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Local Archaeology in the Classroom: Ebbsfleet Case Study
Local Archaeology Case Study
The Ebbsfleet Valley in Kent, home of Ebbsfleet International station and the high speed rail link between London and Kent has a long history. The site is close to the old Roman road between Dover and London of Watling Street. It is close to the river mouth and once benefitted...
Local Archaeology in the Classroom: Ebbsfleet Case Study
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One of my favourite history places: Chichester's Roman walls
Primary History feature
One of my favourite places to explore are the Roman walls that encircle the city of Chichester. The walls help to offer glimpses into the distant past and act as a constant reminder of the legacy left by the Roman Empire.
One of my favourite history places: Chichester's Roman walls
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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
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The Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings: push, pull, cause and consequence
Primary History article
The Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings shaped British history in ways that are directly relevant to us today and inform our language, laws and culture. Without them we would not have some of our greatest stories, heroes and artefacts. The recent exhibition at the British Library on the Anglo-Saxons is testament...
The Anglo-Saxons and the Vikings: push, pull, cause and consequence
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The Bronze Age: what was so special about copper and tin?
Primary History article
On first approaching this period it is possible to feel comfortable with the term ‘Bronze Age’ without ever really interrogating what this means. When did this period happen? What do we mean by the term the Bronze Age and was it different or the same around the world?
Clearly there...
The Bronze Age: what was so special about copper and tin?
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Using a house for your local history study
Primary History article
A house can be an extremely effective focus for learning about the past, giving us insights into changes to domestic and social life. We can explore how different inventions (e.g. electric lighting, washing machines, televisions) have changed the way we live, and we can look at some of the ways...
Using a house for your local history study
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Using the back cover image: painted wooden police truncheon
Primary History feature
This painted wooden police truncheon dates from the reign of King William IV (1830–37). It is decorated with a crown and the letters WIVR, standing for King William IV. For some pupils, its function may be obvious, for others it may be mistaken for a rounders or baseball bat, or...
Using the back cover image: painted wooden police truncheon
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Resource Sharing Hub: Key Stage 2
The HA: here for you virtually
Our education committees have developed an HA home learning resource-sharing hub to support the history community and parents throughout the current period of school closures.
We are calling upon the history community to submit your home learning ideas and resources to share with others. The HA is well-placed and ready to act...
Resource Sharing Hub: Key Stage 2
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Resource Sharing Hub: Key Stage 1
The HA: here for you virtually
Our education committees have developed an HA home learning resource-sharing hub to support the history community and parents throughout the current period of school closures.
The HA is well-placed and ready to act as a hub for the history community to share the home learning resources you have developed. Our education...
Resource Sharing Hub: Key Stage 1
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The Victorians
Topic Pack
The Topic Pack gives you a brief summary of the Victorians.
The Victorians
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Podcast Series: The Rise of an Islamic Civilisation
Early Islam
An HA Podcasted History of the Rise of an Islamic Civilisation featuring Dr Caroline Goodson of Birkbeck, University of London.
Podcast Series: The Rise of an Islamic Civilisation
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Ideas for Assemblies: A slightly different view of remembrance
Primary History feature
The principle of this assembly is to show that positive events and developments can occur in the worst times and events of human history. To begin with, it is vital to ensure that the children (and staff!) know and understand that the First World War was not a good thing for...
Ideas for Assemblies: A slightly different view of remembrance
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One of my favourite history places: Durham Cathedral
Primary History feature
The best thing about Durham Cathedral is how it impresses on every scale and from every viewpoint. As you approach the city by train, it looms over the skyline hugging the River Wear and even dwarfing its imposing neighbour, Durham Castle. When you finally make the steep walk up towards cathedral green, the building towers above...
One of my favourite history places: Durham Cathedral
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Film: Widening horizons within, and beyond, the taught curriculum
London History Forum Keynote 2019
The film below was taken at the London History Forum: Widening Perspectives which took place on Thursday 25 April 2019 at the UCL Institute of Education and features Will Bailey-Watson (subject lead for PGCE History at the University of Reading).The renewed emphasis on curriculum in many schools is giving history teachers a...
