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Reposted by Tom Sims

Victoria Crooks @victoriacrooks.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

So excited about our #historyteacher conference 'Teaching the United States in the Age of Trump' happening this Saturday 26th April - a joint endeavour between Nottingham @histassoc.bsky.social History Teacher Network, @uonsoe.bsky.social & @uonhumanities.bsky.social . The programme is packed!

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 29/11/2024

@richkhistory.bsky.social guess which lesson my Y9s were doing yesterday

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

Good way to find out that posting gif files doesn’t work on BlueSky yet

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 20/11/2024

I got to teach one of my favourite lessons today, the story of Nina Lugovskaya. It's all told through extracts from her diary. Students were so captivated by her story and I now have a seven-strong waiting list to borrow my copy! I've shared the resources before on twitter, but will again below:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

Lovely trip to Donna Nook today to see HUNDREDS of seal pups taking their first belly flops 🦭 🦭 🦭

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

I’ve joined the trickle/flood/stampede over at BlueSky. Same username (@tommole). I’ve not posted as much in the last year or so as Twitter has become so awful, so resolving that a new format will mean lots more sharing of resources and ideas. Please add if you’re there too!

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 16/11/2023

A thread talking through our new scheme of work on abolition, beginning here with an intro to the TAST. Students learn about when and where the trade emerged, and analyse the role of different groups in the development of the trade. All resources here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 29/09/2023

Making the most of @BruntsAcademy’s new library by spotlighting key texts and wider reading for our first half term, with recommendations from their teachers. These were dropped off yesterday and are already being discussed by our students!

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 29/09/2023

A real pleasure to read my class’s homework postcards demonstrating to their parents what they have been learning about black British history. Looking forward to their contributions during Black History Month. Thank you to @Jmosley_history from whom I first saw this idea.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 08/07/2023

A huge double privilege to be able to present at #vSHP23 with @PartitionGroup's @MrsURizvi @pepe_hart about teaching Partition, and to bring the stories of three incredible people in Karam Singh Hamdard, Khurshid Begum and Haroon Ahmed to a wider audience.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 30/06/2023

A set of flashcards for the GCSE History Elizabeth unit. I find students like using flashcards but don't always include very useful information or use them effectively. I gave each student a set and talked them through effective strategies. Link here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 18/05/2023

As part of a short enquiry on post-war migration, Y9 are looking at the local context (link: ). We start by looking at the data, before picking apart the limitations of this kind of source. Then, we look at two narratives of migrants' experiences... (1/2)

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 13/05/2023

Fab session from @KatieAmery and @tenigogo_ at #HAconf23 on teaching African kingdoms. I loved the emphasis on the how the use of narrative reflects the African oral history tradition. And so many practical tips based around amazing enquiry questions. Cannot wait for this book!

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 27/04/2023

GCSE Superpower Relations lesson on the collapse of the USSR, built around an extract from @VladislavZubok1's excellent book. Starting with @KatieAmery's 'judge a book by it's cover', then guided reading of some of the factors which led to the collapse.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 24/04/2023

The Sinatra Doctrine and collapse of communism in Eastern Europe for GCSE Superpower Relations. An analysis of events in each country, followed by a diagram showing the internal and external developments that led to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Resource:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 24/04/2023

A lesson on Gorbachev's 'New Thinking', looking at the features of glasnost and perestroika, and building to an 'explain two consequences' question activity. Lesson here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 24/04/2023

GCSE History lesson on Reagan and the SDI, analysing a series of speeches and making inferences about Reagan's 'peace through strength' strategy, then investigating the events of the development of the SDI between 1981 and 1983. Resource:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 24/04/2023

Superpower Relations lesson on the consequences of the Soviet invasion, including the Olympic Boycott and the Carter Doctrine. Thanks again @DrElliottWatson for the really useful 'Drawn in 60 Seconds' video on the topic. Lesson resource here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 17/03/2023

Ended a crazy fortnight by talking to @LiverpoolHopeUK trainees about our approach to teaching Empire, after TMHI with @JessWadsworth and a presentation on disciplinary literacy to @BatchMs’s TeachFirst trainees. All fantastic experiences but very glad to see the weekend…

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 16/03/2023

Short thread of updated 'detente' lessons for GCSE Superpower Relations - starting with this lesson looking at the reasons for detente, and identifying the extent to which key events resolved the major issues of the era. Resources for all three lessons:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 12/03/2023

A couple of lessons on the causes and events of the Prague Spring for GCSE History - Superpower Relations. Made use of a nice template from @andyhassan1985 for the timeline activity. All KT2 resources here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 11/03/2023

Hugely inspiring to listen to @KatieAmery at #TMHI talking about her oral history project on the Toxteth Riots. Always absolutely blown away when I hear Katie speak about the history experiences her students get, and so moving to hear how they feel about the project.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 06/03/2023

Consequences of the Cuban Missile Crisis - summarising the different outcomes, and making a judgement about the extent they increased/reduced tension. Builds to a guided narrative account question response. Resource here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 06/03/2023

