the ancient Maya — a people who built great cities, invented their own writing…

Ancient Greece – end of unit quiz

You’ve learned about the amazing people, places, and ideas from thousands of years ago — now it’s time to see…

Castles end of unit quiz – KS1

You’ve discovered how castles were built, what life was like inside the walls, and how they were used to protect…

Great Fire of London end of unit quiz – KS1

In this quiz, you’ll test your knowledge about one of the most famous events in British history — the Great…

Amelia Earhart – assessment task

Disciplinary concept target: Significance Pupils draw on the 4 clues to underline why Amelia Earhart is seen as an important…

Rosa Parks – assessment task

This assessment task provides 3 images which should prompt pupils to show their knowledge and understanding of Rosa Parks’ significance….

Christopher Columbus – assessment task

This assessment task provides clues to help pupils use their subject knowledge in order to explain why Columbus is still…

Black and British – assessment task

This assessment task is different from the others in the KS2 suite of tasks in that it comprises multiple questions…

Amelia Earhart end of unit quiz – KS1

You’ve learned all about the amazing Amelia Earhart — the brave pilot who loved to explore the skies and follow…

Progression in primary history: Top 6 ideas

A lot of you have been tasked with trying to specify what progression looks like in history in your school….

Using AI to improve learning in history: need convincing?

Laura has just taken over as history subject leader from September. She has an interest in history but no qualifications,…

Rosa Parks end of unit quiz – KS1

This quiz will help you remember all the important things we have learned about Rosa Parks. She was a very…

Planner for new KS2 thematic study Black Death to today: Keeping healthy over time

This intrinsically interesting topic has been chosen as a long-term development study as it not only builds on the fact…

Keeping healthy – KQ1 – What does the Black Death of 1348 tell us about people’s knowledge of health 700 years ago?

Pupils are hooked in with a story of the impact of the Black Death on one family. This is followed…

Keystage history

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