Outstanding History Lessons at KS1 | Keystage History

class activity Outstanding history Lessons at KS1. If you have ever searched the internet for inspiration for your history sessions you will know how frustrating it can be. Luckily the answer is at hand. Built up from twenty years’ experience of working with infant schools, the site brings into one place some of the best history lessons you can expect to find. Not only are they logically developed with clear learning objectives, thoughtful structure and fit-for-purpose, fully-resourced activities, they are all in some ways creative or imaginative. They are not run of the mill. They will almost certainly fire your imagination and stimulate an even better idea.

On the move – assessment task

Pupils sequence 3 images of transport over the last 60 years Subscribers only: You must be logged in to view this content in full. Please Login or register

frog bike

On the move – EYFS – KQ1 – What different types of bicycle do we all ride nowadays?

Collection of wheeled vehicles, trikes, scooters etc. What do they have in common? And what is different? Develop vocabulary needed for subsequent discussion e.g. wheels, pedals, spoke, tyre, saddle, handlebars,…

trike

On the move – EYFS – KQ2 – What did we use to move around when we were younger?

Discuss and decide which ages of people would ride in or ride on each bicycle. What features do all the bicycles have in common? Why do some of the bicycles…

family biking

On the move – EYFS – KQ3 – How are the bikes of others in the family different to ours?

Pupils are shown images of older children and adult bikes which they have to match to individual who would ride them nowadays. Who rides THIS bike? matching activity Introduce language…

penny farthing

On the move – EYFS – KQ4 – How different were bikes when your grandparents were your age?

Pupils can sort 6 images into ‘then and now’ and identify 3 ways in which they knew that three were 60 older than the rest. What’s missing? Children are shown…

a380

On the move – EYFS – KQ5 – How else do we move around today?

How else do we move around today? Children are able to list at least 4 different types of most popular vehicles e.g. car, train, plane, boat etc then variants of…

first car

On the move – KS1 – KQ6 – How has transport changed since your grandparents were your age?

Some children extend their understanding of change by sequencing three images. Children increase their vocabulary by including phrases such as in my parents or grandparents’ time. Activity 1 Research when…

local history

Our Top 10 resource suggestions for your local history topic at KS1 and 2

By way of celebrating local history month in May we are offering you top 10 resources you can’t afford to overlook. These sit alongside the other advice files on overall…

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 people long ago. Get ready to travel back in time…

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 Fire of London in 1666. You’ll need to recall what…

amelia earhart by plane

Amelia Earhart – assessment task

Disciplinary concept target: Significance Pupils draw on the 4 clues to underline why Amelia Earhart is seen as an important figure in history. They go beyond her as a daring…

rosa on bus

Rosa Parks – assessment task

This assessment task provides 3 images which should prompt pupils to show their knowledge and understanding of Rosa Parks’ significance. It should enable pupils to show not only the nature…

columbus

Christopher Columbus – assessment task

This assessment task provides clues to help pupils use their subject knowledge in order to explain why Columbus is still remembered today. The use of two images from the USA…

amelia earhart cartoon

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 her dreams. Now it’s time to see what you remember!…

rosa parks police station

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 brave woman who lived in America a long time ago….

wright brothers

Wright Brothers end of unit quiz – KS1

You have learned all about the Wright brothers, who built the first successful flying machine. They were curious, inventive, and never gave up, even when things went wrong. Their hard…

scott of the antarctic

Scott of the Antarctic end of unit quiz – KS1

You have now learned all about the brave explorer Captain Scott and his incredible journey to the coldest place on Earth – Antarctica! He and his team set out to…

mary seacole

Mary Seacole end of unit quiz – KS1

Let’s see what you remember about Mary Seacole! This quiz will help you review what you’ve learned about her amazing life, from her early years to her brave work during…

Mary Anning end of unit quiz – KS1

We’ve been learning all about Mary Anning, the amazing fossil hunter who found prehistoric marine reptiles, including ichthyosaurs and plesiosaurs by the seaside. Now it’s time to see what you…

Edwardian Seaside Postcard

Going to the seaside end of unit quiz – KS1

We’ve had lots of fun learning about the seaside — from what it was like in the past to how people enjoy it today! Now it’s time to see what…

florence nightingale

Florence Nightingale end of unit quiz – KS1

You’ve been learning all about Florence Nightingale — a very special nurse who helped lots of people. Now it’s time to see what you can remember! This quiz will ask…

grace darling

Grace Darling end of unit quiz – KS1

Grace Darling is remembered for doing something very brave a long time ago. She helped others in a time of danger and became a well-known figure in history. In this…

titanic

Sinking of the Titanic – end of unit quiz – KS1

This amazing ship set sail over 100 years ago but ended in a terrible disaster. You’ve learned all about it’s journey, passengers, and what went wrong. Now it’s time to…

castles knowledge organiser

Castles knowledge organiser – KS1

You are learning about castles because they are one of the most fascinating buildings that have been there for hundreds of years. Not only will you learn how castles were…

castle planner

Castles – medium term planner

The main focus of this topic is the exploration of the past beyond living memory through a topic that is sure to spark pupils’ interest and curiosity. There are plenty…

castle

Castles – KQ1 – What makes a castle a castle?

