This History video introduces teachers to using photographs as powerful primary sources for finding out about the past. Pupils need to be shown how to make careful observations to interpret images as historians do. Activities such as playing I spy with a photograph, counting remembered details, listing objects or colours, or adding speech bubbles help children notice details they might otherwise overlook. Once these skills are developed, pupils can begin to consider the wider context of the photograph.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s History scheme – Photographs. It supports teachers in guiding pupils through interpreting photographs by asking structured questions. Observation prompts such as “Who is in the photograph?” are followed by analytical questions like “When was it taken?”, “Where is it?”, and “What is its purpose?”. Pupils are encouraged to think about what happened before the photograph was taken, how people in it might have felt, and how the photographer’s choices could create bias. By evaluating relevance and the evidence provided towards their enquiry question, pupils will develop a critical understanding of how photographs can both reveal and shape our view of the past.

This History video introduces teachers to key knowledge about the monarchy to support pupils in understanding how power and government in Britain have changed over time. It outlines the difference between absolute monarchy, where kings once ruled with full authority, and the constitutional monarchy we have today, where the monarch acts as head of state but laws are made by Parliament. The video also explores the important ceremonial and symbolic role of the monarch, from public duties to their involvement with the armed forces and the Church of England.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s History scheme – England. It lessons exploring monarchy and leadership in the UK. It includes detailed guidance on explaining the coronation ceremony, including each of its traditional stages. Teachers are supported with suggestions for relating these historical traditions to pupils’ own experiences, helping them to understand abstract concepts like oaths and anointing through familiar examples such as joining a club or attending a baptism.