Briefing Packs

In a busy world, sometimes you just need that update or issue explained in a nutshell. The Historical Association briefing packs provide succinct essential support for a range of issues affecting primary history teaching and learning. In addition our topic briefing packs provide an excellent starting point to learn more about particular historical periods, people and events. 

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  • Supporting Gifted and Talented

    Article

    It is a long way from a poor background as the son of a Greek-Cypriot postman to that of a life peer and junior minister in the British government. Yet Andrew Adonis is on record as having his youthful imagination fired by primary history, with a love of the subject...

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  • Teaching Slavery

    Article

    Please note: this guide was written in 2010 and some links may no longer work. For more recent guidance, see:  Teaching sensitive subjects: slavery and Britain’s role in the trade (2019) Slavery in Britain (2013) Sarah Forbes Bonetta - scheme of work (2015) Diversity guidance for primary teachers and subject leaders (2019) Teaching Slavery...

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  • The Blitz - Lesson Ideas - Film

    Multipage Article

    On the 20th of October 2011, Lecturers and PGCE trainees at the University of the West of England, Bristol created a Blitz experience for the children of three local primary schools. The University's Education department was transformed into a Blitz style street, complete with a home front kitchen, a Warden's post-...

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  • The Great Fire of London 1666

    Multipage Article

    London in 1666 was a large and growing city. It was of great importance both as the country's capital city, but also as the seat of government. It was by far the largest city in the country. It had far outgrown its original city walls and because of its sprawling...

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  • The Maya: a 4,000-year-old civilisation in the Americas

    Article

    Obscured by the fame of the Aztec empire or shrouded by a veil of mystery, the cultural history of the Maya has generally been misunderstood by the British public. Maya civilisation developed in a territory the size of Germany and Denmark together (nearly 400,000 km2). This vast territory shows three...

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  • The Normans

    Multipage Article

    This Topic Pack gives you a brief summary on the Normans.

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  • The Victorians

    Multipage Article

    The Topic Pack gives you a brief summary of the Victorians.

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  • Thematic or topic based whole school curriculum planning

    Article

    Creative curricular planning With the National Curriculum under review, it seems that more schools are taking a creative approach to planning by delivering the curriculum through a focused theme or topic. This has allowed schools to take more ownership of the curriculum and has helped teachers become more innovative in their...

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  • Time for a story

    Article

    Stories are an important part of a young child’s way of making sense of their world. Hilary Cooper’s excellent article ‘Why Stories?’ explores some of the reasons why stories are important to young children and their growing ‘understanding of the world’. This article is going to explore some recommended stories...

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  • Tudor Monarchy

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. The Topic Pack gives you a brief summary on the Tudor Monarchy.

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  • Tudor Society

    Multipage Article

    Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum The Topic Pack gives you a brief summary on Tudor Society.

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  • What confuses primary children in history...

    Article

    Young children who automatically see shiny things as new no matter what their age, those who mix up technology from one age with another, those who dismiss people in the past as stupid because they did not have the possessions we have today, those who equate the age of a...

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