Year 4 History

This Sutton Hoo KS2 History lesson will turn your Year 3 or Year 4 children into history detectives as they explore the mystery behind the burial ship at Sutton Hoo. They will start by thinking about what the job of an archaeologist entails before re... Read More

Who were the Anglo-Saxons? Help your Year 3/4 class find the answer to this question with this ready-to-teach 'Who were the Anglo-Saxons KS2' History lesson. The lesson starts by placing the Anglo-Saxons on a timeline and challenging children to ... Read More

This Picts and Scots KS2 History lesson takes your Year 3 or Year 4 children further up north as they find out who the Picts and Scots were. They will consider why they lived so close to each other yet had such different cultures, and many other fact... Read More

This Anglo-Saxon Life KS2 lesson for Year 3 or Year 4 starts by giving children the chance to discuss what they have already found about about Anglo-Saxon life in Britain and who might have been buried at Sutton Hoo. They will then have the oppor... Read More

This Beaowulf KS2 lesson uses the story of Beowulf to help Year 3 or Year 4 children identify aspects of Anglo-Saxon culture and society. They will think about some different pastimes for both rich and poor Anglo-Saxons, and use the story of Beowulf ... Read More

This Anglo-Saxon Religion KS2 lesson for Year 3 or Year 4 will give your class an overview of the pagan beliefs of the Anglo-Saxons, as well as details about the spread of Christianity throughout Britain due to key figures, such as St Columba, from c... Read More

The final lesson in this series looks at all the evidence that has been gathered so far about Sutton Hoo to draw a conclusion about who was buried there. It explains that lots of historians believe it to be King Raedwald of East Anglia for many diffe... Read More

In this first lesson, children discuss their definitions of a hero. They are then introduced to William Wilberforce, and explore how he became involved in the campaign to abolish the slave trade. Children find out what the slave trade involved, and h... Read More

Children first learn about the effects of the Industrial Revolution on the population of, and crime levels in, towns and cities, and find out what prisons were like during this time. They are then introduced to Elizabeth Fry, and learn how her charit... Read More

Children find out about the working conditions of Victorian children who were employed in the coal mines, in factories, and as chimney sweeps. They learn about Lord Shaftesbury’s role in trying to improve these conditions, and look at three importa... Read More

Children first look at and describe some pictures of modern-day hospitals. They then explore what hospitals and nursing used to be like in the Victorian era. Children find out about the early life of Florence Nightingale, and her decision to become a... Read More

This lesson begins with children learning about the role of women in the 19th century. They find out how women began to speak out against their inequality with men, and in particular, how they wanted the right to vote. As a class, they explore and di... Read More

Children first find out about the life of Winston Churchill before he became Prime Minister. They are encouraged to discuss his actions and how he might have been feeling at various points in his life. Children then look at Churchill’s actions duri... Read More

In this final lesson, children review the information they have learnt about the British history heroes from the previous lessons, and then explore which one of them they think is the ‘greatest’ in terms of the significance of the changes they ma... Read More

The first lesson in this series introduces your class to the term 'civilisation' and uses timelines to help your class identify when the first civilisations developed, starting with ancient Sumer and moving through history to the Indus Valley, Ancien... Read More

This fascinating lesson takes a look at how and why the ancient Sumerians developed the world's first writing system which developed into cuneiform writing. It then looks at some of the other writing systems of early civilisations, including ancient ... Read More

How did people buy and sell their goods before money was invented? This lesson introduces your class to the idea of trade and helps them to understand why trade was important in the development of early civilisations. They will also find out when mon... Read More

This lesson will get your children thinking about how and why number systems were developed by early civilisations and gives them the opportunity to investigate and compare the number systems of the ancient Sumerians, ancient Egyptians and the Shang ... Read More

This lesson gives your class an insight into just how much the earliest civilisations achieved. Starting by looking at the wheel and going on to explore the other inventions, achievements and developments across societies, your class will make predic... Read More

