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Fakebook: Catherine II
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Fakebook: Charles Darnay
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Fakebook: Ivan III \’The Great\’
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Fakebook: Giuseppe Garibaldi
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Fakebook: Lucie Manette
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Fakebook: Sir Thomas More
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Fakebook: W.E.B. DuBois
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Fakebook: Marie Curie
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Fakebook: Jiang Jieshi
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Fakebook: Sun Yixian
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Fakebook: Peter I or Peter the Great
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Fakebook: Woodrow Wilson
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Sourcework Assignment Pack: International Relations in the 1930s
A comprehensive pack of sources and questions in the style of GCSE/IGCSE examinations, designed to be printed off at the beginning of the unit and used as homework exercises over the course of several weeks. Share this:
Milestones in Libya’s Relations with the West
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Historical Anniversaries for April 2011
10 years ago today (1st April 2001) Former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic was arrested in Belgrade for corruption, embezzlement and genocide 25 years ago today (7th April 1986) British home computer pioneer Sir Clive Sinclair sold his entire computer product range and the Sinclair brand name to Amstrad 20 years ago today (9th April 1991)…
50 years ago today (21st March 1961): The Beatles gave their first performance at The Cavern Club, Liverpool
The Beatles gave their first performance at The Cavern Club, Liverpool. Share this:
Why did Stalin become leader of the USSR? – essay planning task
Students are provided with a detailed list of factors relating to Stalin’s rise to power. These are organised under 3-5 headings. The following headings might give you some ideas: Political | Economic | Personal | Stalin’s Strengths | Opposition Weaknesses | Stalin’s Successes | Opposition Mistakes | Lenin’s Mistakes | Lenin’s Weaknesses. There is a…
Did Britain try to assassinate Lenin?
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Form in a Lightbox
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Playing the ‘what if’ game is addictive – Rupert Cornwell, Commentators – The Independent
Is it as futile to rewrite history as it is to rewrite a football match after the final whistle blows?
King Henry VIII’s Madness Explained : Discovery News
King Henry VIII's Madness Explained
World War I Submarine Found Off Dutch Coast
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Vera Zasulich – Writings
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Korolenko Describes the Kishinev Pogrom of 1903
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The Suez Crisis: Tension Erupts
The Suez Crisis: Tension Erupts Students consider the causes, events and consequences of the Suez Crisis through a series of sources, including a short video from Andrew Marr’s History of Britain. There are teacher notes available for this activity and evidence slips for the main exercise, as well as YouTube Videos available: [1 – Sevres…
Classroom Display Posters: 40 Key Terms for KS3 History
I print these off onto A3, laminate them and then cut them up to display all around the classroom. A great way to get the important terminology across! Share this:
League of Nations in the 1920s: new resources
I’ve added various teacher notes, links to video clips and quizzes to the League of Nations in the 1920s page. Share this:
GCSE Modern World History: Video
A 3-minute video I use to give Year 9 students an overview of the course. Further materials for Year 9 options discussions can be found here. Share this:
Origins of the Cold War: IGCSE Source pack and resources
I’m in the process of tidying up my resources on the Origins of the Cold War, which is the compulsory Sourcework option at IGCSE in June 2011. In particular there’s a sourcework pack with some practice questions that will hopefully be useful. Share this:
The Rise of Stalin: Complete scheme of Work with Teacher Versions
I have launched some detailed worksheets and completed teacher versions on the topic of “Why did Stalin become leader of the USSR?”. Share this:
The REAL pirates of the Caribbean: Cannons belonging to bloodthirsty buccaneer Henry Morgan recovered in Panama
Archaeologists have revealed that six cannons that belonged to the bloodthirsty British pirate Henry Morgan have been recovered from a river in Panama.
Swashbuckling adventurer Morgan sent three ships and a crew of 470 men to capture the Castillo de San Lorenzo el Real de Chagres, a fort that guarded the approach to Panama City, the capital, in 1671.
Frank Buckles, Last WWI Veteran, Dies: Big Pic
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The Suez Crisis: Tension Builds
The Suez Crisis: Tension Builds Students consider the proposal to turn the Suez Canal into an international zone, and the infamous “Sevres Protocol”. They will use two primary sources: Nasser’s rejection of the Western plan and the Sevres Protocol. There are several YouTube videos that can be used: [1 – Czech Arms Deal, USA Anger]…
Sourcework Assignment Pack: The Peace Treaties after World War One
A comprehensive pack of sources and questions in the style of GCSE/IGCSE examinations, designed to be printed off at the beginning of the unit and used as homework exercises over the course of several weeks. Share this:
20 years ago (28 Feb. 1991) The Gulf War ended – a ceasefire came into effect at midnight.
