Classroom ideas – Secondary History
Here are 4 History lesson plans covering different elements of the curriculum for students aged 11-14. We hope that these will stimulate ideas that you can adapt, expand and apply to other curriculum topics. The full lesson plans are available to download in both pdf and word formats. See the descriptions below for a summary of what is covered for each topic.
The British Empire (Download lesson plan)
The lesson starts with an overview of the main colonies that formed the British Empire and Google Earth or Maps are used to add placemarks with information and images of the history of British colonies on to the relevant locations.
Students then consider the rise of the British Empire and what motivated the people who built it. Using Google Search, they research why a small country like Britain came to rule a huge empire and find out what resources were gained from Britain’s different colonies. They create a map with information about what Britain gained from each country in her empire and consider arguments for and against the expansion of the empire.
Download lesson plan »
Elizabeth and the Spanish Armada (Download lesson plan)
This lesson helps students to find out about the various factors that are attributed to the defeat of the Armada using Google Search, Images, Earth and Maps.
Using Google Earth to look at images of England and Spain, students consider what made England so powerful in 1558 (e.g. how it is unique compared to other European countries, why it is hard invade, importance of the English Channel to Spain etc). They then research the factors that led to the defeat of the Spanish Armada using Google Search. They are encouraged to think about which websites are most useful and what search terms most effective and to analyse the different interpretations of the events from different sources. Students can then produce a map (using Google My Maps) showing the route of the Armada and marking key events as placemarks on the relevant locations e.g. 30 July - Armada enters the English Channel.
In the second activity, students use Google News to find different reports of the same news story and consider how and why coverage of the same story can differ. They think about how the defeat of the Spanish Armada would have been reported differently in England and Spain and use the information they researched previously to write their own news report of the event, written as if it was 1588 but using today's language and technology. The class is divided into two - one half writes the story as if reported from England and the other half as if reported from Spain. They can then present their reports to the rest of the class and discuss the differences.
Download lesson plan »
Comparing Castles (Download lesson plan)
This lesson covers the topic of castles, in which students use Google tools to compare and contrast the development in castle design between 1066 and 1500.
Students create a presentation on "Comparing and Contrasting Castles". Using Google Search and Images they find out information about Motte and Bailey, Square Keep and Concentric castles. They are encouraged to identify design weaknesses and to stipulate how, when and why castles started to show developments. For example when and why were castles first built of stone rather than wood? They discuss why castles became obsolete and aren't built today.
The second activity looks at castle defences. Students find out definitions of key terms (such as drawbridge, bailey, barbican) and images of examples and research the defensive features of a particular castle using Google Search and Earth, considering whether it was well defended. They then design their own ‘unattackable castle’ as a homework task.
Download lesson plan »
The Slave Trade (Download lesson plan)
Students use Google Search to research information about the slave trade and how the triangle developed. They use the information that they have found to create a map (using Google My Maps), adding information and images to placemarks to help visualise its history and development.
In the second activity, students explore Africa before slavery and create a map showing information about different ancient African civilisations. They consider the view of the European slave traders that Africans were uncivilised using the information they have researched, discuss whether they agree and why they think Europeans would have held this view. There are many links to Citizenship in this lesson.
Download lesson plan »