-
How diverse is your history curriculum?
Article
The past was full of diverse people and our students are entitled to learn about this diverse past. History lessons should enable students to see their connection to the past and to understand the world today. Here are a list of questions for history teachers to use to support a...
How diverse is your history curriculum?
-
Young Quills reviews 2024
The Young Quills Awards for best historical fiction for young people
The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition – so 2023 for this year’s selection. Divided by age suitability the books are given to schools on the condition that the children and young people there write...
Young Quills reviews 2024
-
The potty timeline: an effective way of using timelines
Primary History article
Timelines are a constant source of fascination. Rows of events and time periods all jostling for position on an eternal line, cramming together or strung out with wide gaps between them. In our primary classrooms, however, the vastness of timelines can be diminished as we crop them on computers and...
The potty timeline: an effective way of using timelines
-
Young Quills reviews 2023
The Young Quills Awards for best historical fiction for young people
The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition – so 2022 for this year’s selection. Divided by age suitability the books are given to schools on the condition that the children and young people there write...
Young Quills reviews 2023
-
Why history matters? Round Table discussion podcast
Podcasts
Podcast of the round table discussion available here!The History Matters Annual Conference in May saw the best turnout we've had for some time with a healthy and representative mix of HA members. Our thanks to all those who contributed their time and energy in delivering workshops and lectures. Our afternoon...
Why history matters? Round Table discussion podcast
-
How technology has changed our lives
Primary History article
This article links teaching about Sir Tim Berners-Lee to Changes in Living Memory and Significant Individuals and makes comparisons between Caxton and the impact of earlier developments in communications technology.
It provides interesting topics for discussion about significance (pupils may be surprised by the idea that they are living through an exciting period of history at the moment). It even has the...
How technology has changed our lives
-
Young Quills reviews 2022
The Young Quills Awards for best historical fiction
The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition – so 2021 for this year’s selection. Divided by age suitability the books are given to schools on the condition that the children and young people there write...
Young Quills reviews 2022
-
Learning about the past through ‘ourselves and our families’
Primary History Article
‘Ourselves and our families’ is a popular theme in foundation settings and Reception classes. It is often undertaken at the beginning of the academic year, although it can be taught later when teachers have a better understanding of children’s home circumstances. This theme can provide many opportunities for children to...
Learning about the past through ‘ourselves and our families’
-
Young Quills reviews 2021
Multipage Article
The Young Quills Awards for Historical Fiction are annual awards that recognize the best in historical fiction for young people.
The way the HA organises the awards is that publishers nominate their new historical fiction books from the previous year, copies of those books are sent to schools, and the reviews of...
Young Quills reviews 2021
-
Using the back cover image: Mummified cat
Primary History feature
For hundreds of years, travellers to Egypt have marvelled at the amazing monuments evident throughout the country. The treasures of Ancient Egypt became more fascinating after the discovery of the Rosetta stone in 1799, which led to the deciphering of the hieroglyphic language. Many Victorian explorers returned to their European...
Using the back cover image: Mummified cat
-
Learning about the past through toys and games
Article
A learning theme centred on toys and games is perfect for younger children as the Early Years curriculum is, of course, all about learning through play. Planned carefully, it can also provide many opportunities for children to develop their understanding of the past.
Adult-directed learning opportunities
Provide the children with...
Learning about the past through toys and games
-
Young Quills reviews 2020
HA annual awards for best historical fiction for young people
The Young Quills Awards for Historical Fiction are annual awards that recognize the best in historical fiction for young people.
The way the HA organises the awards is that publishers nominate their new historical fiction books from the previous year, copies of those books are sent to schools, and the reviews of...
Young Quills reviews 2020
-
Podcast Series: Confronting Controversial History
Podcast Series
Controversial History formed the focus of the Historical Association’s report, Teaching Emotive and Controversial History 3-19 (TEACH). Published in 2007, it offered teachers invaluable guidance for teaching historical topics that can stir emotion and controversy. However, the authors noted how the nature of the sensitivity can be affected by ‘time, geography and...
