Rise of Mao: Possible Essay Questions | Sample Plan Students are provided with a list of essay questions from past examination papers. As a class, read through the questions and highlight the central focus point of each. Students then consider how they would structure a question phrased as follows for each of these focus points. Part of…

Analyse the Methods and Conditions which led to Mao’s Victory in the Chinese Civil War | Completed Teacher Version Students use their detailed notes to complete an analysis of the following factors, taken from the IBO syllabus, then discuss later as a class how they can be connected.Propaganda and Charismatic Leadership | Ideology | Socio-Economic Factors| Military…

The Chinese Civil War: Video Recap “Watch the 8-minute video to complete this initial timeline to summarise what you have so far learned. If you have not already completed your own detailed timeline, develop this one further using your notes from the decision making simulation“. Part of the new unit of study on the Chinese Civil Wars and…

Factual Test – The Chinese Civil Wars and the Rise of Mao (teacher password required) Twenty questions to test essential knowledge, based on what should have been learned so far. Part of the new unit of study on the Chinese Civil Wars and the Rise of Mao.

Mao’s Rise to Power – Timeline Task “Use your detailed handwritten notes from the decision making simulation to complete this table in as much detail as possible. You may wish to use a key to highlight events, places, and people in different colours. Next, develop your timeline further by doing your own web research on some of…

The Chinese Civil Wars – Are you more like Chiang or Mao? (Multimedia Decision Making Simulation) A comprehensive interactive lecture to educate students about the key events of the Chinese Civil War, with twelve decision points and complete with 45 minutes of video clips. Designed to be delivered as an interactive lecture over several hours. As…

The Chinese Civil War: Introduction An introductory handout providing a timeline of events and lost of characters to familiarise students with an essential overview. Part of the new study unit on the Chinese Civil Wars and the Rise of Mao at ActiveHistory.

Cold War HistoriographyStudents are provided with a comprehensive list of quotes from contemporary politicians and historians since, and given a range of tasks to complete which will enable them to deepen their understanding.

Campaign 1965: Selma – The Simulation [interactive]“In this simulation you will learn about key figures involved in the struggle as events unfold step-by-step. For each character you will be invited to step inside their shoes and consider how you should react to the situation you face if your objective is to attract favourable media attention that…

Historiography of the Berlin BlockadeStudents are provided with a historiographical overview and structure questions to familiarise themselves with the debate. Part of the Berlin Blockade Scheme of Work.

The Berlin Blockade: Timeline, Analysis and Video WorkA standalone worksheet which guides students through the essential causes, consequences and events of the crisis. Part of the Berlin Blockade Scheme of Work.

Background – Conclusions on the Bay of PigsStudents assess the significance of the Bay of Pigs crisis. Part of the complete scheme of work on the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Background – Tension between the USA and CubaThis worksheet focuses more narrowly on the tension between the USA and Cuba following Castro’s seizure of power. Part of the complete scheme of work on the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Background – Tension between the USA and the USSRStudents review the tension between the USA and the USSR on the global stage.

As an introduction to my first major topic of study with my IB students, I put together this new “Escape the Room” lesson last week, designed to run between 45 minutes and an hour. It worked really well and you can download all the resources to try it with your own classes by following the…

Podcast Worksheet: Mandela, an Audio History Students provide answers to the following questions using the first 24 minutes of this podcast from the BBC, which covers Mandela’s life up to his imprisonment in 1964.

