Year 6 History Lesson Plans
2 free Year 6 History lesson plans for KS2. Each includes learning objectives, key vocabulary, a timed lesson structure and common misconceptions, and downloads as an editable Word document.
Year 6 history culminates the primary history curriculum with two of the most challenging and historically rich topics: World War II and the ancient Mayan civilisation of Mesoamerica. These topics are deliberately paired to offer a powerful contrast — one is relatively recent (within the living memory of some grandparents), the other ancient (flourishing between 250 and 900 AD). Both units demand the highest levels of historical thinking from Year 6 pupils.
British History
Year 6 History through the year
World War II: Causes and the Home Front
Know about significant turning points in British history, including events from the twentieth century.
World War II lesson plan →World War II: The Holocaust and Global Conflict
Know about the Holocaust and understand its causes, events, and significance.
The Mayans: Civilisation and Society
Know about the Mayan civilisation as a non-European society that provides contrasts with British history in the same period.
The Mayans lesson plan →The Mayans: Legacy, Collapse, and Survival
Know about the collapse of the Classic Maya civilisation and the theories that historians and archaeologists debate.
Local History Study
Carry out a historical study of the local area, using a range of primary and secondary sources.
History of Democracy and Rights in Britain
Know about significant turning points in British political history.