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Magellan at KS1
Lesson Plan
The Year 2 story of Magellan and his voyage round the world. The lessons provided part of the history and geography element in a wider topic on ‘Water'.
(These resources are attached below)
The teaching was done through the powerful medium of storytelling. The first session was taken up by...
Magellan at KS1
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Famous People: Florence Nightingale (KS1)
Lesson Plan
The life of a famous person from the past and why she acted as she did
Florence Nightingale: her life, why she went to the Crimea, and what happened as a result of her work.
Cross-curricular work: this lesson stretches and challenges all children, regardless of their ability, whilst teaching...
Famous People: Florence Nightingale (KS1)
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Extended Writing (Primary)
Your Virtual History Department Meeting
We’ve been talking to our secondary school members and we know how difficult life is for teachers in the current circumstances, so we wanted to lend a helping hand.
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a brand-new and already popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for a...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Extended Writing (Primary)
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The Historian 146: Out now
The magazine of the Historical Association
Read The Historian 146: Civilisations
Join The Historian editorial board As with all HA publications The Historian is edited by our members and has a small board of volunteers who discuss possible themes, commission articles, review and commission for regular features and read and respond to articles submitted by members....
The Historian 146: Out now
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Mystery Suitcase
Lesson Plan exemplar
Please note: this lesson was produced as part of the Nuffield Primary History project (1991-2009) and pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
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...
Mystery Suitcase
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Extended Reading (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 the film here
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for a...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Extended Reading (Primary)
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Consequence (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 the film here
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for a...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Consequence (Primary)
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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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Teaching History 128: Beyond the Exam
The HA's journal for secondary history teachers
04 Teaching Year 9 about historical theories and methods – Kate Hammond (Read article)
11 Getting Year 7 to set their own questions about the Islamic Empire, 600-1600 – Sally Burnham (Read article)
18 Does scaffolding make them fall? Reflecting on strategies for developing causal argument in Years 8 and...
Teaching History 128: Beyond the Exam
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Bolton Branch Birthday
Bolton Branch News
Renowned historian Professor Sir Ian Kershaw joined the Bolton Branch of the Historical Association on 1 October 2007 to help celebrate their 80th anniversary. An audience of 185 people listened to his lecture on ‘The German People and the Persecution of the Jews', which examined the attitudes of the German...
Bolton Branch Birthday
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Webinar series: Historical thinking in a digital world: how history builds digital and media literacy
HA webinar series for secondary history teachers, history subject leaders, senior leaders, teacher educators and KS2–3 transition leads
What does this series cover?
This series makes the case that history is a natural subject for digital literacy because it teaches how knowledge is made, contested, evidenced, and communicated – the exact habits students need for navigating misinformation, manipulated media, and AI-generated content. Across six sessions, participants build a...
Webinar series: Historical thinking in a digital world: how history builds digital and media literacy
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A search beyond the classroom: using a museum to support the renewal of a scheme of work
Teaching History Article
How many times have you been to a museum or a historical building or a significant place and thought that you want to capture some of its essence to bring back to your pupils? The challenges of geography, risk, expense and staffing can all act as limitations in the planning...
A search beyond the classroom: using a museum to support the renewal of a scheme of work
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'You be Britain and I'll be Germany...' Inter-school e-mailing in Year 9
Teaching History article
E-mailing is fast becoming our preferred means of communication and for good reason. It is immediate: we can fire off a few lines and receive a reply within seconds. It is also flexible: unlike a telephone conversation, we do not have to reply there and then; we can go away...
'You be Britain and I'll be Germany...' Inter-school e-mailing in Year 9
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Thinking from the inside: je suis le roi
Teaching History article
Dale Banham and Ian Dawson show how active learning deepens students’ understanding of attitudes and reactions to the Norman Conquest. At the same time they build a bold argument for active learning, including a direct strike at the two most common objections to it. Many teachers still see it as...
Thinking from the inside: je suis le roi
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Great Debate Final 2025
14th April 2025
Winner:
Quinn Scott – Chesterton Community College, Cambridge
Runners up:
Anya Bensouiah – Kendrick School, Reading
Fred Bosley – The King’s School, Canterbury
Aimee Nelson – Bablake School, Coventry
Finalists:
Emily Tweddle, Earlston High School, Scottish Borders
Hannah Brearton, Upton Hall, Oxford
Rosie Thomson, The Maynard School, Exeter
Isabella Passarelli, Torquay Girls Grammar School,...
Great Debate Final 2025
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Radicalism and its Results, 1760-1837
Classic Pamphlet
Radicalism with a large "R", unlike Conservatism with a large "C" and Liberalism with a large "L", is not a historical term of even proximate precision. There was never a Radical Party with a national organization, local associations, or a treasury. But there were, and there are, "Radicals", generally qualified...
Radicalism and its Results, 1760-1837
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Local history for children: through the eyes of a B.ED. student
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
My favourite subject in primary school was always history. I loved everything about history, but in particular I liked learning about the history of the local area. I went to school in a small Yorkshire town...
Local history for children: through the eyes of a B.ED. student
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Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Branch History
Branch History
History of the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Branch of the Historical AssociationThe Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole branch of the HA was founded in December 1922 and has been in existence ever since. Its history can be followed in the annual reports sent to HQ, in the complete set of committee...
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Branch History
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Teaching History 131: Assessing Differently
The HA's journal for secondary history teachers
02 Editorial
03 HA Secondary News
04 Speed cameras, dead ends, drivers and diversions: Year 9 use a ‘road map’ to problematise change and continuity – Rachel Foster (Read article)
09 The Holy Grail? GCSE History that actually enhances historical understanding! – Katie Hall (Read article)
17 ‘Create something interesting...
Teaching History 131: Assessing Differently
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Historical Fiction: warts and all
Historian article
The perception is that, for historical fiction, this is the best of times. It has never been more popular: witness the 2012 Christmas day schedule-jostling between Downton Abbey and Call the Midwife. It has never been more literary: witness Hilary Mantel winning her second Man Booker prize for Bring Up the...
Historical Fiction: warts and all
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Essex Branch History
Branch History
Essex Branch - Early DaysEssex Branch was founded in 1920 or earlier and was active continuously until 1936. In 1920-1 the president was H. de Havilland of The Manor House, Great Horkesley, and the secretary Mr. E.T. Baldwin of Earls Colne Grammar School. There were 56 branch members and 8...
Essex Branch History
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Similarity and Difference (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 the film here
'What’s the wisdom on…' is a popular feature in our secondary journal Teaching History and provides the perfect stimulus for a department meeting....
Film: What's the wisdom on... Similarity and Difference (Primary)
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The National Year of Reading 2026
2026 is the National Year of Reading – and the Historical Association is celebrating it!
2026 has been declared as the National Year of Reading, a timely reminder of the importance of literacy, but also the power of the written word.
Throughout recorded history the ability to read and write has been an important form of communication, often used to control access to power and...
The National Year of Reading 2026
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Richmond & Twickenham Branch History 1964-2011
Branch History
Richmond & Twickenham Branch History 1964-2011In 1964 some members of the historical Association, mostly from the West London branch, met at Maria Grey Training College in Isleworth to set up a new branch for the Richmond & Twickenham area. A Provisional Committee was formed with George Bartle, a college lecturer, as...
Richmond & Twickenham Branch History 1964-2011
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Film: What's the wisdom on... Change and continuity (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 the film here
We know how difficult life is for teachers in the current circumstances. We also understand your need...
Film: What's the wisdom on... Change and continuity (Primary)
