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Vikings: Egils Saga
Lesson Plan (KS2)
Please note: this lesson was produced as part of the Nuffield Primary History project (1991-2009) and pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. It is part of a full sequence of lessons available here.
Key questions in this lesson were:
What did the Vikings value?
What can we discover from sagas and poetry?
(These resources...
Vikings: Egils Saga
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Good Evening Sweetheart: real-life romance of young couple separated by WWII
2nd July 2019
Historical romances are not always confined to fiction and flights of fancy – sometimes they actually occur within our own communities. The real-life romantic story of two young people separated by war was uncovered by Sue and Peter Mowforth who revealed the experience of their parents in a talk to the...
Good Evening Sweetheart: real-life romance of young couple separated by WWII
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Teaching History 175: Out now
24th June 2019
The effort to discern hidden voices is intrinsic to the integrity of historical practice. The professional historian poring over primary sources strives to establish who can be heard in any text or artefact, which voices are being inadvertently favoured or what light further voices might shed on the question in...
Teaching History 175: Out now
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HA Conference Round-up 2019
3rd June 2019
We knew the line-up of speakers was good, we knew that the historic city of Chester was a great choice, we knew the hotel would be welcoming, we knew we were going to cover around 2,000 years’ worth of history from the Romans to the current day in two days...
HA Conference Round-up 2019
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Doing History at University 2025
Thinking of studying history at university?
Booking closed
(Registration is via Cademy which opens in a new window. Please read the HA CPD terms and conditions before registering)
We are pleased to be hosting a Doing History at University event for students and teachers in partnership with the University of Sheffield. The aim of the event is to...
Doing History at University 2025
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Local history: young children using written, printed and multimodal sources
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
Editorial note: Jo Barkham shows how creative, challenging and stimulating teaching can engage even the youngest pupils in the reading of written and printed text and multi-modal sources. She continues her account in the next edition...
Local history: young children using written, printed and multimodal sources
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Printed pictures with text: Using cartoons as historical evidence
Primary History article
Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated.
Written and printed sources are often multi-modal in nature, i.e. they combine images and text (Kress and Van Leeuwen, 2001). Indeed, many printed sources in the print age, c. 1500-2000 and nearly all in the digital...
Printed pictures with text: Using cartoons as historical evidence
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Why subject must be at the heart of teachers' early career framework
Letter from subject associations urges the DfE to prioritise subject-based mentoring
Dear Sir,
We were collectively pleased to note the emphasis that has been given to good subject knowledge within the Government's Recruitment and Retention strategy and in the accompanying Early Career Framework. We wholeheartedly agree that developing teachers’ subject knowledge early in their career is essential for developing their expertise as quickly...
Why subject must be at the heart of teachers' early career framework
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Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
HA policies
As a membership charity our purpose is to promote the study, teaching and enjoyment of history to the widest possible audience. We want everyone, regardless of background, to be able to engage with, debate, examine and shape history. As part of our ethos on diversity and inclusion we will not...
Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
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Celtic Britain: the land the Romans conquered
Lesson Plan
Please note: this lesson was produced as part of the Nuffield Primary History project (1991-2009) and pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum. It is part of a full sequence of lessons available here.
Literacy was addressed throughout these lessons: introducing the text and the materials about the island, then working on the production...
Celtic Britain: the land the Romans conquered
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Young Historian Awards 2026 – take part (Secondary prizes)
History competition for students
The 2026 competition is now open. Entries close on 17 July 2026 (3 July for overseas entries).
Researching, writing and presenting ideas about a historical theme or period is one of the best parts about studying history. We want young school and college aged students to get the bug for...
Young Historian Awards 2026 – take part (Secondary prizes)
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Contact your branch
Information
Bath
Mr M Short
01225 812 945
mikeshort20@btinternet.com
Beckenham & Bromley
Mrs A Wagstaff
020 8777 7742
BeckenhamHA@uclmail.net
Bolton
Ms Melissa Wright
07912 369060
MWright@boltonschool.org
Bournemouth
Dr R Hill
0300 100 0223
suzannah.stern@history.org.uk
Bristol
Ms M Feerick
0117 9442896
maryfeerick58@gmail.com
Buckinghamshire
Terry Bloxham
01296 708926
secretarybucksha@gmail.com
Cambridge
Dr Sean Lang...
