History · Year 2

Active learning ideas

What is Fairness? Introduction to Rights

Active learning helps young children grasp abstract ideas like fairness by connecting them to concrete experiences. When students discuss real situations where things felt unfair, they build empathy and critical thinking skills they can transfer to historical and social contexts.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: History - Historical enquiry

• 15–30 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Whole Class

Circle Time: Fairness Reflections

Gather the class in a circle. Prompt sharing with key questions: 'What does fair mean to you?' and 'Recall an unfair moment.' Record ideas on a shared chart. End with group agreement on class fairness rules.

What does the word 'fair' mean to you?

Facilitation Tip

During Circle Time: Fairness Reflections, sit in a circle with students to model active listening and turn-taking, ensuring every voice is heard.

What to look for

Give students a card with two scenarios: one clearly fair, one clearly unfair. Ask them to write one sentence explaining why each situation is fair or unfair, using the word 'respect'.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Think-Pair-Share
• 15 min · Pairs

Pairs: Share the Sweets Challenge

Give pairs unequal sweets or stickers. Ask them to discuss and redistribute for fairness, considering needs like allergies. Pairs report back on their choices and reasons.

Why is it important for everyone to be treated with kindness and respect?

Facilitation Tip

During Pairs: Share the Sweets Challenge, circulate to listen for language like 'equal' versus 'equitable' and gently model the correct terms when needed.

What to look for

Pose the question: 'Imagine two friends want to play a game, but one friend is much faster. What would be a fair way for them to play together?' Facilitate a class discussion, guiding students to consider different needs and solutions.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Think-Pair-Share
• 30 min · Small Groups

Small Groups: Unfair Scenario Role-Plays

Provide cards with scenarios like playground disputes or historical rights issues. Groups act out unfair versions, then fair resolutions. Debrief with what changed and why.

Can you think of a time when something felt unfair? What happened?

Facilitation Tip

During Small Groups: Unfair Scenario Role-Plays, provide clear time limits and rotate roles so all students experience different perspectives.

What to look for

Show images depicting children in various situations. Ask students to give a thumbs up if the situation looks fair and a thumbs down if it looks unfair. Follow up by asking 1-2 students to explain their choice for one image.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Think-Pair-Share
• 20 min · Individual

Individual: Fairness Diary Entry

Students draw or write a personal unfair experience and a fair solution. Share select entries in pairs for peer feedback on kindness and respect.

What does the word 'fair' mean to you?

Facilitation Tip

During Individual: Fairness Diary Entry, remind students to include specific details from their day to connect fairness to real life.

What to look for

Give students a card with two scenarios: one clearly fair, one clearly unfair. Ask them to write one sentence explaining why each situation is fair or unfair, using the word 'respect'.

• Understand
• Apply
• Analyze
• Self-Awareness
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach fairness by starting with personal experiences before moving to historical examples. Avoid over-simplifying by using clear examples of equity versus equality. Research shows young children learn best when they can relate concepts to their own lives and then see how those ideas apply in different contexts.

Students will show understanding by explaining fairness through personal experiences and historical examples. They will use words like equity, respect, and rights when discussing scenarios and role-plays, demonstrating both personal reflection and broader perspective.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Pairs: Share the Sweets Challenge, watch for students who insist fairness means everyone gets the same amount, even when needs differ.

  Use the 'Share the Sweets' materials to guide students to discuss why equal shares may not be fair for everyone. Ask them to consider individual needs and adjust the distribution, then reflect on why this change felt more fair.

• During Circle Time: Fairness Reflections, watch for students who believe unfairness only affects them personally and does not impact others.

  Encourage students to share stories where unfairness affected a group. After each story, ask the class to discuss how it would feel to be in that situation, linking personal feelings to collective experiences.

• During Small Groups: Unfair Scenario Role-Plays, watch for students who think rights are fixed and unchanging rules.

  Use the role-play scenarios to highlight how rights develop over time. After the activity, ask students to brainstorm how the unfair situation in their role-play could change through collective action.

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Methods used in this brief

• Think-Pair-Share