KS2 History Resources, Lessons and Planning
The Lego analogy to help improve children’s thinking about history
Looking through the most recent Historical Association journal of Teaching history (TH204, September 2026) I was taken with an article by Sarah-Jane Bee who had successfully used the analogy of…
Read MoreDealing with misconceptions – An example from Y3 ancient civilizations
If you are wrestling with the best way to cover all ancient civilizations, rather than just looking at Ancient Egypt, you might be grateful for this new overview activity in…
Read MoreIntroducing the Primary History Curriculum Health Check
As we know schools are under more pressure than ever to demonstrate the effectiveness of their history curriculum, not just deliver it. Ofsted deep dives, MAT curriculum reviews, and governor…
Read MoreRefining your use of AI in primary history. A second look
In our first detailed article on AI and history in primary history we explored the best ways of using AI and promised to follow this up with a further article….
Read MoreTeaching the Vikings: seeing the wood for the trees
Whenever you teach a topic as exciting and colourful as the Vikings there is a strong temptation to focus on the stereotypical image of the Vikings which pupils find so…
Read MoreUsing history to help create a more cohesive society
In March 2026 the British government published its policy paper on community cohesion: Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive and resilient United Kingdom. It makes a very strong case…
Read MoreLeaving Y6 with a Big Picture of history in mind
I often wonder what sort of lasting experience of history pupils leaving school in Y6 take with them. Will it be the experiences of a memorable field trip, a hands-on…
Read MoreTeaching historical concepts at KS2 : from lists and definitions to meaningful encounters
Many of you have been asked to include in your long term planning evidence of coverage of specific historical concepts, such as the ones listed in the National Curriculum and…
Read MoreIpswich – significant people and events
Ipswich is one of England’s oldest continuously inhabited towns, with a history shaped by trade, craftsmanship, and maritime connections. Settlement in the area dates back to Roman times, but Ipswich…
Read MoreSwansea – significant people and events
As a coastal city Swansea’s history has been shaped by trade, industry, and its role as a gateway between Wales and the wider world. The area has ancient origins, but…
Read MoreStoke on Trent – significant people and events
Stoke-on-Trent’s history is closely linked to pottery, industry, and the development of modern manufacturing. The city was formed from six towns—Tunstall, Burslem, Hanley, Stoke, Fenton, and Longton—collectively known as “The…
Read More4 key things you need to know about the likely shape of the new history curriculum for first teaching in 2028
1.There seems to be a commitment from the DfE to ensure that the revised National Curriculum is not significantly different to the existing version which has been in operation for…
Read MoreOur 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…
Read MoreCambridge – significant people and events
Cambridge is obviously best known for its role in education, learning, and intellectual life. Although settlement in the area dates back to Roman times, Cambridge really began to grow in…
Read MoreMuch more than meat munchers and berry chewers
Why the Bronze Age diet was more varied and sophisticated than we first thought A new study from the University of York has suggested that, far from simply hunting and…
Read MoreBath – significant people and events
Bath’s identity has been shaped by hot springs, architecture, and centuries of visitors. Its story begins in the Roman period, when a major bathing and temple complex was developed around…
Read MorePreston – significant people and events
Preston’s development reflects the wider story of England’s industrial growth. Although settlement in the area dates back to Roman times, Preston first became important in the Middle Ages as a…
Read MoreTruro – significant people and events
Truro’s history has been shaped by trade, religion, and regional identity. Although Cornwall has ancient origins, Truro developed most strongly during the medieval period as a market town and river…
Read MorePlymouth – significant people and events
Plymouth is a historic port city in Devon with a strong connection to exploration, naval power, and migration. Its natural harbour made it strategically important from medieval times, but Plymouth…
Read MoreGloucester – significant people and events
Gloucester is one of England’s oldest cities, with a history shaped by Roman settlement, religious importance, and strategic location. Founded by the Romans as Glevum in the first century AD,…
Read MoreHow do I know I am teaching history in the right way? A few pointers for non-specialists
When your colleagues, who have to master 11 subjects after all , feel that they need a few pointers to help them transform the planning into really good history learning,…
Read MoreChester – significant people and events
Chester is one of England’s best-preserved historic cities, with a past that stretches back almost 2,000 years so makes a wonderful local study with the advantage of linking to any…
Read MoreLeeds – significant people and events
Leeds’ history has been shaped by trade, industry, and urban growth so makes a brilliant study linked to the Victorian era.. Originally a small Anglo-Saxon settlement, Leeds developed during the…
Read MoreLeicester – significant people and events (Case study)
Above all, studying Leicester provides brilliant opportunities to look at diversity. Ethnic groups make up the majority of the population in Leicester so it makes perfect sense to focus on…
Read MoreYork – significant people and events
York is one of the oldest and most historically important cities in the United Kingdom. Its history stretches back nearly 2,000 years, beginning as a Roman fortress known as Eboracum….
