Good Websites for History Teachers
Here's a short list of good sites.
This list could go on for ever but that would reduce its value. Here’s a selection of websites that are well worth looking at.
Schools History Project
I had to start with this one – especially as it was redesigned and re–launched in July 09 with typical SHP enthusiasm and commitment and again in September 11.
www.schoolshistoryproject.org.uk
We are steadily building up support for SHP teachers on the site. You can find, amongst other things:
- SHP news up-dates
- Details of the annual conference, held each July
- SHP background and philosophy
- Teaching ideas, guidance and activities
- Links to SHP specifications
- Details of SHP publications
Historical Association
Past editions of Teaching History on-line. Now the HA is playing a more effective part in History teaching there’s more and more of value on its site.
Some material restricted to members – but you ought to be a member anyway!
KS2–3 Transition Project
A must-view site for everyone despite the unbelievable url.
czv.e2bn.net/e2bn/leas/c99/schools/czv/web/about%20this%20site
Stunning ideas and materials all based around a problem familiar to all schools but the ideas are transferable beyond the transition years.
Happening History
You may have encountered the wonderful re-enactment work of Wel and Karen Hamilton-Viall in their former guise as 'Discovering Medieval' - they have provided many primary and secondary schools with memorable sessions on various aspects of medieval life, including coverage of both medieval Medicine and Crime for GCSE and the Wars of the Roses at A level. We also involved them in creating the medieval medicine film extracts for SHP's Medicine resources in Hodder's Dynamic Learning CD range.
They have now widened their scope to include re-enactment sessions on aspects of World War Two and have plans for even greater variety in future, hence their change of name to 'Happening History'. If you're looking for re-enactors who will provide students of all ages with a really memorable and worthwhile experience then take a look at their website - I've always found them highly professional to work with, full of ideas but equally aware of schools' needs. Highly recommended!
Black History 4 schools
Just one of Dan Lyndon’s website offerings – teaching materials, articles, discussion.
Dan’s school site is also well worth investigating.
School History Forum
Part of www.schoolhistory.co.uk the forum offers much incisive and well-informed discussion on all kinds of history-related topics.
Also a good way of finding the increasing number of sites set up by teachers and departments.
Schools History.org
Dan Moorhouse’s collection of on-line lessons, revision activities and loads, loads more.
To think I knew him when he was young and unknown.
National Archive Learning Curve
An immense collection of resources, turned into useable activities by the likes of Ben Walsh and Chris Culpin.
Why history is a load of old rubbish
An introduction to archaeology with excellent resources.
www.canterburytrust.co.uk/schools/rubbish/rubbpg02
Created by the Canterbury Archaeological Trust.
Burnt Cakes
Alf Wilkinson’s website of history resources.
Innovative History
Created by Johannes Ahrenfelt and Neal Watkin.
They describe the site as sharing ‘what they regard as 'good practice' in history and teaching in general.’
History Stuff
Another 'find' from the sharing world of the SHP Conference, Craig Gillespie's History Stuff.
Interactive ideas for KS3 and GCSE.
Timelines TV
Andrew Chater has made available a wonderful array of video material on:
Timelines.tv is a new and exciting on-line history resource provided free for the user. Based on the BAFTA award-winning TV series, it offers a wealth of quality TV documentary, arranged on interactive historical timelines that put you in control of your journey through the past. The content covers all aspects of British history from 1066 to the present day, arranged on three parallel timelines: social, political and national / imperial. Clicking on any of the 50 chapter headings will connect you to a wealth of streamed video, broken into user-friendly clips (over 200 clips in all). Transcripts are provided, and links that enable you to chase connections across parallel timelines, and backwards and forwards across the centuries. Timelines.tv offers British history on the web as you’ve never seen it before.
From the Ireland in Schools project
Who has come to Britain, and when?
Developing questioning through timeline maps
A package of resources providing an overview of migration to Britain in one lesson
http://iisresource.org/Documents/Who_Has_Come_Britain_03.pdf
Download a PowerPoint of images used in the lesson from:
http://iisresource.org/Documents/Who_has_come_Britain_03.ppt
and see the Ireland in Schools main website
What’s that worth today?
