Controversial issues

History is not an easy subject as it is full of contradictions and challenging situations. It requires children to look at how people responded to complicated dilemmas. It also requires them to consider motivation. Looking at what people did in the past children to make links with present events. It requires children to evaluate the history of their own country and how it has interacted with other people. Read more

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  • Pride in place: What does historical geographical and social understanding look like?

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated. ‘Some primary schools are like the High Street in many of our towns. I can predict what I will see before I go through the door. What I want to see is something that gives me...

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  • Primary history and British values

    Article

    In this article, Michael Maddison provides an overview of what schools must do in relation to promoting British values, as well as preventing extremism and radicalisation, and why it is so important that opportunities are taken in history to  deal with these two pressing issues. It is an updated version...

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  • Primary history and the curriculum: a South African perspective

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the current National Curriculum and some content and links may be outdated. The issues surrounding the construction of a post-conflict history curriculum are complex. At its most basic level, the memory choice for a country emerging from mass violence is between remembering and forgetting, with...

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  • T.E.A.C.H Online

    Multipage Article

    T.E.A.C.H. Online is a resource that follows on from the Historical Association's T.E.A.C.H. Report published in 2007 with support from DCSF. It offers further expert advice, case studies, materials and classroom resources for teachers of history on teaching emotive and controversial history from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 5. N.B....

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  • TEACH Statement

    4th March 2008

    The TEACH report outlines the sort of good practice in teaching sensitive topics which is available for teachers to share, not least through the Historical Association's programme of subject-specific training. The Historical Association is disturbed to learn that false and misleading claims about the teaching of the Holocaust are being...

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  • Teaching about racism, fairness and justice through key people

    Article

    Please note: this article pre-dates the 2014 National Curriculum and some content may be outdated. Our school has no uniform. You can’t predict what most children or teachers will wear from one day to the next. So the children were rather surprised one day in July 1996 when most of...

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  • Teaching about the Russian invasion of Ukraine and events happening there

    Article

    The events of the last few days appear to have come out of nowhere to many people, especially children. While tensions have existed in the region for some time Russia’s decision to attack Ukraine was without provocation. To have war return in such a way to the edges of Europe...

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  • Teaching sensitive subjects: slavery and Britain’s role in the trade

    Article

    See also: Teaching Slavery - HA guide Slavery in Britain Sarah Forbes Bonetta - scheme of work Teaching Emotive and Controversial History Diversity guidance for primary teachers and subject leaders Slavery is a part of our history, and its impact can be seen in the statues of influential men, the...

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  • Teaching the British Empire in primary history

    Article

    The height of the BBC Proms season is its last night in the Royal Albert Hall. It features traditional patriotic songs such as Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. Cheerful crowds wave union flags as the magnificent music of Elgar and others swells to a crescendo. Contrast this...

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  • The T.E.A.C.H. Project

    Article

    The report look at approaches that enable teachers to tackle these issues in ordinary lessons through rigorous and engaging teaching while at the same time challenging discrimination and prejudice.

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  • The T.E.A.C.H. Report

    Article

    The TEACH report outlines the sort of good practice in teaching sensitive topics which is available for teachers to share, not least through the Historical Association's programme of subject-specific training.

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  • Using children's literature to look at bias and stereotyping

    Article

    We have come to understand that modern children's literature often provides a way of examining a range of social and moral issues, affording educators the opportunity to discuss issues such as bias and stereotyping. Many adults have seen the possibilities here to contextualise classroom incidents differently, or to explore themes...

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  • Writing books for young children about the First World War

    Article

    It is hardly surprising that there are very few books for young children which tackle such a difficult subject as the First World War. In considering our approach, we knew we had to balance two distinct considerations – being absolutely true to the facts, yet, being sensitive to the effect of...

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