Read MoreAny 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 history. The history curriculum is seen as both mirroring modern…
Read MoreTop 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 the enquiries you are pursuing with your pupils, I still…
Read MoreTeaching 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 History has no real prescribed content. If you live in…
Read More8 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 blame over-prescriptive content. The issue relating to what to choose…
Read MoreExeter – significant people and events
Exeter is one of the oldest cities in England, with a history shaped by Roman rule, religion, trade, and regional power. Founded by the Romans as Isca Dumnoniorum around AD…
Read MoreHow 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 one memorable narrative, they are often confused by the idea…
Read MoreSunderland – significant people and events
Sunderland is a city on the north-east coast of England whose history has been shaped by the sea, industry, and innovation. From early medieval times, settlements grew along the River…
Read MorePortsmouth – significant people and events
Portsmouth is a historic port city on the south coast of England whose identity has long been shaped by the sea and the Royal Navy. Its natural harbour made it…
Read MoreHow 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 writing policy, I thought I would share with you the…
Read MoreBournemouth – significant people and events
Bournemouth is an influential coastal town known for its strategic location, natural environment, and contribution to learning and innovation. Established as a health resort in the 19th century, it attracted…
Read MoreEdinburgh – significant people and events
Edinburgh is an influential city because it has long been a place where ideas grow and important decisions are made. Built around its famous castle, the city has seen kings,…
Read MoreBrighton – significant people and events
Brighton is an influential seaside city known for its creativity, diversity and bold ideas. It grew as a popular resort in the 1800s, attracting visitors who came for fresh sea…
Read MoreLondon – significant people and events
London is an influential city because it has been a centre of power, ideas and culture for hundreds of years. It is the capital of the United Kingdom, where important…
Read MoreCardiff – significant people and events
Cardiff is an influential capital city where ideas, leadership and culture meet. It grew from a small town into a busy port city, especially during the coal trade, when ships…
Read MoreBelfast – significant people and events
Belfast is an influential city because it is a place of building, learning and big change. It grew quickly as an industrial city, famous for shipbuilding and engineering, where skilled…
Read MoreSheffield – significant people and events
Sheffield is a city of makers, famous for “steel and skill.” For a long time, hot furnaces and busy workshops produced strong metal that became tools, cutlery and parts for…
Read MoreBristol – significant people and events
Bristol is an influential city in the South West of England because it has been an important place for travel, trade and new ideas. For centuries, its busy harbour connected…
Read MoreNottingham – significant people and events
Nottingham is an influential city in England because it has inspired important ideas, stories and people for centuries. It is famous for the legend of Robin Hood, which reminds us…
Read MoreNewcastle – 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 important people. In the past, it became famous for coal…
Read MoreLiverpool – 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 has brought new ideas, people and goods into the city…
Read MoreSouthampton – 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. Its busy port has welcomed travellers, soldiers and newcomers from…
Read MoreGlasgow – 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, it grew into a major centre for shipbuilding, trade and…
Read MoreBirmingham – 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 past, it grew quickly during the Industrial Revolution, when inventors,…
Read MoreManchester – 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 cities: a place where new ideas, new machines, and new…
Read MoreSwindon – significant people and events
Swindon is a town in Wiltshire with a history shaped by industry, transport, and change. For much of the Middle Ages, it was a small market town serving the surrounding…
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Expert-created KS2 history resources for Years 3–6, including complete lesson plans, PowerPoints, medium-term plans, assessment tasks, quizzes and knowledge organisers.














































