Resources for KS2
This page lists all the resources activities that have been written specifically for KS2 students and teachers. The majority of the items in the list are classroom resources and activities but there are also articles and discussions for teachers on some of the topics.
Core articles on Chronological Understanding and on Enquiry have been highlighted with a coloured (grey) background behind the article titles.
Chronological Understanding
A brief introduction to Chronological Understanding for Primary, aiming to demystify the topic and help teachers with their long-term planning. If you're new to the topic, start here. |
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A guide to structuring an enquiry into what people did for fun, covering 2000 years from the Roman period to today, and helping to develop pupils’ sense of chronology. |
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Fully revised, specifically for KS2, an engaging, involving and highly effective timeline activity to help pupils understand all kinds of issues of chronology. |
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Simple techniques for developing a key aspect of chronological understanding |
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How to use Granny to develop a sense of duration as far back as the Romans. |
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Turn you pupils into a timeline and accelerate their understanding of vital chronological terms |
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Using a coin as a way in to the conceptually difficult issue of BC and AD. Can your students spot the forgery? |
Enquiry: Understanding the Process
This discussion introduces Enquiry. It explores why Enquiry is so important for effective learning in History, provides a simple outline of the Enquiry process and discusses the nature of Enquiry questions. If you're new to the topic, start here. |
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This PowerPoint sequence can be used before a new enquiry to remind students of the process. |
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A motivating and fun way to introduce almost any enquiry |
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Demonstrate how we use clues to reconstruct the past. A shattering experience for all! |
Generic Techniques
Ian Coulson’s Teachers’ TV session exploring his local village with KS2 pupil. |
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A ‘how to do it’ guide to creating an overview of the history of your locality. |
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Using the latest archaeological finds etc to reinforce chronological understanding and other historical skills. |
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A simple, simulated excavation to capture pupils’ imagination and stimulate their thinking. |
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The body in the bog becomes the body in the classroom to build students' enquiry and source skills. Activity by Susan Edwards and Nichola Boughey. |
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Ever confused Mary Tudor and Mary, Queen of Scots? A simple way of disentangling the Marys and many other confusing people. |
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A gloriously simple idea for use as a lesson starter or to conclude a whole Key Stage |
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Create a timeline of your family's generations to travel back in time to … |
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How Uncle Frank can introduce and open up discussions on migration through history |
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Puzzle and intrigue! A mysterious way to help students sum up a topic. |
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Rachel March explains how she’s been using a second-hand mannequin in her lessons. |
Historical Topics:
Prehistory
From the Stone Age to the Romans: An Introduction to the (Pre)History |
Prehistory – an introduction to the content. |
Active methods for developing children's understanding of the chronology. |
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Part 1: Resources and historical background for exploring the intriguing evidence from Skara Brae in Orkney. |
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Part 2: Teaching suggestions for exploring the intriguing evidence from Skara Brae in Orkney. |
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What can we find out about the people of the Glastonbury Lake Village? |
Explore the finds from this Iron Age site and work out what they tell us about the villagers. |
Romans
Turn your classroom into a physical map and tell the story of the Roman invasion |
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Load a legionary with his equipment and change pupils' thinking about the lives of Roman soldiers |
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A timeline to develop a sense of duration |
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What’s in the picture? Find out and explore how the Romans saw themselves |
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Use your pupils as milecastles, turrets and forts to help them understand the Wall and, if they’re lucky, where their site-visit fits into the big Wall picture |
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Walk through the events and ask pupils to take the key decisions |
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An article on enquiry growing out of a remarkable find from Roman Colchester |
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A timeline activity to develop a sense of duration |
Saxons & Vikings
An introduction to the finds from Sutton Hoo and their context, aimed at non-specialist teachers of history at KS2. |
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Recreate the moments of discovery, carry out an enquiry into one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in Britain and help children understand the process of historical enquiry. |
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A creative way of looking beyond the treasure of Sutton Hoo in order to help students think more deeply about the people who buried the ship and their king. |
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Was there a 6th century world-wide web? – Evidence from Sutton Hoo |
Using evidence from Sutton Hoo, this is a one lesson exploration, by Neil Bates, of long distance connections in the Early Middle Ages. |
A timeline activity to develop a sense of duration |
1066-1700
The York coin hoards c.1066-1069 – raw material for intriguing lesson introductions |
Information and ideas for using coin hoards to introduce the Norman impact on the north |
A timeline to develop a sense of duration |
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Holy Box and the Altar Table – 16th century religious changes |
Create your own church interior – then change it, then change it again, then ... |
Tell the story of the Armada by turning your pupils into ships and develop their understanding of causation and interpretations |
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What's it about? That would be telling. Better click here and find out! |
1700 to the Present
A timeline to develop a sense of duration |
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Making the Industrial Revolution human through family history |
How great-grandfather Seth opens up key features of the Industrial Revolution |
Hot water? electricity? What was new when you were growing up? |