Sussing Out Sources by Chris Bentley (Classroom Resources)

Sussing Out Sources is a series of original worksheets that provide a fun and innovative way for pupils to begin to acquire the necessary skills for investigating historical sources. They have been specifically designed to address a wide variety of history topics covered in Key Stage 3 pupils for the National Curriculum. Their main focus is in addressing the Key Element of ‘Historical Enquiry’ alongside those of ‘Knowledge and Understanding’ and ‘Organisation and Communication’. In this respect they may also be used to aid the assessment of particular National Curriculum History Levels. No previous knowledge is required to work through the sheets thus ensuring minimum preparation time for teachers and pupils alike. They are perfect for providing pupils with an introduction to a new topic/unit, to enhance previous learning or as a re-cap. Sheets can be used separately or in conjunction with each other and/or the writing frames provided (and thus are a good device for assisting with extended writing skills). The format of the worksheets means that they are very ‘user friendly’ and appeal to a wide variety of learning styles. Pupils are required to write/draw directly onto the sheets (once copied to A3 size), by answering a number of subject specific and non-subject specific questions. In effect the sheets nurture pupils into progressively looking more thoroughly at historical sources and thus begin to acquire the skills needed to become more competent in using historical sources. In this respect they can be particularly useful for SEN pupils as well as those of mainstream ability. Furthermore, once completed there is the option of reducing the A3 worksheets to A4 size, ensuring that pupils have a final finished product, which may be fitted into a standard exercise book. Topics covered by worksheets include: Year 7 – The Life of a Medieval Villain, The Black Death, The Medieval Church, The Crusades and Medieval Warfare Year 8 – Tudor Entertainment, Tudor Poor and The Spanish Armada 46 photocopiable masters