King John Pupil's Book: This is History

Summary:
This is History! is the Schools History Project's radical new Key Stage 3 scheme of work for National Curriculum history. Through a combination of depth and development studies it offers:



- a varied, relevant and challenging diet for the whole Key Stage 3 history programme of study

- a history-based approach to teaching citizenship

- practical classroom-trialled techniques for developing pupils' literacy

- a thinking skills approach to deepening and assessing historical understanding.



A study of King John, designed for Key Stage 3 history pupils. It seeks to combine literacy, citizenship and an engaging Schools History Project approach to historical enquiry. Unit One explores King John's reputation as 'a bad king'. As pupils investigate how this interpretation was formed and perpetuated, they should also develop the skill of writing a balanced and reasoned essay using the analogy of a Grand Prix race track. Unit Two is a shorter citizenship/political literacy-driven exploration of the dynamics of medieval monarchy. King John himself guides the students towards an understanding of how medieval politics was different from today, and most importantly, why that matters.



PLEASE NOTE: The accompanying teacher's resource book for this title
can be downloaded for free at www.hoddereducation.co.uk/thisishistory

Table of Contents:
SECTION 1 Was King John really a bad king?
A depth study
1.1 'The life and crimes of King John'
Write a 'hamburger paragraph' that proves John was a bad king
1.2 The evidence never lies - or does it?
Use Source Testers R Us to test the evidence and decide whether medieval monks were fair to John
1.3 He never had a chance!
Brief the new king, John, on the problems facing him
1.4 Did John fail or was he just unlucky?
Put King John on trial for being a failure as a king
1.5 Has John always been seen as a villain?
Tackle the High Speed Historiography Hairpin (if you dare), and find out how John's reputation has changed over time
1.6 The History Grand Prix
Pull everything together in a well-structured, thoughtful essay
SECTION 2 What happened after John?
A citizenship and history overview of kings and parliament in the Middle Ages
2.1 He thinks it's all over - but is it?
Become historical detectives. Investigate what happened after Magna Carta and report to King John
2.2 He thinks it's all over - again!
Play a game to find out whether anyone ever won back John's lost empire. Plus: make up your own mind why heroic Henry V gets such a good press
2.3 Conclusion
How getting better at history might one day help you get good GCSEs and a job

About the Author(s):
Dale Banham is Head of Humanities at Holbrook High School, Ipswich. Ian Dawson is a former Director of the Schools History Project