Domestic causes: How popular was Allende with his own people at the time of his overthrow? | Completed teacher version In this task, students consider how far the Chilean coup can be explained in terms of domestic factors – in particular, whether it is accurate to say that Allende precipitated his own overthrow with divisive and unpopular…

Video Worksheet: Causes of the Spanish Civil War – Part 1, 1931-1935 | Completed Teacher Version A structured worksheet based around a classic video documentary about the Spanish Civil War, which is available online. Video Worksheet: Causes of the Spanish Civil War – Part 2, 1936 | Completed Teacher Version A structured worksheet based around a classic video documentary…

Detailed Analysis and Video Documentary Clips In this activity, students consider not only the role of the Republic, the Nationalists and Foreign powers in the conflict, but also the role played by political, socio-economic and military factors. They begin by using ideas from their timeline (previous activity) and the move on to watch a series…

In Defence of Apartheid Students listen to three short video interview clips with contemporary witnesses justifying the policy of apartheid, and make notes on each. Part of the Apartheid South Africa scheme of work at ActiveHistory.

Historiography: How have historians debated the causes of the Korean War? Here’s a handout I produced for my students, which is particularly useful for justifying the definition of the Korean War as a Civil War for Paper 2 as well as a Cold War Conflict. Part of the Korean War scheme of work at ActiveHistory.

Essay Keywords Checker: Castro’s Rule of Cuba This tool provided a list of key terms relating to Castro’s rule of Cuba and can be used to help students identify any obvious gaps in their analysis. Part of the new scheme of work on Castro’s Rule.

Factual Test: Castro’s Rule of Cuba (25 Questions) Complete with teacher answers. Part of the new scheme of work on Castro’s Rule.

Video Documentary: Castro’s Rule (1 hour)| Teacher Viewing Notes A film which covers the main events of Castro’s Rule. Part of the new scheme of work on Castro’s Rule.

Past IB Paper 2 / Paper 3 Essay Questions Students can highlight different themes in different colours and highlight dates in red and use these to discuss the most common themes and perspectives focused on by the examiner. Part of the new scheme of work on the Rule of Castro.

Essay Planning Exercises | Matrix Grids – Blogpost | Sample Student Slides In this phase, students use their research to consider how they could use it to answer two possible questions:Was Castro’s use of propaganda more important than his use of force as a means of maintaining power?How Authoritarian was Castro’s Cuba? Part of the new scheme of work…

Teacher Notes: Castro’s Policies Analysed in Terms of Success and Failure These detailed notes will provide useful material to help teachers support students with extra facts and opinions during the debate. Part of the new scheme of work on the Rule of Castro.

Castro’s Objectives, Policies, and Research Focus Points | Teacher Notes Each student should focus on a different policy area, and identify elements of success OR failure in preparation for a debate.. Students first consider how rulers measure their success in terms of economics, politics and so on. If you have IB Geography students willing to do so,…

Measuring Castro’s success on his own terms: Populism, Nationalism, Socialism This short presentation, which closes with a 5-minute video clip providing a recap on Castro’s rise, sets up the unit by stressing the importance to students of measuring Castro on his own terms, and providing definitions of three criteria by which to do so. Part…

Conclusions and Essay Planning: Cold War Crises and Leaders to 1964 Students are provided with eight possible essay questions from past examination papers, along with indicative content. These should be shared among the members of the class to tackle. Part of the scheme of work on JFK’s Foreign Policy at ActiveHistory.

The Suez Crisis of 1956 Note: If time is particularly tight, or this topic only needs to be taught briefly, then I have now produced a standalone workpack on this topic, which comes complete with links to multimedia clips. Part of the Suez Crisis Study Unit.  

Classroom debate and consolidation: How successful was Mao as ruler of China, 1949-76? Members of the class will be presented with this debate framework and detailed timeline. They use this to frame “prosecution” questions on particular policies (summarised as the headings in six key columns in a table provided). These questions should take the format…

Partway through this research process, you may wish to present your students with this detailed analysis of Mao’s domestic policies to help them along. There is also a completed teacher version of this exercise available. Part of the new study unit on Mao’s rule of China, 1949-76

 Assess the degree to which guerrilla warfare was the main cause of communist victory in Vietnam – Model Essay 40+ Model History Essays by RJ Tarr of www.activehistory.co.uk As well as writing a number of articles for History Review magazine, I make it a habit to write essays in timed conditions whenever I set such assignments…