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Cleopatra Podcast
Branch Lecture Podcast
This pod-cast was recorded at the Central London Branch of the Historical Association on Saturday 20th February 2010, at the Institute of Historical Research, Senate House, University of London. We were pleased to welcome cultural historian Lucy Hughes-Hallet to the branch to speak on ‘Cleopatra'. Lucy Hughes-Hallet detailed how fact and legend about Cleopatra had been intertwined through history in...
Cleopatra Podcast
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Children in Victorian Britain: Henry at boarding school
Lesson Plan
Please note: this free resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. For more recent resources see:
Victorians (Primary History article, 2014)
Scheme of work: Sarah Forbes Bonetta
Scheme of work: Brunel
In this lesson children pursued an historical enquiry, raising questions and using original sources. They gained an understanding of conditions in early...
Children in Victorian Britain: Henry at boarding school
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Diversity in Primary History
Primary History articles and resources
There has been much emphasis on ensuring that we teach a balanced history curriculum which reflects diversity. Teachers often ask the Historical Association where they can get their ideas and find examples of good practice. From the start, the journal Primary History has addressed the many strands of a diverse...
Diversity in Primary History
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Victorian Britain: a brief history
Reference guide for primary
Victorian era | Questions | Industrial revolution | Social reforms | Empire | Teaching the Victorians | Citizenship | Victorian achievements | Key concepts
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This resource is free for everyone
For access to hundreds of other high-quality resources by primary history experts along with free or discounted CPD and...
Victorian Britain: a brief history
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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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Virtual Branch Recording: Women and the Reformations
Article
The Reformations, both Protestant and Catholic, have long been told as stories of men. But women were central to the transformations that took place in Europe and beyond. What was life like for them in this turbulent period? How did their actions and ideas shape Christianity and influence societies around the world? ...
Virtual Branch Recording: Women and the Reformations
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Task design for historical thinking
Primary History article
In this article, Julia Huber examines how task design can support pupils’ historical thinking in the primary classroom. Drawing on her own practice, she shares examples that develop conceptual understanding in areas such as significance, similarity and difference, continuity and change, and interpretations...
Task design for historical thinking
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Virtual Branch Recording: 'Hidden Histories of the Viking Age'
Embers of the Hands
Eleanor Barraclough tells a richly detailed history of the Viking Age through the everyday objects and traces left by ordinary people, revealing the complex, lived realities behind the familiar saga‑era myths.
Dr Eleanor Barraclough is a historian, author and broadcaster. Her most recent book, Embers of the Hands: Hidden Histories...
Virtual Branch Recording: 'Hidden Histories of the Viking Age'
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Representations of Empire: Learning through Objects
Key Stages 2 and 3
Produced by the Northamptonshire Black History Association and originally published in 2008, this is one of a set of resources for schools offering a more inclusive map of the past that includes an appreciation of Black History within the local, national and global context. The resources provide a range of opportunities to promote diversity within the curriculum.
Contents of...
Representations of Empire: Learning through Objects
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On-demand webinar: Immersive history, AI, and the making/unmaking of student understanding
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Session 5: Immersive history, AI, and the making/unmaking of student understandingPresenter: Ailsa Fidler and Simon Lea
AI-driven immersive history is entering our classrooms in ways previously unimaginable. Through interactive simulations, image and video generation and storytelling, students will be able to explore historical events and...
On-demand webinar: Immersive history, AI, and the making/unmaking of student understanding
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Virtual Branch Recording: The First King of England
Article
Æthelstan was the early medieval king whose territorial conquests and shrewd statesmanship united the peoples, languages, and cultures that would come to be known as the 'Kingdom of the English.' In this panoramic talk, David Woodman draws on his research and recent book to create a portrait of this immensely...
Virtual Branch Recording: The First King of England
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Recorded webinar series: Jane Austen and Georgian England
Multipage Article
Join us for a journey through Georgian history, literature and society – all from the comfort of your own home. Celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen's birth, this rich, interdisciplinary webinar series from the Historical Association delves into the vibrant world of the Georgians through the lens of one of...
Recorded webinar series: Jane Austen and Georgian England
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Developing historical understanding across all areas of the EYFS framework
Primary History article
Children in nursery and reception classes do not, of course, learn history. They meet the subject for the first time when they start Year 1. However, what children learn – and how they learn – in EYFS is important for preparing them to learn history. This goes beyond building knowledge...
