History Resource Cupboard – lessons and resources for schools

History Resource Cupboard - lessons and resources for schools

Lessons

Why did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan in 1979?

Afghan invasion

The aim of this enquiry is for students to be able to explain why the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. It will train students in building causal explanations, in making links between causes and in reaching conclusions about key causes. This lesson is also vital as preparatory work for[…]

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What were the consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan?

Afghanistan

This enquiry helps your  students analyse the consequences of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. First they recall their knowledge about the invasion. Next they use a ripple diagram which allows for examination of both temporal consequences (immediate, mid and long term) as well as the consequences for Afghanistan, for US/Soviet relations[…]

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Vidal Sassoon mystery: What was Vidal up to in the 40s and 50s?

Vidal Sassoon

As you know we love an enquiry led mystery. This short enquiry has all of the characteristics of a classic. The personal story of a celebrity hairdresser. A dark secret, hypothesising, the dripping in of evidence, the use of an interpretation which has evidence omitted.  Neil and I taught this[…]

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How much had really changed for women by the end of the 1960s?

This enquiry focuses on women in the 1960s and gets students to do some sophisticated thinking about change and continuity. Your class are tasked with working out how convincing an interpretation is. They  categorise information that relates to employment opportunities, fashion, politics and finances. They develop a great overview understanding[…]

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Why did American soldiers shoot at My Lai?

My Lai

This fascinating enquiry gives your students an opportunity to tackle the big question of why US soldiers participated in the 1968 massacre at My Lai. What makes civilised men behave in such a barbaric and uncivilised manner? Starting with Paul Hardcastle’s 1985 hit, your students work out what the song suggests the[…]

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The Falklands Syndrome: What were the consequences of the Falklands War?

This enquiry gets students thinking about some of the long-term consequences of the Falklands War. It introduces them to the war itself through a satirical illustration by Raymond Briggs, before sharing an interpretation by the writer Anthony Barnett. Barnett  famously referred to the ‘Falklands Syndrome’ when describing British feelings of[…]

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