History
History
Curriculum Intent
At Red Ballon, we aim to help our students engage in historical enquiry, to develop as independent learners and as critical thinkers. We develop our student’s ability to ask relevant questions about the past, to investigate issues critically and to make valid historical claims by using a range of sources in their historical context. Our sessions offer opportunities for students to organise and communicate their historical knowledge and understanding in different ways and reach substantiated conclusions.
Qualification (Option 1):
Pearson Edexcel Level 1/ Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in History (1HI0)
Lesson Plans
Further Information
Content
Paper 1: Thematic study and historic environment: Medicine in Britain c1250-present
Paper 2: Period study and British depth study: Henry VIII and his ministers, 1509-40 and The American West, c1835-c1895
Paper 3: Modern depth study: Weimer and Nazi Germany, 1918-39
Assessment
Three written exams
Paper 1: 1 hour 15 min
Paper 2: 1 hour 45 min
Paper 3: 1 hour 20 min
Qualification (Option 2):
- OCR Entry Level Certificate in History (R435)
Content
Thematic study: People’s health (40%)
Depth study: The Viking Age c750-1050 (30%)
Study of a site or an individual (30%)
Assessment
3 non-exam assessments (NEA)
History GCSE – Independent Study
Check out these websites as locations for further study
Exam board – Walk through videos: How to answer an exam question
There are plenty of online lessons/tutorials, which can boost your knowledge on your GCSE
Youtube – Crash course revision videos: Mr Cloke History Revision – Medicine playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9bgSdxfgbwpsrcUayiSupU1tvMGU_6zM
Youtube – Crash course revision videos: Mr Cloke History Revision – American West Playlist
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9bgSdxfgbwqo7t47itzA1ARXcg4-CVcI
Other websites offer more interactive learning – see below
Interactive learning: through flash cards (Seneca)
BBC Bitesize – GCSE History Revision, with mini quizzes embedded
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zppr4xs
Wider reading – expand your knowledge through reading around the subject
- “The Story of Medicine: From Bloodletting to Biotechnology” by Mary Dobson
Covers the whole sweep of medical history in a student-friendly way.
- “Blood, Bones and Body Bits” by Nick Arnold (Horrible Science series)
Humorous but accurate look at historic medical practices — fun and memorable.
- “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” by John Boyne
A fictional but powerful way to understand the Holocaust and Nazi ideology.
- “Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow” by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Real-life accounts that show how young people were influenced by Nazi propaganda.
- “Elizabeth I: The Exhibition Catalogue” by National Maritime Museum
Visual and accessible for students learning about Elizabethan power and society.
- “If You Lived in the Time of the American West” by Kay Moore
Brings the experience of settlers, Native Americans, and cowboys to life.
There are some magazines out there, which could be interesting to you
- BBC History Magazine
Regular features that align with exam topics and include great visual content.
- HistoryExtra (BBC) – www.historyextra.com
Articles and podcasts on GCSE topics like the Nazis, the Cold War, and Medicine.
Try these podcasts, if you prefer to listen
- BBC Podcasts:
GCSE History podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0kh2vtr
- Seneca podcasts:
GCSE History podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/3fSlPgxVwQBZ79dqRfIiSN
