This lesson focuses on one of the key turning points in the history of Tang Dynasty China: the An Lushan Rebellion. The An Lushan Rebellion began in 755 when a popular general from northern China mounted his attack on the emperor. The focus of the lesson is on the use[…]
This lesson – the final one in the unit on Tang Dynasty China – explores the second-order concept of causation, focusing on the different reasons for the dynasty’s collapse in 907. Students are first challenged to recall some of the earlier problems faced by the Tang emperors, before they develop[…]
Some of you may well use tarsias to consolidate your pupils knowledge of a unit of work. You can find out about them here. This tarsia has been designed to check out your classes knowledge of the Year 7 diverse curriculum Tang Dynasty unit. It is recommended that you use[…]
Download this free substantive knowledge test for this 8 lesson Tang Dynasty unit. Just sign up as basic member. It tests your students’ core knowledge from this 8 lesson enquiry. The second page shows you the teacher answers. Use it alongside the assessment looking at the interpretation from Michael Wood.[…]
This final assessment focused on the interpretation from historian Michael Wood, that has been central to this unit: Was the Tang Dynasty really the greatest civilisation on earth? You help your students structure their answer to this question by providing a structure to help them form their argument. Having prepared[…]
Download all of the resources in this timely and important unit of work. The lessons centre around the question: ‘How does the climate help to explain the changing fortunes of the Vikings?’ This unit focuses on a number of different potential impacts climate change had on the Vikings including migration,[…]
This activity serves to introduce the ‘big story’ of the unit. You could use it in the first lesson of the unit, to help give students an overview of this unit on how climate helps to explain the changing fortunes of the Vikings. Or, it would be a great homework[…]
Download this knowledge organiser for the forth unit in the HRC Year 7 Diverse Curriculum. The unit is centred around the question: ‘How does the climate help to explain the changing fortunes of the Vikings? This knowledge organiser provides your students with the core substantive knowledge, key terms and chronological[…]
This lesson focuses on the second-order concept of causation. It challenges students to account for the Vikings’ many journeys and migrations in the early modern period. First, students organise information about the different migrations undertaken by the Vikings, studying their journeys to places like Greenland, Newfoundland, Normandy, Spain and Istanbul.[…]
This lesson takes as its focus the famous Rök runestone. The Rök runestone was discovered in the 19th century in the village of Rök in modern-day Sweden. The runes tell a complicated story, and historians disagree over the messages that the stone’s creator(s) wished to convey. In the lesson, students[…]
This lesson focuses on the second-order historical concept of consequence. It explores the various impacts brought about by the climate and environment. Students investigate the ways in which sport and entertainment, food, dress and house-building were affected by the climate and environment. Next they identify similarities and differences with[…]
We know it might seem out dated, but here at HRC we have a view that learning can be fun. This lesson takes the engaging format of a ‘Medieval Trade Game’. Players are challenged to beat their rivals by collecting gold coins, and avoiding the loss of ‘lives’. Students play[…]
This lesson helps students to appreciate some of the ways in which different disciplinary approaches can help enrich our understanding of the past. Students explore the evidence used by archaeologists, geographers and natural scientists – along with historians. In the lesson, students work in groups to make inferences from a[…]
This lesson uses a classic ‘mystery’ approach. Students study a range of clues in their mission to work out what might have caused the ‘disappearance’ of the Viking settlement on Greenland. They consider the impact of various factors, including cooling temperatures, rising sea levels, a failure to adapt to different[…]
Tarsias are a great way to consolidate your pupils knowledge of a unit of work. You can find out about them here. This tarsia has been designed to check out your classes knowledge of the Year 7 diverse curriculum Viking and climate unit. It is recommended that you use this[…]
Download this free substantive knowledge test for this 6 lesson unit on the Vikings and climate change. Just sign up as basic member. It tests your students’ core knowledge from this 6 lesson enquiry. The second page shows you the teacher answers. Use it alongside the weather forecast final assessment.[…]
This final assessment focused on creating a long term weather forecast for the Vikings has been central to this unit: ‘How does the climate help to explain the changing fortunes of the Vikings? ? You help your students structure their answer to this question by providing a structure to help[…]
You can download all lesson enquiries in this alternative Norman Conquest unit. You could also look at this unit published previously, or view the planner. This unit is designed for the diverse curriculum. It helps your students to evaluate Edward the Confessor, consider how likely William of Normandy was to[…]
This activity serves to introduce the ‘big story’ of the unit. You could use it in the first lesson of the unit, to help give students an overview of this unit on the Norman Conquest. Or, it would be a great homework activity: students could be tasked with reading the[…]
Download this knowledge organiser for the forth unit in the HRC Year 7 Diverse Curriculum. The unit is centred around the question: ‘Arrogant, warlike and very pleased with themselves’: What were the Normans really like? This knowledge organiser provides your students with the core substantive knowledge, key terms and chronological[…]
This lesson is the first in a sequence of ten focusing on the events of 1066 and beyond. It explores the reign of Edward the Confessor from the vantage point of contemporary sources. You will introduce your students to important source skills whilst serving to ‘set the scene’ for the[…]
This lesson aims to remove the benefit of hindsight, taking students back to 1066. You will get them to consider whether it was either inevitable (or even likely) that William, Duke of Normandy would seize the throne from Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings. It helps students develop their[…]
This lesson takes a different approach to the Battle of Hastings. It offers an alternative way of developing students’ understanding of this significant moment in English history. Here, students will not receive a straightforward, uncontested narrative of the key moments in the battle. Instead, they will come to understand the[…]
This lesson explores the problems faced by William in the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Hastings. This was when his authority over the people of England was by no means assured. William faced a series of dilemmas. In the lesson, students are challenged to put themselves ‘in William’s shoes’,[…]
This enquiry aims to develop students’ knowledge of the consequences of the Norman Conquest for ordinary Anglo-Saxons. It focuses on the dramatic impact of the Harrying of the North. It also hones in on the historical skill of consequence, equipping students with various ways that they might judge the impact[…]
This enquiry is intended as an overview of the history of the Kingdom of Benin. It is a great way of introducing students to African history, particularly if they have not studied the African kingdoms before. Artistic sources are placed at the forefront, and students come to appreciate the symbolic[…]
This lesson focuses on one key, overlooked figure from the period of the Norman Conquest: Gytha Thorkelsdottir. Gytha was the wife of an influential English earl and the mother of Harold Godwinson. Gytha challenges our preconceptions about what it meant to be a woman in Anglo-Saxon/Norman England, having exerted a[…]
This lesson is all about interpretations – and it offers a different way of looking at this period of history. It doesn’t focus on battles and rebellions but on character and personality. Students are presented with historian Marc Morris’ interpretation of William, which suggests that William ought to be considered[…]
This lesson is based around a ‘speed-dating’ activity, in which students are challenged to ‘become’ different characters from Norman England. They ‘meet’ other men and women who similarly lived through the tumultuous events of the post-1066 period. Among the characters included in the activity are farmers who experience a change[…]
This lesson focuses on a lesser-known but important event from the latter part of William the Conqueror’s reign: the Assembly at Salisbury, where William gathered together the most influential people from across England – including up to 10,000 landowners. At Old Sarum (now Salisbury), these people were expected to make[…]
