Keystage 2 Free Samples

Imaginative learning activities at Key Stage 2

Making ostracons from Ancient Greece
This section accompanies the ones on teaching and learning approaches. It offers you a few ideas you may not have tried for a while, or at least not within the current topic.  It is always a good idea to whet pupils' appetite for a topic...
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The opening of Tutankhamun’s tomb KS2: KQ3 part 1

Tutankhamun's tomb

The opening of Tutankhamun's tomb: a reconstruction relay

The activity that forms the basis of this lesson is called reconstruction relay. It is GUARANTEED to enthuse even the most recalcitrant Y4 boy! Pupils have to travel down a tunnel of tables to see pictures of the...
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The mystery of the empty Saxon grave

This highly engaging lesson places pupils in the role of detectives. After a short briefing they have to work out the significance of the various clues found in the bodiless ship burial. They then use their deductive power to work out which of 4 suspects...
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Eric the evacuee

Eric the Evacuee

Extending the BBC website on Eric the evacuee

The BBC children’s history section has been in touch with the school asking for their help in extending their website section on Eric the evacuee. There is nothing wrong with it: indeed, it is very popular. That’s why...
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Long term planning for history at Key Stage 1

Superficially, Key Stage1 seems the least complex history curriculum to plan because the burden of content to be covered seems manageable. Scratch beneath the short section that describes the demands of Key Stage 1 history and you'll find lurking some significant issues to be resolved....
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Linking history with numeracy; a Tudor enquiry

hardwick hall lesson

More glass than wall? Is this a fair description of Hardwick Hall? And how do we find out?

This SMART task links history with numeracy asking pupils to apply numeracy techniques to a famous historical building.  Pupils are shown a photograph of an early Tudor building,...
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Primary History: Teaching Victorian Britain Key Stage 2

Is this what Dickens' London looked like?
Astonishingly, at a stroke, Gove has removed the Victorians from the KS2 history curriculum where it had reigned supreme for decades. At least he thinks he has. Most primary teachers will not give up this topic without a struggle so will either use their locality...
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Victorian Cities

Victorian cities

If life was so hard for families in the towns why did so many leave the countryside and move to the towns in Victorian times? - a history mystery

Starting a lesson with an apparent contradiction is a good way of engaging pupils interest....

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Extending the BBC website on Eric the evacuee KQ2

Eric the Evacuee
The BBC children’s history section has been in touch with the school asking for their help in extending their website section on Eric the evacuee.  There is nothing wrong with it: indeed, it is very popular.  That’s why they want to make it longer. There...
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The mystery of the empty Saxon grave. Anglo-Saxons KQ2

Saxon Grave KS2
This highly engaging lesson places pupils in the role of detectives.  After a short briefing they have to work out the significance of the various clues found in the bodiless ship burial.  They then use their deductive power to work out which of 4 suspects...
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Assessment of interpretations of Boudicca

Boudicca

Below is an account of an assessment task on Boudicca , with downloadable resources,  just one of many assessed tasks on the site.  You will find at least one for each history-led topic covering the full range of skills and concepts.  They tell you...

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