The achievements of the early civilisations can be best summed up by the incredible structures that were built thousands of years ago. The mind-bogglingly huge pyramids and ziggurats of the Egyptians and Sumerians are still a source of awe and wonder... Read More

The final lesson in this series gives your class the chance to consolidate what they have learnt about the earliest civilisations and their achievements. They will discuss which achievements they think were most important and recap the facts they hav... Read More

The first lesson in this series introduces your class to the Roman invaders who came to Britain, and explores why people choose to invade and settle other lands. The included slideshow goes through these points and also help your class to place the R... Read More

This fun Roman Army KS2 lesson will teach your Year 3/4 class all about Roman soldiers and how the Roman army was organised. The included slideshow presentation goes through some fascinating information about the Roman army and how it became such a f... Read More

This KS2 Celts lesson explores what Celtic life was like for the people living in Britain before the Romans invaded. The included slideshow for the teaching input gives your class some basic background information about the Celts (or Britons as they ... Read More

In this KS2 Boudicca lesson, your Year 3 or Year 4 class will find out how not everyone welcomed the Romans when they arrived in Britain. It looks at the story of Boudicca (or Boudica or Boadicea) and why, as queen of the Iceni tribe, she was so agai... Read More

Now that your class know who she is, they can look in more detail at Boudicca's revolt. They will explore why it was initially so successful, but then ultimately failed. Children will be encouraged to discuss and explain their views and opinions of ... Read More

This Life in Roman Britain KS2 History lesson for Year 3 or Year 4 challenges your class to find out what life in Roman Britain was like for ordinary people. The slides for the teaching input first challenge children to establish what they can learn ... Read More

This fascinating lesson looks at what the Romans did for us and how their occupation of Britain changed the country forever. The slides start by exploring the collapse of the Roman Empire and when the Roman rule of Britain came to end. It then goes o... Read More

The first lesson in this series introduces your class to the Tudor family. It starts off by looking at the Battle of Bosworth and how the Tudors came to power, before giving your class a brief overview of each of the Tudor monarchs. Your children wil... Read More

In this lesson, your class will learn about the different social groups of people in Tudor times and how Tudor society was structured. Your class use various images to identify whether they think someone was rich or poor, describing what it is about ... Read More

This informative lesson provides a wealth of resources to teach your class about Tudor houses and the differences in living standards between the rich and the poor. The slides show children some pictures of both the interior and exterior of Tudor hou... Read More

This lesson will teach your class what an inventory is and how they were used when a Tudor person died. They will go through some inventories and decide on whether it showed the goods of a rich or a poor person. There is also the opportunity to trans... Read More

This lesson takes a closer look at the lives of poor Tudors and studies why there were so many poor people in Tudor Britain. It details why poor people were generally treated with disdain and some of the ways in which measures were later put in place... Read More

Your class will have the chance to put their research skills to the test in this lesson as they investigate what the lives of rich Tudors were like, looking at aspects such as clothes, entertainment, food and pastimes. They can then present their fin... Read More

This final lesson gives your class to reflect on what they have learnt about rich and poor Tudors and enables them to draw comparisons between their different lifestyles and experiences. They will think about a variety of aspects of life during the T... Read More

With this Age of Exploration lesson plan pack, your KS2 children will discover how our understanding of the world grew during the 'Age of Exploration', and how seafaring explorers sought to establish trade with the New World - the Americas. Durin... Read More

To set the scene for this, and later lessons in this Complete Series, the slides explain the fundamental concepts of what a slave is, and what 'trade' means. Included are a number of questions about this trade for children to consider and discuss. ... Read More

Discover how the ruthless East India Company gained control of trade in Southeast Asia, as well as how many people living in the countries corrupted by the Company resisted British rule in this ready-to-teach History lesson for KS2. It might seem... Read More

Discover how and why the people of India rose up against the corrupt East India Company, and about how Queen Victoria replaced it as rulers of India in this fascinating KS2 History lesson for children in Year 3 & Year 4. The included slideshow pr... Read More