Having elicited pupils’ initial knowledge of castles from books film and family visits, pupils are asked to explore a number of images in order to work out what makes a…

kenilworth castle

Castles – KQ2 – Why did people build castles in the past?

This session is straightforward in that pupils are introduced via a short video to a variety of reasons which not all pupils will fully grasp on first showing. To reinforce…

castles kq3

Castles – KQ3 – What made castles so strong?

Rather than going through all the different methods used chronologically, this really fun session focuses on one year and casts the pupils as advisers to a castle builder who wants…

castle kq4

Castles – KQ4 – What were medieval castles like to live in and how can we possibly know when so many are now ruins?

This five-part lesson starts with pupils in role as workers for company charged with recreating what a medieval castle would have been like in peace. They watch a short video…

castles kq5

Castles – KQ5 – How did castles change over time?

This lesson starts with encouraging pupils to spot differences between 3 castles to give them confidence before working in groups of 4, pupils are given 5 undated images of castles…

castle kq6

Castles – KQ6 – How are castles used today?

Pupils have to deduce from a range of visual clues of castles they will see around them, the uses to which castles are put today and then to consider, using…

Mary anning

Mary Anning – assessment task

Focus: Significance This simple-to-administer, uncomplicated task uses a contemporary image to stimulate pupils to think about Mary Anning’s long-term significance. The accompanying markscheme can be used to align pupils’ responses…

grace darling

Grace Darling – assessment task

Focus: Interpretations Y1 Pupils compare contrasting images of Graces’ rescue and try to explain how and why they are different. Assessment task Subscribers only: You must be logged in to view…

seaside

Seaside – assessment task

Focus: similarity and difference and change Assessing Year 1 children’s understanding of how different going for a swim in the sea was 100 years ago. Assessment task Subscribers only: You must…

william caxton

Caxton and Bell – assessment task

Focus: characteristic features of period & using sources Y2 Using just one image which contains lots of clues, pupils have to explain how they know this is an image of…

Moon landing – assessment task

Focus : Using sources Pupils have to identify key features from a visual source to answer a question regarding the first moon landing. Assessment task Subscribers only: You must be logged…

rosa parks

Rosa Parks knowledge organiser – KS1

Rosa Parks was an important black woman who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself when she was treated unfairly. Her willingness to be arrested for not giving up her…

mary anning

Mary Anning knowledge organiser – KS1

You are learning about Mary Anning because she became very famous at a very young age. She was an expert fossil hunter. At a time when most scientists studying fossils…

wright brothers

Wright brothers – assessment task

In this brief diagnostic assessment task , supported by 4 pictorial clues, pupils are asked to show if they understand the notion of significance by describing not only what the…

titanic lifeboat

Sinking of the Titanic – assessment task – looking at consequences and change

This task asks pupils to consider consequences of the disaster and changes over time arising from it Assessment task and marksheme Subscribers only: You must be logged in to view this…

Florence Nightingale – assessment task

Focus: Change and significance This task offers pupils 3 carefully chose images to support their understanding of the achievements of Florence Nightingale which the pupils have to analyse and go…

amy johnson arrives in darwin

Amy Johnson – assessment task – Can you explain why Amy Johnson was so important?

The children are given the task sheet containing three pictures and the question. Each has been included for a particular purpose to prompt but not to give away too much….

toy train

Toys; old and new – assessment task

Focus concept: Making deductions/ similarity and difference This task is designed to be non-threatening and to be carried out in small groups when the pupils have just been taught the…

scott of the antarctic

Scott of the Antarctic – assessment task Y2

Focus concept: Causation The first task serves as a more gentle introduction to the idea of cause by looking at Scott’s personal motivation. By using the speech bubble device we…

mary seacole

Mary Seacole – Assessment task – Assessing pupils’ understanding of the work of Mary Seacole

Target concepts: characteristic features of the period and significance This task is designed to elicit pupils’ understanding of the contribution of Mary Seacole to the development of nursing. When it…

amy johnson ko

Amy Johnson knowledge organiser – KS1

You are learning about Amy Johnson because she was a very famous British pilot who flew her plane, called Jason, on her own, all the way to Australia. She was…

toys KO

Toys old and new knowledge organiser – KS1

You are learning about old toys to help you to understand the difference between toys people played with in the past and the ones you enjoy playing with today. It…

Moon landing – end of unit quiz – KS1

Welcome to the end of unit Moon landing quiz for KS1. You’ve learned so much about how astronauts traveled all the way to the moon, what they did when they…

amelia earhart

Amelia Earhart knowledge organiser – KS1

You are learning about Amelia because she was a very famous American woman who learned how to fly and then broke lots of records for how fast high and long…

amelia earhart by plane

Amelia Earhart – KQ1 – Why do we think that Amelia was famous?

This introductory session starts with firing pupils’ curiosity via a slow reveal in which pupils build a picture of her by means of a series of clues introduced in a…