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Introducing history at Key Stage 1: a view from the classroom
Article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
‘What are we doing this for?’ I was asked this question as we entered the churchyard to look at the local War memorial. The curiosity and directness of a six year old child is guaranteed...
Introducing history at Key Stage 1: a view from the classroom
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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
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Enhancing temporal cognition: Practical activities for the primary classroom
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
Research during the last ninety years has suggested that ‘time' concepts, such as chronology, duration and the usage of dating systems are difficult for children to assimilate. However, my research suggests that temporal concepts can be...
Enhancing temporal cognition: Practical activities for the primary classroom
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Young Quills shortlist for 2025
The HA's annual awards for best historical fiction for young people
Each year, the Historical Association runs ‘Young Quills’, a competition for published historical fiction for children and young adults (14+). The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition – so 2024 for this year’s selection.
Our aim...
Young Quills shortlist for 2025
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Making the most of the post-1066 unit
Primary History article
Making the most of the post-1066 unit: looking at continuity and change over 10,000 years
The ‘aspect or theme of British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066’ unit is designed to extend the period of study beyond 1066 to help pupils develop a coherent picture of British history....
Making the most of the post-1066 unit
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Teaching ‘these islands’ from prehistoric times to 1066
Primary History article
The first aim in the National Curriculum indicates that children should:
Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider...
Teaching ‘these islands’ from prehistoric times to 1066
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Creating Variety in the Classroom
Article
Sometimes, pupils complain that there is a sameness to history lessons. History though offers scope for all kinds of exciting and varied activities targeting the key concepts and processes of the National Curriculum. Over the years, the following list has been gathered showing this variety. It could be used as...
Creating Variety in the Classroom
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A classic case for history?
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
History is now an extremely popular subject with children, parents and teachers says a new research study - especially when children find out about the Ancient Greeks and Romans.
A classic case for history?
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Film: Gorbachev - Downfall
Film Series: Power and authority in Russia and the USSR
Professor Archie Brown looks at the forces that led to Gorbachev's eventual downfall. He also examines the coup in 1991, the rise of Boris Yeltsin and the subsequent breakup of the Soviet Union.
This film is part of our film series that looks at Russian history through the lens of leadership from Alexander...
Film: Gorbachev - Downfall
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Film: Gorbachev - Interpretations
Film Series: Power and authority in Russia and the USSR
Mikhail Gorbachev’s leadership and period in office is remembered differently in different parts of the world. Professor Archie Brown discusses the different interpretations the have developed in the West and in Russia to Gorbachev and his legacy. He describes the impact and development of Post-Soviet Russia and how this has influenced...
Film: Gorbachev - Interpretations
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Film: Gorbachev - Foreign Relations
Film Series: Power and authority in Russia and the USSR
Professor Archie Brown discusses how Gorbachev fundamentally reformed Soviet foreign policy, redefined relations with the West, fostered closer personal relationships with former adversaries and how he transformed the Cold War world.
He examines Gorbachev's policy towards Eastern Europe and the fall of the Iron Curtain, and looks at how his new foreign...
Film: Gorbachev - Foreign Relations
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Studying the Maya
Article
Most pupils like history, but some struggle with aspects of reading and writing – how can we make history more accessible? This article explores some ways I have found useful in engaging pupils of all abilities. It will focus on activities that might be used in studying the Non-European Society...
Studying the Maya
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Film: Power and freedom: Introduction – 1714 to 1785
Film Series: Power and freedom in Britain and Ireland: 1714-2010
In Episode 1, Dr Robin Eagles (History of Parliament), discusses the development of power and freedom in Britain and Ireland from the reign of Queen Anne to the beginning of the Georgian Age.
This was a period of strict hierarchy where the monarchy and aristocracy retained significant control over both...
Film: Power and freedom: Introduction – 1714 to 1785
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Virtual Branch Recording: Henry III and Simon de Montfort
Article
David Carpenter brings to life the dramatic events in the last phase of Henry III’s momentous reign, provides a fresh account of the king’s strenuous efforts to recover power and sheds new light on the rebel figure Simon de Montfort.