Film: Widening horizons within, and beyond, the taught curriculum
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Riding along on my pushbike… exploring transport in EYFS
Primary History article
There is a myriad of opportunities for exploring the history of travel and transport in Early Years. You could focus on the Montgolfier brothers’ hot air balloon flight in the late eighteenth century, the invention of steam trains and motor cars in the nineteenth century, or even the space race...
Riding along on my pushbike… exploring transport in EYFS
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Three first-class ladies – teaching significant individuals in Key Stage 1
Primary History article
The turn of the 20th century was in many ways a golden age of aviation. In 1903 the Wright brothers conquered heavier-than-air flight. From that time onward there were many other visionaries who wanted to be part of the dream of flying. The topic of early aviation history is an...
Three first-class ladies – teaching significant individuals in Key Stage 1
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The Blitz: All we need to know about World War II?
Primary History article
The Blitz of 1940 is certainly a significant event in Britain’s past, one which has repeatedly been drawn upon as a symbol of national consciousness. It was a time when most of Europe had been defeated by the Nazi regime in Germany, typically through ‘Blitzkrieg’ – or lightning war methods...
The Blitz: All we need to know about World War II?
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Trade and pilgrimage in the Abbasid Caliphate
Primary History article
The Abbasid Caliphate stretched from North Africa across to Afghanistan and the North West Frontier. Within the caliphate there were movements of people, goods and ideas. The golden period of this early Islamic caliphate was around 900 AD. As the caliphs were building a major trading empire across the Middle...
Trade and pilgrimage in the Abbasid Caliphate
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Rethinking the Stone Age to Bronze Age
Primary History article
Every so often archaeologists make a discovery that forces you to sit up and take notice. It might challenge our traditional view of the period, or accepted beliefs about how people lived their everyday lives. One such discovery was made in the 1980s when an amateur archaeologist discovered some flint tools...
Rethinking the Stone Age to Bronze Age
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The Vikings: ruthless killers or peaceful settlers?
Primary History article
This article outlines how one Year 4 teacher approached the topic of the Vikings. The teaching of The Vikings allows for a range of historical concepts to be explored such as:
Chronological understanding – how long did Viking influence last? Where does it appear on the timeline of Britain? What...
The Vikings: ruthless killers or peaceful settlers?
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Strange goings-on: exploring the benefits of learning history through outdoor pedagogy
Primary History article
Learning history outside the classroom has tremendous benefits. This article looks at one such example where children can get an immersive, residential historical experience. This not only provides a memorable learning experience, but the combination of an evocative setting, together with carefully crafted activities taught using an outdoor pedagogy, allows...
Strange goings-on: exploring the benefits of learning history through outdoor pedagogy
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How significant is the tragic story of the SS Mendi?
Primary History article
Historical anniversaries and events are often in the news, commemorated locally and nationally. I have found that getting the children involved in topics relating to these can really help them feel the importance of their learning, help them to appreciate the past and feel a sense of responsibility – a...
How significant is the tragic story of the SS Mendi?
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Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition 2025
The Historical Association Historical Fiction Prize
Entries for this year's competition are now closed. The winners will be posted on this website in September/October. Next year's competition will open at the end of 2025.
Each year we are so impressed by the ever increasing number and standard of entries we receive around such a wide range of...
Write Your Own Historical Fiction Competition 2025
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One of my favourite history places: Mount Fitchet Castle
Primary History feature
Alf Wilkinson explores Mount Fitchet Castle in Essex – one of his favourite history places.
As every schoolchild knows, William the Conqueror landed near Hastings in 1066, pursuing his claim to the throne of England. He was accompanied by the pope’s blessing, but also by an army of adventurers who...
One of my favourite history places: Mount Fitchet Castle
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Reading documents and simulation exemplar: Victorian trade directories
Exemplar
The Year 5 class was soon to visit a local museum where a Victorian parade of shops is recreated. We decided to use the 1857 trade directory for our town, Crediton in Devon, to bring its main shopping street to life before the visit. Trade directories, together with census returns...
Reading documents and simulation exemplar: Victorian trade directories