Ever wondered what £1 in the past would be worth today. See the calculator at
www.measuringworth.com/ppoweruk/index.php
which is part of
www.projects.ex.ac.uk/RDavies/arian/current/howmuch.html
People of the Great War: shaping the modern world
New from the Imperial War Museum.
This resource – with a DVD featuring short films and a CD with original historical sources – is being distributed free to all primary and secondary schools to help mark Remembrance Day.
The material is also available via the IWM website.
The Luttrell Psalter
If you use The Luttrell Psalter in teaching you may well enjoy and use the short film on DVD available from this site.
The film is beautifully made, with stunning medieval music.
Keystage History
Neil Thompson, formerly History Inspector in Hampshire, has developed a site supporting history teachers in both primary and secondary schools.
The Purposes of School History
Terry Haydn, PGCE tutor at UEA, has recently added a new section to his website on the Purposes of School History.
In his brief introduction, Terry argues that we need to work hard at helping students understand why ‘history is helpful and relevant to the lives they will lead outside school and after school’. This has stemmed in part from his research into pupils’ perceptions of History as a school subject which showed just varied those perceptions are and what impact this has on take-up at 14. What follows is a treasure chest of quotations from a very wide range of sources, many of which will be very useful in building your arguments, some of which will leave you muttering and incredulous.
You can find this material at [ click here ].
Optimus Education
Optimus Education publishes Peter Fisher's excellent ‘Thinking Through History’ book.
This resource collection should be on every department shelf. It provides introductions to the nature and value of nine types of learning strategies MORE …
Also, just published by Optimus, is ‘History Mysteries’ by Claire Ward and Sarah Logie.
Don't be deceived by the main title, focus on the sub-title ‘Innovative thinking skills activities for KS3’. This package of resources is a direct descendant of Peter’s ‘Thinking through History’. MORE …
Historical Fiction in the Classroom
Dave Martin’s excellent and extensive site on using historical fiction – practical, enjoyable and a great place to discover reading for enjoyment.
http://davemartin46.wordpress.com
Artifaqs – Resources for history teachers
A really useful collection of artefacts from crowns to resources for teaching Medicine.
Developed by Cate Aspinall who teaches History in Norfolk – not a faceless business!
History Resource Cupboard
When Neil Bates and Richard McFahn provided the opening plenary at the SHP Conference in 2010 they more than lived up to expectations with an hour of enthusing, rigorous and practical activities. Their website captures these qualities - it's well worth opening their cupboard door.
www.historyresourcecupboard.co.uk
Act the Facts
Kate Brennan’s site is a doorway into a potentially very effective way of learning – scripted drama. Forget the boredom of a class sitting round, not really listening as others stumble listlessly through a tedious script. This is lively, humorous drama with a strong commitment to improving students’ understanding of how History is studied, not just the facts, though they’re there aplenty. There’s also important explanations of why such methods help students learn – not a million miles away from the rationale for much of the material on Thinkinghistory. The drawback is that the cost of the scripts looks high but in a department staffed by like-minded convinced teachers and with students who benefit from getting out of their seats and becoming involved and who therefore learn more and improve their results then the costs may not seem so high.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
I found this really valuable while working on an A level book and highly recommend it to anyone teaching British history at A level, both for their own use and for students’ use.
Published in 2004 it’s relatively up to date and the articles are by leading academics. As well as biographies of individuals (cross-referenced to associated individuals) there are over 280 articles on groups and themes such as Gunpowder Plotters, Participants in the Pilgrimage of Grace, War Poets which can be searched in chronological or alphabetical order.
For access I just had to key in my Leeds Library services number so if your local authority libraries have taken out a subscription (and most have, according to the DNB) then by joining the local library students have access to this too. Another argument in favour of public libraries!
The ‘Brought to Life’ Website
The Science Museum’s Brought to Life website is a fantastic resource for teaching about medicine through time. The site contains images of 2,500 objects which are all interpreted in relation to the long history of medicine. As well as providing lots of contextual information, the site also suggests learning activities for using the images with your GCSE students.
Brought to Life provides detailed coverage of all aspects of the medicine development study. It also includes an interactive timeline and a range of multimedia activities for students including a ‘visit’ to a plague-ridden town and an animated fly-through of an Asklepion temple.