Developing historical understanding across all areas of the EYFS framework
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Britain on pause: remembering the 1926 General Strike
Primary History article
In this article, Kate Rigby looks back at the 1926 General Strike and considers how this could be used to explore significance, cause and consequence in Key Stage 2...
Britain on pause: remembering the 1926 General Strike
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What is characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilisation?
Primary History article
In this article, Karin Doull examines some characteristic features of the Indus Valley Civilisation and considers what these might tell us about this fascinating, less well-known empire...
What is characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilisation?
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Recorded webinar: Sensory approaches to history with the National Archives
In partnership with the National Archives Education & Outreach department
This recorded webinar explores methods that the Education & Outreach department at The National Archives is using to teach and engage audiences by allowing them to explore original documents using touch, hearing, and smell. This includes projects for school-age blind and visually impaired students, Early Years audiences, intergenerational audiences with...
Recorded webinar: Sensory approaches to history with the National Archives
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On-demand webinar: AI Black Box: responsible use for primary teachers
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Session 4: AI Black Box: responsible use for primary teachersPresenter: Dr Vanessa Cui, Dr Louise Wheatcroft, Dr Jordan Bird
Generative AI offers incredible potential for resource creation for teachers, but the current dominant generative AI tools' core function is to be an agreeable, helpful assistant....
On-demand webinar: AI Black Box: responsible use for primary teachers
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Using learning outside the classroom at historic sites to explore British history units
Primary History article
British history in the National Curriculum (2014) provides extensive opportunities for learning outside the classroom, from the earliest times to the present day. Visiting historic sites is one experience of learning outside the classroom that provides a meaningful and stimulating focus for understanding Britain’s past. This said, any site and...
Using learning outside the classroom at historic sites to explore British history units
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On-demand webinar: How might we effectively use AI in primary history?
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Session 3: How might we effectively use AI in primary history?Presenter: Stuart Tiffany
In this session, Stuart will explore how AI can be beneficial in tackling some of the challenges that face primary history teachers in a time of continued curriculum emphasis. Alongside this, he will...
On-demand webinar: How might we effectively use AI in primary history?
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On-demand webinar: AI and Technology: enhancing primary history
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Webinar series: AI in primary history
Session 2: AI and Technology: enhancing primary historyPresenter: Chris Goodall, Beth Humphrey, Ryan Reece Moor, Zehra Fagan
Discover how Bourne Education Trust's comprehensive digital strategy is transforming history education through thoughtful AI integration. This webinar showcases Bourne’s Trust-wide approach to digital innovation, demonstrating how...
On-demand webinar: AI and Technology: enhancing primary history
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The Roaring Twenties: teaching a decade of change across Key Stages 1 and 2
Primary History article
This article explores how one topic can be used in different ways to support historical understanding at Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2. The themes highlighted could link into possible golden threads to enable connections to be made across a school’s curriculum. The ‘Roaring Twenties’ also provide a real...
The Roaring Twenties: teaching a decade of change across Key Stages 1 and 2
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Embedding climate change and sustainability education into primary history
HA Primary Subject Leader Area
This resource has been made temporarily open access for Earth Day 2026.
How can we make climate change and sustainability a natural part of primary history rather than an add-on? This new subject leader guide offers manageable, age appropriate strategies with a clear rationale, practical examples and planning support to...
Embedding climate change and sustainability education into primary history
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Recorded webinar: Revisiting the witch trials
Article
The East Anglian witch hunt under Matthew Hopkins, self-appointed Witchfinder General, has garnered a great deal of popular and historical interest over the years. An image has developed of a zealous, misogynistic young man serving crazed 'justice' against supposed witches, whipping up panic and turning neighbours against each other in...
Recorded webinar: Revisiting the witch trials
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How to link food with British history and view change through living memory in Key Stage 1
Primary History article
From free school milk to free school meals, in this article Polly Gillow explores how you can use food as an engaging way to explore the past in Key Stage 1. She suggests different ways to incorporate food history into your curriculum and shows how food can be an excellent...
How to link food with British history and view change through living memory in Key Stage 1
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Learning history through the lens of artefacts
Primary History article
Lindsay Marshall is a primary school teacher and subject leader for history in a primary school on the Wirral. She has embedded the use of artefacts throughout her school’s curriculum. In this article Lindsay outlines the importance of allowing children to ‘get up close and personal’ with history in order...
Learning history through the lens of artefacts