The Gulf War ended – a ceasefire came into effect at midnight – for more, click here. Share this:
60 years ago (26th Feb. 1951): The U.S. Constitution’s 22nd Amendment: this limited the President to two terms in office.
For more on this topic, click here. Share this:
The Suez Crisis: Roleplay Exercise
The Suez Crisis: Roleplay Exercise “In this exercise you will take on the role of a French / British / Israeli civil servant. Each of you will develop a particular area of expertise to share with the rest of the group. The group as a whole will have to decide on some key courses of…
Historical Anniversaries for March 2011
150 years ago today (4th March 1861) Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as the 16th President of the USA 75 years ago today (7th March 1936) Adolf Hitler ordered his troops into the demilitarised zone of the Rhineland, breaking the Treaty of Versailles and the Locarno Pact 20 years ago today (14th March 1991) The ‘Birmingham…
Plagiarizr: Free plagiarism detector for teachers
I have developed a new plagiarism checker – simply COPY and PASTE an essay into it, click “check” and then you will get a full breakdown of any plagiarized phrases, with direct hyperlinks to trace where the text was taken from. Share this:
The Growth of Political Opposition in the Reign of Alexander II
After this starter activity based around a short story by Turgenev, I hand out a detailed handout outlining the growth of political opposition in the reign of Alexander. Students are encouraged to turn this into an illustrated mindmap. As an extension activity students could complete this worksheet based around Michael Bakunin’s “Catechism for a Revolutionist”…
25 years ago (20th Feb. 1986): The USSR launched the Mir space station.
“The Soviets have opened a new phase in space exploration with the launch of the world’s biggest space station, Mir. The successful launch of Mir comes just over three weeks after the American space shuttle Challenger disaster, in which seven astronauts died….more“ Share this:
150 years ago today (18th Feb. 1861): Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of the Confederate States
Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War [more] Share this:
The Suez Crisis of 1956 – Background: The Palestinian Refugee Problem after 1948
Background: The Palestinian Refugee Problem after 1948 As a recap on the events prior to 1956, students use their textbooks to learn more about Al-Nakba (“the catastrophe”) for the Palestinians. There are teacher notes available for this activity. Share this:
40 years ago (15th Feb. 1971): Britain adopted the decimal currency.
For more on Decimal Day, click here. Share this:
Mysterious Manuscript’s Age Determined
No one has figured out how to read the enigmatic Voynich Manuscript, but now we know how old it is.
Finns to revive beer from 19th century shipwreck
Finnish scientists are analyzing a golden, cloudy beverage found in a 19th century shipwreck at the bottom of the Baltic Sea, hoping new beers can be modeled on an ancient brew.
The League of Nations in the 1920s: Revision Notes
A new Telescopic Topic created using the facility at www.classtools.net. Share this:
Sourcework assignment Pack: Causes of World War One
A comprehensive pack of sources and questions in the style of GCSE/IGCSE examinations, designed to be printed off at the beginning of the unit and used as homework exercises over the course of several weeks. Share this:
Timeline of Middle East events, 1914-1939, plus factual test
As part of my ongoing project to upload teacher notes for all major units over the course of the year, I’ve added a completed version of the timeline, and a factual test / completed teacher answers to this page. Much more to follow…! Share this:
Tuviah Friedman, Tireless Pursuer of Nazis, Dies at 88
In the months before and after the end of World War II, Tuviah Friedman tirelessly hunted Nazis as part of a militia in liberated Poland, and he reveled in his nickname, the Merciless One.
Why did Israel win the war of 1948-49?
Analysis: Why did Israel win the war of 1948-49? Working with a partner, students cut up these slips and then organise them under headings of their choice. Some of the slips may be arguments, whereas others may be substantiating detail you can use to back up these arguments. They should aim for 3-5 categories of…
Horrible Histories: The best laughs are on children’s TV
CBBC's Horrible Histories triumphed over its adult counterparts at the British Comedy Awards – and rightly so, says Gerard Gilbert
A medieval mural depicting Henry VIII has been uncovered by a couple renovating their home
Angie Powell, 57, and her husband Rhodri, 56, uncovered the 20ft wide, six ft high, wall painting as they peeled back wallpaper and mortar from their grade II listed home.
