History · Year 1

Active learning ideas

Board Games and Puzzles: Timeless Play

Active learning fits this topic because children grasp change and continuity through direct interaction with both old and new games. Handling artefacts and role-playing family interviews lets students compare experiences across time in a memorable way.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: History - Changes within living memory

• 20–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Stations Rotation
• 30 min · Whole Class

Whole Class: Family Game Interviews

Start with a class brainstorm on favourite board games. Children interview a family member about their childhood games using prepared questions, then share findings on a shared timeline poster. Conclude with a vote on most surprising old game.

How is a board game different from a game you play on a screen?

Facilitation Tip

During Family Game Interviews, prepare a few starter questions on the board to keep conversations flowing.

What to look for

Give each student a picture of an old board game (e.g., a vintage Snakes and Ladders board) and a picture of a modern game. Ask them to write one sentence comparing the two and one sentence explaining why playing together might be fun.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Stations Rotation
• 45 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Historical Game Recreation

Provide images and simplified rules for old games like Ludo. Groups construct boards from cardstock, paper pieces, and dice, then playtest and refine rules. Display finished games for class gallery walk.

Why do you think playing a board game with other people is fun?

Facilitation Tip

For Historical Game Recreation, set up stations with clear images of old rules so groups can compare their versions.

What to look for

Ask students: 'Imagine you are showing a board game to someone from 100 years ago. What would you tell them about it? What would they find surprising?' Record key ideas on the board.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Stations Rotation
• 35 min · Pairs

Pairs: Old vs New Game Showdown

Pairs play a traditional board game then a simple screen-free modern equivalent. They chart similarities and differences on T-charts, discussing social fun aspects. Share one insight per pair with the class.

Can you think of a board game that has been around for a very long time , why do you think people still enjoy it?

Facilitation Tip

In the Old vs New Game Showdown, provide a simple scoring sheet so pairs can record their reflections on play differences.

What to look for

Show images of different games (board games, card games, video games). Ask students to give a thumbs up if they think it's a board game and explain why or why not. Focus on identifying the defining features of a board game.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Stations Rotation
• 20 min · Individual

Individual: Puzzle Evolution Drawings

Children draw their favourite puzzle or board game, adding labels for 'then' (grandparent era) and 'now' (today). Use prompts from key questions to guide changes in materials or play.

How is a board game different from a game you play on a screen?

Facilitation Tip

For Puzzle Evolution Drawings, model how to label parts like pieces, board, or rules to focus attention on design features.

What to look for

Give each student a picture of an old board game (e.g., a vintage Snakes and Ladders board) and a picture of a modern game. Ask them to write one sentence comparing the two and one sentence explaining why playing together might be fun.

• Remember
• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teachers should treat this topic as a bridge between past and present, using artefacts and stories to build memory. Avoid focusing only on dates; instead, emphasize lived experience. Research suggests that children learn history best when it connects to their own lives, so family input is key.

Successful learning looks like students confidently explaining how games endure and change, using family stories and artefact comparisons. They should describe why shared play matters and identify features that make games timeless.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Historical Game Recreation, watch for comments like 'This looks too easy to be fun.'

  Use the replica games provided at the station to play a round together, then ask the group to share one strategy or lucky moment that made it exciting.

• During Family Game Interviews, some students may assume adults only played card games.

  Prompt families to describe who played which games and where, using images of family photos or artefacts as reminders.

• During Old vs New Game Showdown, students might think modern plastic games are always better.

  Guide pairs to list pros and cons of each game, focusing on durability versus strategy and social interaction.

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Methods used in this brief

• Stations Rotation