Building on children's growing knowledge about the British Empire, this KS2 History lesson focuses on identifying both the harm and the good done by many years of British rule in India. The slides for the teaching input include a number of questi... Read More

Your KS2 children will study the end of the British Empire in the final lesson of this History series. When the Second World War ended, the British Empire rapidly crumbled. The included slides with this lesson challenge children to consider reaso... Read More

The first lesson in this Indus Valley series starts by asking your children to locate Pakistan and India on a map, then getting them to think about why the Indus Valley civilisation developed in that location. They will also be shown a timeline showi... Read More

This Indus Valley Cities and Settlements lesson gives your KS2 class a brief overview of the settlements of the Indus Valley civilisation and looks at some of the ways historians and archeologists have been able to find out about the lives of people ... Read More

This Indus Valley City Planning KS2 History lesson starts by challenging your class to compare the layout of London and New York and decide which city's layout is similar to the layout of Indus Valley settlements. They will find out about the feature... Read More

In this Indus Valley Trade and Crafts lesson, your KS2 class will explore why trade was important to the Indus Valley people, what was traded and who they traded with. They will use their investigative skills to decide what they think different artef... Read More

This fascinating Indus Valley Technology lesson teaches your KS2 class about Indus Valley mathematical achievements, specifically an accurate system of weight and measure. They will be encouraged to think about why having a uniform system of measure ... Read More

The final lesson in this series starts by exploring the decline of the Indus Valley civilisation. The children are taken through some of the different theories about why the civilisation declined and disappeared, before considering which of the theor... Read More

In this first lesson, children find out about the three contenders for the English throne after Edward the Confessor died in 1066. In their independent activities they choose a contender to support, and create a poster, leaflet or speech telling peop... Read More

During this downloadable lesson your class will discover what happened after Harold Godwinson was crowned the King of England in January 1066. They learn about King Harold’s victory over Harald Hardrada in the Battle of Stamford Bridge, and his def... Read More

In this lesson, children find out that, although William the Conqueror had won the Battle of Hastings, he still faced many problems before he was actually crowned King of England. As a class, they look at five of his main problems, discussing and cho... Read More

During this Norman Castles lesson your children will discover why the Normans built castles. They will look at and compare the early motte and bailey castles to the later stone keep castles, and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each design... Read More

In this lesson you children will discover that William the Conqueror’s Norman knights were key to his success in the Battle of Hastings. Your class will learn about the long training period needed to become a knight, including the duties of a page ... Read More

In this lesson, children learn how William the Conqueror used the feudal system to control the population of England. They learn how lords, knights and peasants were given land in return for loyalty and services, and discuss the advantages and disadv... Read More

In this final lesson of the Norman Conquest series, your children will find out why and how the Domesday book was created. They will look at an extract from the book and answer questions about it. Your children will also begin to understand the impor... Read More

Imagine what life was like before cars, trains or aeroplanes! In this lesson, children are given a taste of what transport in Britain was like before the Industrial Revolution. They'll then consider some of the problems with the transport available a... Read More

The invention of the stationary steam engine changed everything! This lesson focuses on how the development of steam engines and better materials and technology meant that railways were soon to become a practical means of transport. Read More

Improvements in the design of steam engines meant they were finally small enough, powerful enough and reliable enough to be used to power locomotives. Find out all about the creation of the first passenger railways and how steam-power changed transpo... Read More

In this lesson, children will find out about how the railways rapidly spread across Britain, and consider how this new, fast, affordable mode of transport changed the lives of British people. As with all of these lessons, there's a choice of two acti... Read More

Learn all about the extraordinary achievements of the engineers who built the world's first underground railway, and imagine what it must have been like for the first passengers in those dark, smoky, steam-filled tunnels! Read More

In this lesson, children will find out all about how the railways have continued to develop beyond the Industrial Revolution, up to the present day and beyond. After this, you have the option whether to challenge children to design a carriage for a f... Read More

