History Shop

It’s with a great sense of relief that I’ve finally launched the ActiveHistory History Store – a massive repository of history books, history CDs and history DVDs available from Amazon, organised by date period and by genre (historical fiction, popular history, history study books, history dvds). There are hundreds of resources available here which I…

Lutheran Reformation Historiography – Online Quiz!

A new quiz which tests knowledge of every major Reformation historian worth knowing about: Roland Bainton, Heiko Oberman, Heinz Schilling, Von Ranke, Max Steinmetz, Schilling / Reinhard, AG Dickens, Christopher Haigh, Joseph Lortz, Gunther Vogler, Friedrich Engels, Peter Blickle, Scott and Scribner, Martin Luther, Harold Bender, George H. Williams, M.M. Smirin, Claus-Peter Clasen, James M….

Witchcraft Trial – Updated Activity Worksheet

I have updated the popular witchcraft trial lesson plan and trial worksheet to include follow up questions designed to get students thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of both the adversarial justice system, and also of jury trials. This ensures that the trial itself is rounded off with some reflective questions rather than just a…

“Bloody” Mary Tudor?

A worksheet based around the short clip from the feature film “Elizabeth” which shows the execution of Latimer and Ridley. Type in “latimer ridley” into www.youtube.com to find the clip!

Life of Martin Luther – Hollywood Style!

The life of Martin Luther: Not strictly necessary, but it’s a great story – and in this activity, students use a timeline to produce a Hollywood Film Poster advertising a new blockbuster about the life of the Reformation giant. Focusing on the cast list, the film title and the key events of his life, it…

Matthew Hopkins, Witchfinder General

In this history lesson plan and worksheet, students read through the 14 questions posed in Mathew Hopkins’ “The Discovery of Witches”, choose the 5 questions the think will put the Witchfinder General in the tightest spot, then the teacher provides the answers which were originally given by Hopkins. Follow-up questions (and the suggestion that the…

A Classroom Witch Trial

This Witch Trial and accompanying record sheet is always one of the highlights of the Year 8 course! With some students taking on the role of women accused of witchcraft, others acting as defence counsel, and others as prosecution lawyers, this is a lively unit which really helps students to understand the difference between facts,…

Witchcraft: 1. Introduction: Religion, Superstition and Witchcraft.

Students start with Task 1, followed by a classroom discussion, just to get them thinking. Then, they place their worksheet face down on the table and I write this question on the board: “When was the last witch executed?”. Students turn their sheets back over, and a merit is awarded for the person who first…

Portraits as Propaganda: Elizabeth I

This history lesson builds on well from The Ambassadors and the Tudor Portrait Mystery Exercises. Students consider the tools used by artists to represent different policies, emotions and personality traits in individuals, using the famous “Armada Portrait” as a starting point. They then use what they have learned to produce their own colourful “Royal Portrait”…

Key Themes of the 16th Century

A worksheet and history lesson plan designed to get students thinking about key terminology and linking their ideas together meaningfully.

Drake’s Circumnavigation: Google Earth Flyover

I have just put the finishing touches to a Google Earth Flyover of Sir Francis Drake’s Circumnavigation of the Globe. The activity comes complete with 6 worksheets which you can pick and choose from to use with your classes: 1. Structured Questions about Drake’s Circumnavigation Students answer a series of questions based around a viewing…

Running Dictation Exericse: The Siege of Constantinople, 1453

Perhaps the defining reason why the Renaissance took off in Italy, the Siege of Constantinople is also a great story. This activity gets the narrative across in a suitably exciting way. Complete with suggested classroom / homework activities.

Head2Head with Henry VIII – Major update

The Head2Head Interview with King Henry VIII has now been updated with a custom-made 3D face. Many thanks to subscribers for enabling me to pay OddCast, the American software corporation, to design this great new addition to the site. I hope the kids enjoy it!

SPLAT the Tudor!

A brand new version of the popular game, now with a high score board – can you get onto the Hall of Fame with your historical knowledge?

Early Modern European History: Worksheets and PowerPoints

Uploaded a series of PowerPoint Presentations kindly offered to the site by Mr. Fitzsimmons: Counterfactual History The League of Nations to 1930 Witchcraft Trials in Scotland Tudor Monarchs Phillip II and Elizabeth I Revolts in the Reign of Phillip II William the Conqueror Also, two PDF Worksheets from the same source: Charles V Phillip II:…

Phillip II of Spain: Worksheets

AS / A2 New Editable Worksheet Resources on Philip II   1. Philip II’s Foreign Policy[1]*   2. Philip II’s Foreign Policy[2]*   *All courtesy of Richard Fitzsimmons

Elizabeth I and the Tudor Regime: Work sheets

New Editable Worksheet Resources on Elizabeth I 1. What Constrained Elizabeth’s Foreign Policies?*   2. Elizabeth’s Relations with Spain*   3. Elizabeth’s Relations with Scotland*   4. Elizabeth’s Relations with France*   *All courtesy of Richard Fitzsimmons

Emperor Charles V: Worksheets

New Editable Worksheet Resources on Charles V   1. Charles V’s Foreign Policy*   2. Charles V and the German Protestants*   2. Charles V and the Holy Roman Empire*   2. Charles V and the Habsburg-Valois Conflict*   *From Richard Fitzsimmons

The Catholic and Counter-Reformation: Worksheets

1. Introduction and Overview 2. The Papacy: Positive agents of reform? 3. The Council of Trent: (a) Background to the meetings 4. The Council of Trent: (b) The Decrees 5. The International Impact of the Counter-Reformation 6. Propaganda and Censorship in the Counter-Reformation

England under Protector Somerset and Edward VI

A2 England Under Protector Somerset – New worksheets and Resources: Interactive WordShoot Quiz England Under Protector Somerset Worksheets 1.  Timeline of the Reign For reference / revision purposes.     2. Key Figures of the Reign Complete with a task.     3. Introduction: England in 1547 76kb 4. Somerset: Character and Style of Government…

John Calvin and Calvinism

Khrushchev: The “Secret Speech” of 1956 WorksheetCalvin and Calvinism – worksheets A negative introduction (pictorial propaganda) A positive introduction (hagiographical propaganda) Civil Government in Geneva Was Church and Civil Government in Geneva a strength or a weakness for Calvin?

Time Machine Journey to Renaissance Florence

;Decision-Making Game: Time Machine Journey to Renaissance Florence A major new decision-making game: journey around the landscape of Renaissance Florence learning about the key events, characters and concepts of the period. Complete with a choice of four differentiated worksheets and a follow-up wordshoot quiz.

Reformation Woodcuts

Uploaded a brand new interactive exercise about Reformation Woodcuts, complete with Worksheet.

The Henrician Reformation: Work sheets and resources

The Henrician Reformation Opposition to the Schism Sourcework: Opposition to the Schism The development of Parliament in the reign of Henry VIII The Reformation in Europe Erasmus and Humanism Other key humanists