The National Archives History Toolkit for Primary Schools

Book excerpt: The ultimate companion to teaching history in primary schools. With instant access to genuine historical sources that can be downloaded from a companion website, accompanied by exciting lesson plans, activities and photocopiable worksheets for both Key Stages 1 and 2, The National Archives History Toolkit for Primary Schools is the essential manual for teaching history in the primary classroom. Teaching history using original sources is crucial to developing pupils' critical thinking skills and understanding of what history is all about. Each lesson in this go-to guide is based on an original historical source from The National Archives that has never seen the light of day in standard school history textbooks. This enables a unique enquiry-based approach to teaching history that will fascinate and inspire pupils and develop their historical knowledge. The historical sources can be previewed in the book and downloaded from a companion website, allowing them to be flexible teaching tools. Covering themes across the National Curriculum, including events of national importance, the lives of significant individuals, the changing power of monarchs, aspects of social history from past to present and significant turning points, this toolkit makes it possible for all primary teachers to bring history to life throughout Key Stages 1 and 2.