Podcast Series: Confronting Controversial History
-
How do pupils understand historical time?
Some evidence from England and the Netherlands
One of the key aims of the English history National Curriculum is to ensure that pupils ‘know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative’. Teaching chronology is also important in the Netherlands. In this article we cover some aspects of teaching and recent research from...
How do pupils understand historical time?
-
Develop your whole school history provision
New and improved features
Corporate membership offers a comprehensive package of support. It delivers all the benefits of individual membership plus an enhanced tier of resources and CPD access to boost the development of your teaching staff and delivery of your whole school history provision.
Enhanced benefits include:
Exclusive access to guides in the...
Develop your whole school history provision
-
Primary Scheme of Work: Local History
Scheme of Work
Unit for Key Stage 1: Significant historical events, people and places in their own locality (the school and its community)
Children can be introduced to the idea that schools have been in the locality for some time but they have not always been the same. They can look at similarities...
Primary Scheme of Work: Local History
-
HA News, Autumn 2024
Welcome to the autumn 2024 edition of HA News magazine
Welcome to the autumn edition of HA News.
We have updates on the office team's move back into 59a, and HA President Alexandra Walsham's busy six months travelling the country supporting the HA and its activities, as well as membership, education and competition updates.
Dr Dean A. Irwin shares ‘What got me into...
HA News, Autumn 2024
-
A view from the KS1 classroom
Article
Introduction
"So what did you do at school, today?"
As a child, I remember being asked this question often by my good humoured, paternal grandfather, when he met me at the end of the day. On returning from the trenches in 1919, he had trained to become a teacher and...
A view from the KS1 classroom
-
Virtual Branch Recording: Food and drink in the medieval monastery
Article
In his recent book The Monastic World, Andrew Jotischky looks at how from the late Roman Empire onwards, monasteries and convents were a common sight throughout Europe. The history of monasticism is defined by the fierce and passionate abandonment of the ordinary comforts of life, the most striking being food and drink....
Virtual Branch Recording: Food and drink in the medieval monastery
-
Young Quills reviews 2019
Multipage Article
The HA's Young Quills Historical Fiction competition is held annually, both to recognise good historical fiction writing and to encourage youngsters to develop a love of history and a feel for the period they are studying. The Young Quills is unique in that it is the readers – young people – who decide the...
Young Quills reviews 2019
-
Young Quills winners 2023
The Young Quills Awards for best historical fiction for young people
It is with great pleasure that the HA is able to announce the winners of the Young Quills for Historical Fiction for 2023:
Young readers category
Winner: Tony Bradman for Bruno and Frida (Barrington Stoke)Highly Commended: Judith Eagle for Accidental Stowaway (Faber)
Intermediate category
Winner: Tom Palmer for Resist (Barrington...
Young Quills winners 2023
-
History through children’s voices
Primary History article
This article is free to everyone. For access to hundreds of other high-quality resources by primary history experts along with free or discounted CPD and membership of a thriving community of teachers and subject leaders, join the Historical Association today
In this article, we explore examples of children’s writing, from...
History through children’s voices
-
Why stories?
Primary History article
Please note: this article was written before the 2014 National Curriculum and some content and references may no longer be relevant.
During the Early Years and Foundation Stage children should listen to stories, ask how and why and talk about the past (DfE 2012). Young children are comfortable with stories. Through...
Why stories?
-
Young Quills Awards 2014
Multipage Article
Read all the reviews of this year's books via the links at the bottom of this page.
‘Young Quills' Award for Historical Fiction recognises the powerful role that fiction can have for introducing, informing and exciting young people about historical events, characters and places. The competition has two categories -...
Young Quills Awards 2014
-
Podcast Series: An Introduction to Magna Carta
An Introduction to Magna Carta
What precedents were there to Magna Carta? Why was the charter originally drawn up and signed in 1215? Why was it reissued during the thirteenth century? Would “ordinary” people have been aware of Magna Carta? How effective was Magna Carta as means to controlling medieval kings? Why was it resurrected...
Podcast Series: An Introduction to Magna Carta
