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Back to basics: using maps in primary history
Primary History article
Maps tend to be more associated with geography but they have always been vital to history. This article focuses on the way maps have evolved in history, what they provide for the historian and ways in which they can be used when teaching primary history. A chronological account of the...
Back to basics: using maps in primary history
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Vikings settle down
Lesson Plan (KS2)
Please note: this lesson was produced as part of the Nuffield Primary History project (1991-2009) and pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. It is part of a full sequence of lessons available here.
This resource is free to everyone. For access to hundreds of other high-quality resources by primary history experts...
Vikings settle down
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Primary History Survey 2024: the results
The HA's biennial survey of history in primary schools
Children love history – it is accessible, interesting, there is a growth in diversity of content and it is inclusive for different abilities, according to our survey. This is down to the hard work and dedication of their teaching and support staff. It is great news for our young people....
Primary History Survey 2024: the results
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History and SEND: free taster films
Article
Do you struggle to engage your lower attaining or EAL pupils in their history lessons? Are you finding it difficult to ensure and demonstrate progression in history with these pupils?
In this series of short films Sue Temple, assistant programme lead (BA hons and early years) at the university of...
History and SEND: free taster films
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The importance of history vocabulary
Primary History article
Teachers and schools should surely be forgiven for quickly turning to the pages containing the ‘subject content' - within the new 2014 history curriculum - and finding out ‘what' they should be teaching. This is especially true for Key Stage 2 where children must now learn British history from the...
The importance of history vocabulary
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Teaching the British Empire in primary history
Primary History article
The height of the BBC Proms season is its last night in the Royal Albert Hall. It features traditional patriotic songs such as Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. Cheerful crowds wave union flags as the magnificent music of Elgar and others swells to a crescendo. Contrast this...
Teaching the British Empire in primary history
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Pull-out posters: Primary History 100
Exploring the early 1990s; Train travel
These resources are 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
Poster 1: Exploring the early 1990s
Poster 2: Train travel has...
Pull-out posters: Primary History 100
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Primary History 100
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
This edition of HA's Primary History magazine is currently free to download via the link at the bottom of the page. For a subscription to Primary History (published termly), plus access to our huge library of high-quality resources by primary history experts, free or discounted CPD and membership of a...
Primary History 100
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Creativity in history
Primary History article
Ask anyone for a list of creative subjects in schools and it is unlikely that history will be top of that list. However, over the last two-and-a-half years we have been working as part of a Creativity Collaborative of schools that seeks to foster creativity across the whole curriculum, including...
Creativity in history
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Primary History 99
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
05 Editorial (Read article)
06 Using children’s illustrators as a focus for learning about ‘Past and Present’ in EYFS – Helen Crawford (Read article)
10 Developing disciplinary knowledge: pulling up the portcullis to explore how and why castles and forts developed – Susie Townsend (Read article)
18 Little coins, big...
Primary History 99
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Writing a History Policy
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
In this piece Bev explains why it’s important for history subject leaders to develop a whole school policy for history, key pieces of information you may want to include, and the need to review the policy on a periodic basis. It also includes two exemplars policies for you to review...
Writing a History Policy
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Primary History 94
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
05 Editorial (Read article - open access)
06 Is primary history thriving? What the recent survey of primary history seems to be telling us – Tim Lomas (Read article)
10 Using picture books to explore ideas around history with very young children – Karin Doull (Read article)
14 Significant people: why it’s...
Primary History 94
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On-demand webinar: Avoiding confusion with significance in primary history
Avoiding confusion and challenging misconceptions in primary history
Avoiding confusion and challenging misconceptions in primary history
Session 4: Avoiding confusion with significance in primary history
This practical webinar will identify what confuses pupils in the teaching of the disciplinary concept of historical significance and will show how such confusion and misconceptions can be avoided and challenged. Examples of...
On-demand webinar: Avoiding confusion with significance in primary history
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Creativity and history
Primary History article
Creativity now plays a central role in the English National Curriculum. Pupils ‘Doing History' can draw upon and develop their creativity, grounded in the historical record. Hilary Cooper has produced the first book on History & Creativity and guest edited a recent edition of Primary History, PH 63, on History and...
Creativity and history
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Using shoes as an historical source
Primary History article
There is something fascinating about what people wore in the past. From corsets to clogs, the evolution of clothing and footwear can give an insight into different periods of history, an excellent way of engaging with the past. Shoes, in some form or another, have been around from the earliest...
Using shoes as an historical source
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Primary History 97
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
05 Editorial (Read article)
06 Similarity and difference with a tasty twist: ice cream with EYFS – Polly Gillow (Read article)
10 Olympics, past and present – Karin Doull (Read article)
18 Active learners: classroom strategies for enhancing history teaching – Lindsey Rawes (Read article)
24 Creativity in history – Kerry...
Primary History 97
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Teaching primary history through concepts
Article
Teaching history in schools is quite new (it’s only been in the National Curriculum for English state schools since 1991), but the discipline of history as a subject is very ancient.
Thinking and writing in a recognisably historical way can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Herodotus, an ancient...
Teaching primary history through concepts
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Primary history and British values
Article
In this article, Michael Maddison provides an overview of what schools must do in relation to promoting British values, as well as preventing extremism and radicalisation, and why it is so important that opportunities are taken in history to deal with these two pressing issues. It is an updated version...
Primary history and British values
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Pull-out posters: Primary History 86
Re-imagining statues: how should we do this? and Historical fiction prizes: Summer 2020
Re-imagining statues: how should we do this?
Historical fiction prizes: Summer 202
Pull-out posters: Primary History 86
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Film: Discovering local and family history
Article
Children love discovering things and collecting treasures. They might find shells or pebbles on the beach or broken pieces of pottery in their garden soil. They might ask family members to share interesting things about their family history. This video has been designed to inspire children, from EYFS to year...
Film: Discovering local and family history
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Archimedes and the Syracusan War
Lesson Plan
Cross-curricular History and Science in the Literacy Hour
Archimedes and how his weapons worked
Archimedes is an excellent subject. Indeed, Archimedes offers an excellent cross-curricular lesson opportunity, as he covers science, mathematics and a range of other areas, including cunning plans to defeat enemy armies and navies.
The previous week...
Archimedes and the Syracusan War
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Historical Significance (Primary)
Article
Please note: the 'What's the Wisdom On' film series has been produced principally for secondary school history teachers, however some of the content is transferrable to a primary setting. Secondary members can view this film here
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Historical Significance (Primary)
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Primary History 92
The primary education journal of the Historical Association
04 Editorial (Read article for free)
06 HA Update
08 Teaching about Remembrance Day in EYFS – Jenny Munro, Paige Hazell, Tanya Wasik, Rianna Kelly and Helen Crawford (Read article)
12 The new King – Karin Doull (Read article)
16 ‘Remember, remember the Fifth of November!’ Where might the Gunpowder Plot sit...
Primary History 92
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Becoming a Historical Association Teacher Fellow
Primary History feature
When applying for the Age of Revolutions Teacher Fellowship Course, the first thing my headteacher asked me was, ‘How will this benefit the school?’ I hadn’t really thought about it in that much detail. It was a history course with a residential, it would be an excellent CPD course for me...
Becoming a Historical Association Teacher Fellow
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Creating drawings and environmental narratives for developing historical thinking
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
Maria Vlachaki explores her home city of Thessaloniki, Greece with...
Creating drawings and environmental narratives for developing historical thinking