Are Revolutions Contagious?
Like a virus, revolt has spread rapidly over the last few weeks from Tunisia to Egypt, with additional riots and protests in nearby Jordan and Yemen and rumblings that Syria may be next. As alarming as the spread of uprisings might be, the recent chain of events echoes numerous periods of discontent that stretch back more than 200 years.
Victorian Entrepreneur Game – now with leaderboard / new worksheets
I’ve updated the Horatio Ramsbottom game with a simpler worksheet, a second test, a leaderboard and new questions. Share this:
Keyword checker: A tool for developing essay skills
I’ve been getting fed up with my IB students not incuding all of the topic keywords / terms in their essays. So I’ve just finished writing this program which checks how many keywords have been included with the click of a button. I’ll be encouraging students to run their essays through this before handing them…
History Mystery: The Princes in the Tower
An ActiveHistory Mystery. The “History Mysteries” lessons are designed as stand-alone projects which each last 3-4 hours. Through engaging historical topics, they teach skills of research, groupwork, structured writing. There is a standard teacher lesson plan and student record sheet / markscheme for each activity. Share this:
“Twister” – Create a “Tweet” from a fictional/historical character
This new template allows you to create fictional “status updates” that can then be printed off for display purposes. Students could be asked * What are the most important people in this topic? * What was their most important moment within the topic? * What would their comment be about it? * What particular keywords…
Causes of the Spanish Civil War: Dynamic Essay-Planning Tool
Professor AJP Sailor takes 5 factors and connects them together in endless combinations to help students consider the Origins of Spanish Civil War and how to link factors in essays. Share this:
350 years ago today (30 Jan 1661): Cromwell executed…even though dead already
The body of Oliver Cromwell, former Lord Protector of England, was dug up and “executed” more than two years after his death [more] Share this:
90 years ago (28 Jan 1921): Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
In Paris, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was installed beneath the Arc de Triomphe, honouring unidentified soldiers who fell in WWI [images] Share this:
25 years ago today (28 Jan 1986): Challenger disaster
The American space shuttle “Challenger” exploded shortly after lift-off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, killing all 7 astronauts [video] Share this:
Factual Test: Declaration of the State of Israel and the War of 1948-49
Timeline Factual Test To ensure that students have gathered the essential information, they should take this “fill the gaps” exercise which contains 15 questions in a table following the same format as the timeline in the previous worksheet. There is also a completed teacher version available. Share this:
Historical Anniversaries for February 2011
40 years ago (2nd Feb. 1971) Idi Amin became President of Uganda. He had overthrown Milton Obote in a military coup the previous week. 100 years ago (6th Feb. 1911) Birth of Ronald Reagan, American actor and 40th President of the United States. 40 years ago (7th Feb. 1971) Women in Switzerland were finally given…
25 years ago (23 Jan 1986): Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame established
The first members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Chuck Berry, James Brown, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley [official website]. Share this:
School Staff Lead Students to Believe World War III Has Started
Primary school children in Bacup, England were terrified during a school assembly when administrators told them World War III was happening and London was being bombed.
Edison’s Predictions for the Year 2011 (1911)
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Henri’s Head identified
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Tsar Alexander II: Complete scheme of work with teacher notes
I have relaunched the Tsar Alexander II page of the site to include some brand new worksheets and completed teacher notes for all aspects of the topic. Share this:
50 years ago (20 Jan 1961): John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States
John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as the 35th President of the United States [video]. Share this:
History study needs facts first, analysis later | Education | The Guardian
History study needs facts first, analysis later
The King’s Speech: True blood or right royal dud?
Does Tom Hooper's Oscar-tipped Brit-flick about George VI's struggles with his stammer talk sense or take liberties?
100 years ago today (17 Jan 1911): Death of Sir Francis Galton
Death of Sir Francis Galton, British anthropologist, explorer, eugenicist, statistician, and meteorologist, known for his pioneering studies of human intelligence, for devising the concept of correlation, and for creating the first weather map [more] Share this:
20 years ago today (16 Jan 1991): The Gulf War begins
The Gulf War begins with “Operation Desert Storm” after a UN deadline for Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait expired [more]. Share this:
Random Name / Word Picker
The classtools random name / word picker has now been updated with a brand new image which makes it look a little less (in the words of my wife) “Hello Kitty”! Share this:
Spain’s Basque separatists Eta call ‘permanent truce’
The Basque separatist group Eta has announced a permanent ceasefire in its fight for independence from Spain.
