Medicine Through Time - Card Sorting Activities

Subject: History
Level: Secondary
Age Group: 14 - 16
Order Number: 7116

This collection of card sorting activities has been designed to meet the needs of the whole ability range studying Medicine Through Time unit of the Schools History Project GCSE course. The cards cover all the major individuals of the 3 GCSE syllabi - AQA, Edexcel and OCR. The pack indicates which materials are needed for each course, and so provides a flexible resource including teachers' notes with ideas for games and activities.

The pictures can be photocopied and attached to notes and other written work to provide visual clues, aiding memory and understanding. The tasks and games provide opportunities for pupils to engage in active learning, reinforcing knowledge already acquired. They are ideal for revision - motivating and providing a structure to enable students to revisit their learning.

The most important aspect of each syllabus can be reinforced through competition and fun, motivating students who require variety and structure to stay focussed. Students can start by simply matching individuals to cards showing an aspect of the character's significance. A limited number of cards can be selected at first. The tasks can become progressively more difficult, with, for example, precise dating games, encouraging a clear grasp of the chronological framework of the unit. The tasks can be used to stimulate discussion and to develop thinking skills. They allow for experimentation with ideas and conclusions without the commitment to paper. Students will be more confident in their written responses when they have tested ideas out with the cards and through discussion.