The first lesson in this scheme of work gives your class the chance to reflect on what they already know about ancient Egypt, before going on to explore when the ancient Egyptian civilisation took place and where in the world Egypt is. They will thin... Read More

This lesson starts by looking at a map of ancient Egypt and encouraging your class to think about the position of settlements around the River Nile. They will go on to consider some of the uses for the Nile during the ancient Egyptian civilisation, e... Read More

This Tutankhamen and Howard Carter KS2 History lesson takes your class on a quest to discover ancient Egyptian tombs in the Valley of the Kings! The provided slideshow presentation take them through Howard Carter's discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb and... Read More

Download this fun Hieroglyphics KS2 lesson for Year 3 or Year 4 to teach your class all about ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics! The lesson starts by looking at some images of ancient Egyptian artefacts and asking children to explain what we can lea... Read More

Use this Ancient Egypt Daily Life KS2 History lesson to challenge your Year 3 or Year 4 class to find the answers to various questions regarding daily life in ancient Egypt. The included slideshow presentation for the teaching input explores some of ... Read More

This Mummification KS2 lesson is sure to be a hit with your Year 3 or Year 4 class as they find out about ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife, in particular the mummification process. They will start by finding out the basics of the ancient Egy... Read More

This final lesson gives your class the chance to consolidate their learning and reflect on everything they have found out over the last six lessons. They will need to think back to all the facts they have found out, particularly considering how objec... Read More

This first lesson introduces the Tudor family and explains how they came to power at the Battle of Bosworth, what the Tudor Rose symbolises and teaches your class to place the Tudors on a timeline. They will also have a whistle-stop tour through the ... Read More

This lesson takes a closer look at Henry VIII himself as your class study some portraits of one of England’s most famous kings. They will think about what they can learn about Henry through his portraits before reading some accounts of him from his... Read More

This lesson teaches your class about the roles, responsibilities and importance of being a monarch in Tudor England, and examines what a typical day would have been like for Henry, from attending mass and signing papers to hunting and feasting. They ... Read More

The first and longest of Henry's marriages is the focus of this lesson as your class looks at his marriage and divorce to Catherine of Aragon. Your class will find out some of the reasons why Henry sought a divorce, looking particularly at the lack o... Read More

Now that Henry was rid of wife number one, he was free to marry Anne Boleyn. This lesson looks at her rise and fall, considering some of the reasons for the failure of the marriage, including Henry’s roving eye! After finding out about Anne’s beh... Read More

This interesting lesson examines how marriage was as much (if not more) about political alliances for Henry as it was about love. It explores some of the reasons for which Henry chose Anne of Cleves for his fourth wife and looks at why the marriage w... Read More

The final lesson in this series identifies Henry’s last two wives as Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr, and challenges your class to carry out their own research to find out about them and their marriages to the now old and ill Henry. They can us... Read More

Journey across millions of years of prehistory with this KS2 Prehistoric World topic for Year 3 and Year 4. This series of 18 lessons across a range of subjects will immerse your class fully in the prehistoric world, exploring and questioning how pal... Read More

Looking for prehistoric Art lessons for your Prehistoric World topic? We've got four great prehistoric Art lessons all planned and ready for you to download and enjoy with your Year 3 or Year 4 class. Each of these four lessons explores a different t... Read More

Download this Computing lesson as part of a complete Year 3/4 'The Prehistoric World' classic cross-curricular topic. Read More

Download this DT project as part of our complete 'The Prehistoric World' classic cross-curricular topic. Read More

Download this PE lesson to use as part of a complete Year 3/4 'The Prehistoric World' classic cross-curricular topic. Read More

This set of four Prehistoric Science lessons takes your Year 3 or Year 4 class back to the age of the dinosaurs as they explore how fossils are formed, how to identfiy and classify dinosaurs, and consider what happened to cause the end of the dinosau... Read More

This fun and informative dinosaur Art lesson for KS2 children will help your class explore what dinosaurs looked like, including their size, shape, colour and skin texture, and how we know so much about this. They will then be challenged to use this ... Read More