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Investigating the ancient Olympic games: A Case Study
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
In a 10-week unit on Ancient Greece, we gave the fourth lesson over to the ancient Olympic Games. The class was a delight: 32 enthusiastic Year 6 children in an urban county primary school.
We knew...
Investigating the ancient Olympic games: A Case Study
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Local History through Drama (Bursary Project)
The Women Chain Makers Strike Of 1910
A Campaign Project For Primary Schools Focusing On The Women Chain Makers Strike Of 1910.
The Historical Association was left a legacy by Joan Lewin which became the Joan Lewin Education Bursary Fund. Each year, applicants apply for grants for education projects surrounding aspects of teaching and learning, resources, or...
Local History through Drama (Bursary Project)
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A European Study: Ancient Greece
Primary Study Unit
Ancient Olympic Games and other lessons available on this site:
Ancient Greek Government is one of the most popular lessons this website - it's good for citizenship too.
Olympic GamesTheseus and the MinotaurAncient Greek Government at KS2Archimedes and the Kings CrownArchimedes and the Syracusan WarAncient Greek Ideas: ScienceThe IliadAncient Greek...
A European Study: Ancient Greece
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Trinity School Museum Project (Bursary Project)
Museum Project
The Historical Association was left a legacy by Joan Lewin which became the Joan Lewin Education Bursary Fund. Each year, applicants apply for grants for education projects surrounding aspects of teaching and learning, resources, or education research.
In 2012, Siobhan Dickens carried out a project with students to create and...
Trinity School Museum Project (Bursary Project)
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Ancient Greek Government at KS2
Lesson Plan
The two linked lessons described were taught half way through a 10-week scheme of work teaching the Ancient Greeks.
The overarching key questions underpinning the ten weeks of teaching were:
What was distinctive about the Ancient Greeks?
Why do we learn about the Ancient Greeks, rather than about other societies?...
Ancient Greek Government at KS2
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100 editions of Primary History
11th June 2025
We've reached 100!
We are proud to announce the publication of the 100th edition of Primary History, dedicated to supporting and inspiring primary educators in the teaching of history. Since its first issue in 1992, Primary History has become a trusted companion for teachers, curriculum leaders, and education researchers across the...
100 editions of Primary History
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Young Historian Awards 2025 – the winners
4th September 2025
Spirit of Normandy Trust SeniorAvani De Santis [Guildford Grammar School, Western Australia]Kyle Luk [Loughborough Grammar School] Caspar Wright [Wells Cathedral School]
Spirit of Normandy Trust Key Stage 3 Anne Andrews [St Mary’s Menston Catholic Voluntary Academy, Leeds]Rafferty Ludlow-Maisey [Crypt Grammar School, Gloucester]Robert Moczynski [Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield]
Spirit of...
Young Historian Awards 2025 – the winners
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The Blitz - Lesson Ideas - Film
The Blitz
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-...
The Blitz - Lesson Ideas - Film
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Write Your Own Historical Fiction 2025 – The winners
The HA’s writing competition for children aged 10-15 years
Take time, a place and a character or two, and you can create some of the most exciting stories ever told – and by telling a story you unleash a desire to seek knowledge, to entertain, to inform and to enrich the lives of others. Storytelling is one of the oldest...
Write Your Own Historical Fiction 2025 – The winners
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Podcast: Mad or Bad? Was Henry VI a tyrant?
Presidential Lecture 2011
Professor Anne Curry delivered her final Presidential lecture at the Historical Association Annual Conference 2011 in Manchester.
Henry VI (1422-61) was England's youngest king, only nine months old when he succeeded his famous father. Traditionally he is seen as incompetent, pious and, latterly, insane, and thereby causing the Wars of...
Podcast: Mad or Bad? Was Henry VI a tyrant?
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Building a local history and geography toolkit
Primary CPD in partnership with the Geographical Association
22 May 2026
Book Now
In person: Historical Association, 59a Kennington Park Road, London SE11 4JH
The Curriculum and Assessment Review places emphasis on fieldwork in geography and learning about events through local history. This does not need to mean expensive trips to specific sites. There is a great deal...
Building a local history and geography toolkit
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Webinar series: Teaching inclusive primary history
HA webinar series for primary teachers and history subject leaders
What does this series cover?
