Tom Sims
@tommole.bsky.social
History, Politics, Philosophy Teacher @BruntsAcademy, Mansfield. Shares resources and T&L ideas. 🐏
Have you read this, Helen? I really enjoyed it
December 17, 2024 at 10:10 PM
Have you read this, Helen? I really enjoyed it
It’s a clip from the first lesson of your WWII unit, about the stories of the Second World War. It’s a still from the Gdańsk museum video
November 29, 2024 at 8:10 AM
It’s a clip from the first lesson of your WWII unit, about the stories of the Second World War. It’s a still from the Gdańsk museum video
@richkhistory.bsky.social guess which lesson my Y9s were doing yesterday
November 29, 2024 at 8:04 AM
@richkhistory.bsky.social guess which lesson my Y9s were doing yesterday
Tough choices having to be made in the Sims household (and yes I full name my wife on WhatsApp)
November 26, 2024 at 8:03 PM
Tough choices having to be made in the Sims household (and yes I full name my wife on WhatsApp)
Special extra thanks to @katieamery.bsky.social who sent me a copy of 'the Apartment', the study of which will follow this enquiry!
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Special extra thanks to @katieamery.bsky.social who sent me a copy of 'the Apartment', the study of which will follow this enquiry!
Using another diary extract and a piece of scholarship, they record what happened to Nina's family, before identifying and explaining what her story can tell them about the bigger picture. We end with some reflections about Stalin's legacy and some links to modern Russian society.
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Using another diary extract and a piece of scholarship, they record what happened to Nina's family, before identifying and explaining what her story can tell them about the bigger picture. We end with some reflections about Stalin's legacy and some links to modern Russian society.
The last lesson then combines the two - the first lesson's focus on Stalin's ruthlessness and control over the USSR, and the second lesson's focus on Nina and her diary, to explore the consequences of her diary for her and her family. First (ominously), students are introduced to the Gulag.
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
The last lesson then combines the two - the first lesson's focus on Stalin's ruthlessness and control over the USSR, and the second lesson's focus on Nina and her diary, to explore the consequences of her diary for her and her family. First (ominously), students are introduced to the Gulag.
Extracts from Nina's diary do most of the work, as we read through them as a class. After each section, students do a linked activity that helps to build the story gradually. The extracts focus on NIna's school life, a home visit by the NKVD, and her views on Stalin and the Bolsheviks.
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Extracts from Nina's diary do most of the work, as we read through them as a class. After each section, students do a linked activity that helps to build the story gradually. The extracts focus on NIna's school life, a home visit by the NKVD, and her views on Stalin and the Bolsheviks.
Lesson 2 (my lesson from today), introduces Nina and her diary. Nina was a relatively typical teenage girl in Moscow, the same age as the students engaging with her story. She kept a diary, recording her experiences at school but also her feelings about Stalin and the Bolsheviks.
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Lesson 2 (my lesson from today), introduces Nina and her diary. Nina was a relatively typical teenage girl in Moscow, the same age as the students engaging with her story. She kept a diary, recording her experiences at school but also her feelings about Stalin and the Bolsheviks.
The lesson's main purpose, other than to connect the dots between WWI and this enquiry, is to assess the validity of two competing interpretations for Stalin's rise to power, and then to make a case for each. Thanks to @historychappy.bsky.social for the great source 'Stalin the Executioner'.
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
The lesson's main purpose, other than to connect the dots between WWI and this enquiry, is to assess the validity of two competing interpretations for Stalin's rise to power, and then to make a case for each. Thanks to @historychappy.bsky.social for the great source 'Stalin the Executioner'.
Find the resources here: cutt.ly/VwGs9g11
The enquiry consists of 3 lessons - the first one is on the rise of Stalin. This is scene setting and gives our Y9s some context about the rise of Communism and the USSR. It follows on from their previous work on the First World War.
The enquiry consists of 3 lessons - the first one is on the rise of Stalin. This is scene setting and gives our Y9s some context about the rise of Communism and the USSR. It follows on from their previous work on the First World War.
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Find the resources here: cutt.ly/VwGs9g11
The enquiry consists of 3 lessons - the first one is on the rise of Stalin. This is scene setting and gives our Y9s some context about the rise of Communism and the USSR. It follows on from their previous work on the First World War.
The enquiry consists of 3 lessons - the first one is on the rise of Stalin. This is scene setting and gives our Y9s some context about the rise of Communism and the USSR. It follows on from their previous work on the First World War.
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:
November 20, 2024 at 6:18 PM
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:
Lovely trip to Donna Nook today to see HUNDREDS of seal pups taking their first belly flops 🦭 🦭 🦭
November 16, 2024 at 8:22 PM
Lovely trip to Donna Nook today to see HUNDREDS of seal pups taking their first belly flops 🦭 🦭 🦭
Like Pete, I use greyscale loads to emphasise or de-emphasise certain parts of a sheet and ensure you read/prioritise them in a certain way. Sometimes when you print in mono it switches to black but if you copy the text and paste as photo it gets around that.
November 15, 2024 at 7:05 AM
Like Pete, I use greyscale loads to emphasise or de-emphasise certain parts of a sheet and ensure you read/prioritise them in a certain way. Sometimes when you print in mono it switches to black but if you copy the text and paste as photo it gets around that.
Oooh yes - I used embedded definitions in sections of text rather than glossaries or word banks to avoid split attention effect, where you keep having to draw your eye away from the reading. If you understand the word you can just ignore, but otherwise you can instantly find the meaning.
November 15, 2024 at 7:03 AM
Oooh yes - I used embedded definitions in sections of text rather than glossaries or word banks to avoid split attention effect, where you keep having to draw your eye away from the reading. If you understand the word you can just ignore, but otherwise you can instantly find the meaning.
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:
November 25, 2024 at 8:12 PM
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:
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!
November 25, 2024 at 8:12 PM
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!
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.
November 25, 2024 at 8:12 PM
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.
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.
November 25, 2024 at 8:12 PM
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.
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)
November 25, 2024 at 8:11 PM
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)
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!
November 25, 2024 at 8:11 PM
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!
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.
November 25, 2024 at 8:11 PM
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.