In this History video, teachers are introduced to the drama technique of hot seating to support Key stage 2 children’s enquiry skills.

The video shows how the children can take on the role of a historical character and be interviewed to explore experiences, perspectives and significance. Teachers are guided on how to model and scaffold open-ended questions, structure group interviews and record responses to gain historical insight. The video also provides practical strategies for helping the children engage confidently with the activity, ensuring they ask meaningful questions and reflect on the lives of people in the past. Hot seating is shown as a way to combine enquiry with empathy and active learning.

This teacher video is part of Kapow Primary’s History skills videos, designed to build teachers’ confidence and skills in supporting the children to investigate the lives of people in the past.