This culminated in students pitching a new enquiry for me to consider adding into Year 9 next year. Although lessons like these take time away from content, I think they are vital in allowing students the space to consider the nature of the subject they study.

We then broadened this conversation to consider why students studied what they studied, combining ideas around my personal interests, scholarship, time and their cultural context.

I decided to spend some time with Year 9 reflecting on our curriculum this year. I used this diagram to reflect on the fact that, despite my best efforts, we learn relatively little history.

Eight enquiries, eight meanwhile elsewhere lessons, a little over 40,000 words of stories read, 44 cracking outcome tasks on display and one Year 9 curriculum. It's been a joy! #historyteacher

If you want to use the epic I use this version from David Wisniewski:
www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/produc...

If you want a starting point for the Epic, some resources I've used are below, as per any feedback is much appreciated :)

drive.google.com/drive/folder...

As an outcome I got students to pitch an extra episode to Netflix's How to become a tyrant. Episode 4: Show your power!

This was as much a victory for Mussolini's fascism as it was the Italian team. Mussolini had named a stadium after himself, awarded his own (larger) trophy to the winners and got the Argentine team to go on a pilgrimage to his hometown and lay wreaths of friendship.

Mussolini ensured the World Cup hid the Italy that had banned political parties, committed war crimes in Libya and tortured citizens with one that embraced futurism, engaged in massive building projects and made travel for fans free.

On reading the recent controversial news that the 2034 World Cup would be hosted by Saudi Arabia I ended up down a rabbit hole looking at the 1934 World Cup held at the height of Mussolini's power in Italy.

Many thanks to those who tuned into my @ttrhistory.bsky.social presentation this morning! If you would like to watch a recording and access the slides please follow the following links:

Presentation: docs.google.com/presentation...

Video recording: streamyard.com/watch/bV8VSg...

If this whets your historical appetite, sign up to the online event, tickets are FREE and can be found on the following link: streamyard.com/watch/bV8VSgay…

I hope to see lots of you there, the rest of the speakers look FANTASTIC!

Within story so far lessons, students connect ideas across enquiries through a first order concept with the aim of helping them actively tie different enquiries together, remember information they have previously studied and ultimately improve their narrative writing.

A proper charity shop find this morning.

Good to see the author shares some of my favourites 😂