The events of the Cuban Missile Crisis - considering how each of Kennedy's options addressed the pressures he was facing in 1962. Then a judgement of proximity to conflict. Again making use of the great 'Drawn in 60 Seconds' YouTube series. Link:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 06/03/2023

GCSE History lesson on the causes of the Cuban Missile Crisis for Superpower Relations. Students identify the causes of the Cuban Revolution, then use evidence to judge who holds the influence in Cuba at different stages between 1959-1962. Shared here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 04/02/2023

Tried a new approach to tackle two things students normally struggle with the first time around - the details of the Hungarian Uprising, and narrative account Qs. Students gathered the info and organised it into a structure that replicates a NA question.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 04/02/2023

GCSE History lesson on Containment, Truman Doctrine and Marshall Plan, built around a couple of @DrElliottWatson's brilliant YouTube 'Drawn in 60 seconds' videos. Resource link here: . Videos are here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 04/02/2023

A lesson on the consequences of the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Students gather information then use that and a model response to explain two consequences of the crisis. Link here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 14/12/2022

A lesson on the persecution of minorities in Nazi Germany for GCSE History. Students read about how particular groups were persecuted, explain why the Nazis targeted each group, and then produce a colour coded timeline of key events. Shared here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 13/12/2022

My favourite A Level task of the year in terms of 'lightbulb moments'. Seeing the different sceptical cases and works laid out in a clock style, then making links between them to see which cases/works had the most influence over the breadth of the period.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 07/12/2022

Another great infographic from @VersusHistory put to use here - it pairs perfectly with this video () to expand on each point with supporting detail. Some examples from today's class plus a worksheet I put together for students requiring extra support.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 28/11/2022

I loved the idea behind how Kindle's Word Wise incorporates definitions into text, so I've begun to copy it for extended pieces of text. Definitions being embedded within the lines of writing means students don't have to constantly switch between the text and the definitions.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 23/11/2022

An inference activity on the Night of the Long Knives, looking at the key details of the source, providing them with the evidence and then asking them to come up with the inferences. Resource shared here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 31/10/2022

Empire SoW cont’d: The second enquiry concerns how we should remember the British Empire. This is a deliberate strategy to move away from binary, simplistic judgements. Lesson 6 begins by looking at the history of an object (Akan Drum), Sir Hans Sloane, and the British Museum.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 31/10/2022

This is a full Y8 scheme of work on the British Empire, based around @Sathnam’s Empireland. It’s been in the works since @historybookgrp’s discussion which inspired us to revisit how we approach the topic of empire. Resources shared here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 10/10/2022

This is an activity that my class have really taken to, which develops 'how far do you agree' responses. Students gather info, shade in each factor's importance, then provide an explanation for each. Also snuck in a great @VersusHistory infographic! 🙏

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 10/10/2022

A lesson for Y11 on Hitler's early life. Not part of the period of study, but so useful to provide context for what happens next. Featuring an extract from @TheRestHistory - Kershaw outlining 'what made Hitler Hitler', and that 'politics came to Hitler', rather than the reverse.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 05/10/2022

A lesson on Weimar culture. Beginning with a bell task to recap and improve writing, then looking at a variety of different aspects of Weimar culture. Students make a judgement about the extent of change, add detail, and consider different perspectives.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 30/09/2022

Given the rise of populist nationalism globally, we choose nationalism as our non-core ideology for A Level Politics. There's always something current to discuss and read about. A3 resources for the nationalism topic are here:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 28/09/2022

Can't remember the last time I shared some A3 politics resources. Sheets for the whole UK Government and UK Politics course can be found here, with the most recent additions:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 09/09/2022

Finished a three lesson enquiry on the Kingdom of Benin, the British 'punitive expedition' and the significance of the Benin Bronzes. Here is the knowledge organiser and advance organiser for the topic, as well as the link to download. Lessons below.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 01/07/2022

Very grateful to @OUPSecondary for allowing me to take a look through these fab new @WilkesHistory textbooks for the Edexcel History course. Already prompted lots of discussion about how we will be adapting our curriculum to make the most of them! #gifted @OUPHistory

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 30/06/2022

Y6 transition sports day today. A student from my old y11 tutor group handing over the literal and metaphorical baton to a student from my new Y6(7) tutor group.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 24/06/2022

So fascinating to hear @KatieAmery in conversation with Toby Green about her work embedding African history at KS3. Katie’s approach and ideas are so exciting for the discipline of history and provides so much food for thought. Loved every second.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 08/06/2022

Today I taught a lesson on alternatives to prison in the modern era (GCSE Crime + Punishment). It went really well so I wanted to share the lesson in case it's of use to others. We started with a pretty standard true/false showing the flaws of prison as a form of punishment.

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 05/06/2022

After watching @Lucy_Worsley's documentary on Agnes Sampson and the North Berwick witch hunt, I put together this worksheet for A Level historians studying witch crazes to complete as they watch. V timely for Y13 exam which features North Berwick! Link:

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Tom Sims @tommole.bsky.social · 19/05/2022

I've planned this activity on decriminalisation in the modern era for GCSE Crime and Punishment, focusing on abortion and homosexuality. Genuinely very moving to research in more depth some of the brutality and injustice these laws led to.

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