Contact your branch
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Gunpowder plot at key stage 1
Lesson Plan
Please note: this resource pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum.
Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot is a cracking tale for any age group, although the complex political and religious elements are difficult for young children to understand. However, we can help them to gain insights into past people's motivations and...
Gunpowder plot at key stage 1
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Teaching History 173: Out now
Journal news
Access Teaching History 173 here (free to HA Secondary Members)
Opening Doors
The theme for this edition of Teaching History draws part of its inspiration from calls for the school curriculum to give young people access to genuinely ‘powerful knowledge’: knowledge that will take them beyond the confines of their own...
Teaching History 173: Out now
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Transcribed pamphlets shed new light on pre-Civil War Britain
New project and database led by University of Birmingham's Dr Noah Millstone
Hundreds of handwritten pamphlets detailing the news, politics, intrigue and scandals of pre-Civil War Britain are now at the fingertips of academics, history buffs, teachers and students. The Manuscript Pamphleteering in Early Stuart England project was led by University of Birmingham historian Dr Noah Millstone, and the Historical Association were involved...
Transcribed pamphlets shed new light on pre-Civil War Britain
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The Historian 139: Out now
Journal News
There has never been a more exciting time to study Anglo-Saxon history. Recent archaeological discoveries are transforming our understanding of the narrative of early English history and have added new layers of meaning to our existing knowledge. New methodologies such as the study of landscape and of gender have challenged...
The Historian 139: Out now
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Norwegian Viking ship burial found only half a metre below ground
28th October 2018
Archaeologists using hi-res motorised ground-penetrating radar have recently detected a well-preserved Viking ship burial, lying just 50cm below topsoil in farmland in south-east Norway.
The ship’s 20-metre keel and timbers represent the fourth intact ship burial so far discovered in Norway. It is remarkable that this one has survived, because...
Norwegian Viking ship burial found only half a metre below ground
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Primary History 80: Out now
HA journal news
Access Primary History 80 (Free to HA Primary members)
The Historical Association would never pretend that it understands what is the best primary history practice. On the contrary it recognises that such practice probably does not exist. Even outstanding ideas can turn into something disastrous if the teacher does not make...
Primary History 80: Out now
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Search tips
How to find what you're looking for on the HA website
Please note that much of our web content is only available to members – find out about HA Membership
The HA produces a large quantity of high-quality history and education content for primary and secondary history teachers, history students, lifelong learners, local branches and others. With so much content it's not always...
Search tips
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History Education Research Journal
Formerly the International Journal of Historical Learning, Teaching and Research
History Education Research Journal
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Membership terms and conditions
Information
The Historical Association [HA] is a registered charity incorporated by Royal Charter. We endeavour to make membership as accessible as possible to all, and this in turn enables us to continue to produce resources and campaign for quality history education at all levels, locally and nationally. We are grateful to...
Membership terms and conditions
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Key Stage 2-3 History Transition Project
Guide to KS2-KS3 Transition
Please note: these resources pre-date the 2014 National Curriculum. For more recent resources on Transition KS2-KS3 please see:
Transition KS2–KS3 (Primary History article, 2021)
Smooth Transitions: Key Stage 2 to 3 (Primary History article, 2020)
Transition Key Stage 2 and 3 (Primary History article, 2016)
Before 1066 & All That: Transition between...
Key Stage 2-3 History Transition Project
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HA Conference Round-up 2018
25th May 2018
Alas it is gone (possibly pursued by a bear or two). If you weren’t in Stratford-upon-Avon on the weekend of 18-19 May then you missed a corker.
If you were there, please let us know what you thought by filling out our short HA conference evaluation form.
Day 1: Civil liberties, Cymbeline... and a lot...
HA Conference Round-up 2018
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Away from the Western Front launches two national projects
Creative Writing Competition and National Music Project
‘Away from the Western Front’ has launched two national projects and is offering everyone a chance to make a contribution to this First World War centenary commemoration.
A National Music project and a Creative Writing Competition are part of the Heritage Lottery funded First World War 'Away from the Western...
Away from the Western Front launches two national projects
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Historical Association Privacy Notice
Information
The Historical Association is committed to the protection of your privacy. We take your rights seriously and treat all the information you give us with care.
This privacy notice explains how and why we collect, store and use the personal data you give us, to ensure you stay informed and...
Historical Association Privacy Notice