Professor David Carpenter is a Professor of Medieval History at King's College...
Virtual Branch Recording: Henry III and Simon de Montfort
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Primary Scheme of Work: Indus Valley
Primary Scheme of Work, Key Stage 2 History (resourced)
This unit on the Indus Valley Civilisation (2600-1900) BCE gives children the opportunity to study an ancient, 'lost' urban civilisation discovered by archaeologists in the Indian subcontinent, early 20th Century. The story of its discovery and the surviving evidence – architecture and artefacts – helps children understand how we can...
Primary Scheme of Work: Indus Valley
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Sudan Holy Mountain: Jebel Barkal and its Temples
Guide Book
This guide book was produced by Timothy Kendall and El-Hassan Ahmed Mohamed (Co-Directors NCAM Archaeological Mission at Jebel Barkal) and has been published on our website by their kind permission (© 2022 Timothy Kendall and El-Hassan Ahmed Mohamed) to support our podcast that examines the history of Ancient Nubia and the Kushite...
Sudan Holy Mountain: Jebel Barkal and its Temples
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Teaching the Ancient Greeks: an introduction
Reference guide
This resource 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
Please note: this guide was written before the new National Curriculum...
Teaching the Ancient Greeks: an introduction
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The Olympics and ICT in the Foundation Stage
Case Study
This resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum
2012 has been an incredibly rich time for young children to gain an understanding of their place in history and also that history is something they are part of and can influence. The use of technology to support this learning has been invaluable.
ICT has...
The Olympics and ICT in the Foundation Stage
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What is good history? The criteria for effective primary school history
Article
This section attempts to identify the principles for good history in primary schools both in terms of knowledge, skills, and understanding and how the teaching might be organised.
What is good history? The criteria for effective primary school history
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Magdalen Road
Lesson Plan
We focused on changes in one local set of shops (in Magdalen Road) and looked at the impact of the World War II Exeter blitz on the area.
The topic was a local study incorporating history and geography, developing children's historical understanding.
To develop as fully as possible the children's...
Magdalen Road
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The Reformation: the view from the north
Annual Conference 2013 Podcast
Lecture from the Historical Association 2013 Annual Conference - Podcast
Professor Bill Sheils - University of York
The Reformation comprised a range of regional and local experiences, each with its own character and chronology. This talk will examine the broad characteristics of religious change in the north of England between...
The Reformation: the view from the north
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Celebrating Success: Quality Mark
London Fields Primary School achieves Gold Award Quality Mark
London Fields is a larger than average primary school situated in Hackney, east London. The school was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2011 and again in 2015. The school has a challenging context with free school meals, minority ethnic groups and English as an Additional Language all far in excess...
Celebrating Success: Quality Mark
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Assessment and Progression without levels
Primary History article
The new (2014) Primary History National Curriculum is finally upon us. The first thing you might notice is that the level descriptions have gone. These were first introduced in 1995 and became the mainstay for assessing pupil progression and attainment in Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 across schools in...
Assessment and Progression without levels
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Inclusion, diversity and the national curriculum: Are things better than they were?
Article
Introduction - the role of history
It is an interesting question as to whether history teaching has developed a greater understanding of inclusion and diversity since the start of the National Curriculum. The first version of the National Curriculum required teachers to consider a balance of political, economic, social and...
Inclusion, diversity and the national curriculum: Are things better than they were?
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Virtual Branch recording: The survival strategies of the Near Eastern powers facing Mongol invasion.
Virtual Branch Film
The Mongol invasions into the Near East had a devastating effect upon many societies, sultanates, empires and kingdoms. For decades, wave after wave of armies swept across the area, defeating every army sent against them and utterly reshaping the area’s complex political ecosystem. Some powers fell in battle; some submitted...
Virtual Branch recording: The survival strategies of the Near Eastern powers facing Mongol invasion.