The renewed Ofsted framework and the Francis Curriculum and Assessment Review sets out clear expectations for primary schools to include all pupils (however disadvantaged or vulnerable) in having access to the same historical knowledge, while also ensuring that the primary history curriculum effectively reflects the...
Webinar series: Teaching inclusive primary history
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Podcast: Presidential Lecture - Charles I: The People's Martyr?
Podcast
2012 Annual Conference Presidential Lecture
Charles I: The People's Martyr?
Jackie Eales, HA President and Professor of Early Modern History at Canterbury Christ Church University
Charles I was renowned for his distrust of ‘popularity'. Yet during the 1640s he was forced to appeal to his people for support and in...
Podcast: Presidential Lecture - Charles I: The People's Martyr?
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Historical fiction and story: the informed imagination
Primary History article
Historical stories and fiction give full rein to children's imaginations and creativity. As such, they are a standard, major element in pupils' historical authoring.Writing history stories is stimulating, enjoyable and challenging. When using their historical imaginations children as authors have to be disciplined. They must work within the strict parameters...
Historical fiction and story: the informed imagination
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The Bloody Code - Early Modern Crime and Punishment
Podcast
Between circa 1690 and 1820 the number of crimes punishable by the death penalty grew from 50 to over 200. This short podcast will help to explain why this trend developed.
The Bloody Code - Early Modern Crime and Punishment
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Children writing history: The writing spectrum
Primary History article
"Henry the 4th ascended the throne of England much to his own satisfaction in the year 1399, after having prevailed on his cousin & predecessor Richard the 2nd to resign it to him, & to retire for the rest of his Life to Pomfret Castle, where he happened to be...
Children writing history: The writing spectrum
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Webinar series: AI in primary history
HA webinar series for primary teachers and history subject leaders
What does this series cover?
The proliferation of generative artificial intelligence is transforming education, the economy and society at a blistering pace. In the face of such seismic change, it can feel daunting. Whatever your level of experience with AI, this new webinar series will equip you to make informed...
Webinar series: AI in primary history
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A View from the Classroom: Writing History
Article
Introduction
I imagine many people have memories of staring at a blank piece of paper - and wondering what to write.....and where to start?
There are many questions to consider.
How do children become eager and confident writers in the context of history?
When is writing the best response, and...
A View from the Classroom: Writing History
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Webinar series: Draft Ofsted toolkits: implications for primary history
HA webinar series for current and aspiring primary history subject leaders
What does this series cover?
This series of webinars will investigate the implications of the new draft Ofsted inspection toolkit on primary history to help subject leaders feel confident to prepare and support teachers in obtaining a positive outcome for the school’s report card. After an overview session on the...
Webinar series: Draft Ofsted toolkits: implications for primary history
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Previous Young Quills winners
Information
Each year the Historical Association runs the Young Quills, a competition for published historical fiction for children and young adults. The Young Quills books for each year must be published for the first time in English in the year preceding the competition. Divided by age suitability, the books are given...
Previous Young Quills winners
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Young Historian Awards 2024 – the winners
16th September 2024
Spirit of Normandy Trust Senior
Vivaan Davda – The Cathedral and John Connon School, Mumbai
Spirit of Normandy Trust Key Stage 3
Joshua Broadbent – Royal Grammar School, Guildford
Spirit of Normandy Trust Primary
Salisbury Cathedral School
Best School History Magazine [sponsored by the Mid-Trent and Mercia Branch]
St Alban’s School
Stockport...
Young Historian Awards 2024 – the winners
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Teacher trainees writing history
Primary History article
Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content and links may be outdated.
Introduction
I would like to share some Cumbria University Year 4 primary history specialist student's written work with you. These students who are in their final year have just completed their last assignment...
Teacher trainees writing history
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The Historical Association's response to Curriculum Review 2024
20th November 2024
New government, new curriculum review. It always happens when there is a big change in who is in charge. But just because it always happens doesn’t mean we can ignore it. Ten years ago, substantial changes were made to education, and they have affected a whole generation of children and teachers....
The Historical Association's response to Curriculum Review 2024
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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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Crime and Punishment - Roman to Early Modern
Podcast
This podcast gives you an overview of the main changes and continuities in crime, punishment, trials and policing between the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Early Modern Period.
Rome to Early Modern Crime and Punishment>>>
Crime and Punishment - Roman to Early Modern
