Let's take a trip to the past and explore the history of Ireland! Do you want to know how people in the stone age lived or what it was like to be a Celt? Join me in this class as we explore the past. 

Each week, we will look at a different period in history and discover what life was like for different people and communities and different times in Ireland. We will explore the houses people lived in, what they ate and look at some of the things they have left behind. We will also look at key events in Irish history, including looking at Invasions and rebellions.

We will use different sources, including documents, artwork and archeological finds as a way to view the past. The class will be discussion based and use the different sources as a prompt for discussions. Through the classes, learners will learn about different time periods, as well as practicing using sources to help inform their opinions. We will also practice asking questions about the past, through engaging with different images. 

Ireland in the Stone Age: 27th March 2023
This week, learners will discover the first inhabitants of Ireland 9000 years ago. We will examine life in both the middle and late stone age, looking at houses and food. We will also discover new technology (the polished stone Axe) and think about the implications of this in Irish society. We will also look at how farming changed the way people in Ireland lived.

Ireland in the Bronze Age Mon 29th July
Learners will explore the developments of Bronze Age Ireland, starting with the arrival of the Beaker People from France. We will look at different artefacts, including items discovered in the Broighter Hoard and think about what the different items could be. We will also look at food and housing in the period. We will have a chance to look at a "History Mystery" by looking at images of stone circles and thinking about what they could have been used for.

The Celts and the Christians: Mon 5th August
This week, learners will look at the arrival of the Celts in Ireland. We will explore who the Celts were and what they wore. We will explore different types of housing and look at typical food eaten in the time. We will also look at the different things that they bought with them to Ireland. We will also look at how Christianity spread to Ireland. We'll also look at Ogham - the first recorded writing in Ireland.

The Vikings in Ireland: Mon 12th August
In this lesson, learners will explore life in Viking Ireland. Learners will discover how Vikings came to Ireland and how the Irish people tried to protect themselves from Viking raids. We will explore the houses and foods of Viking Ireland and look at silver jewellery. We will also explore the creation of the cities, focussing particularly on the development of Dublin.

The Normans in Ireland: Monday 19th August
This week, we will look at the Norman Invasion of Ireland and the changes that it bought to Irish society. We will compare the houses and food of rich and poor people. We will also look at the Black Death in Ireland and think about the changes that bought to Ireland.

English Control of Ireland (1500-1700): Monday 26th August
This week, we will look at Henry VIII and Elizabeth II impact on Ireland, including the introduction of Protestantism. We will learn about the Battle of Kinsale the Plantation of Ulster, Oliver Cromwell's presence in Ireland and the Battle of the Boyne. We will also look at the Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley. 

Everyday Life in the 1600s: Monday 9th September
This week, we will look at images of houses from the 1600s and explore what people ate. We will look at the differences between the rich and the poor in Ireland. We will look at Bards in Ireland and explore how they composed their poetry. We will also look at the introduction of the potato to Ireland and the role this played in the lives of ordinary people.

Ireland in the 1700s: Monday 16th September
This week, we will look at the cities in the early part of the century, before looking at the potato famine of the 1740s. We will then look at the Georgian transformation of the architecture, looking at ways that cities developed to take into account fashionable trends. We will end the week by looking at protests at the end of the century and the Acts of Union of 1800, resulting in the creation of the United Kingdom.

Ireland in the early 1800s: Monday 23rd September
This week, we will look at the development of medicine in the early 1800s and how this caused a population boom. We will look at the ways both rich people and poor people lived, looking at the importance of farming and staple foods in the Irish diet. We will look at the Potato Blight of 1845 and think about the long term consequences of this on Irish society.

The Industrial Revolution and Growth of Technologies: Monday 30th September and Wednesday 7th August
We will look at the industrial revolution in Ireland, in particular looking at the development of trains, linking cities together. We will explore different industries in Ireland, looking at Linen production and shipbuilding. We will also explore popular culture, through the introduction of the cinema and the popularity of Gaelic sports such as Hurling and Camogies. We will also look at the development of the city of Belfast.

Wars, Rebellions and Division 1910s and 1920s: Monday 7th October and Wednesday 14th August
This week, we will look at the increase in protests against British rule. We will talk about the Easter Rising as a popular protest. We will also look at the creation of the Northern Ireland and the Irish Civil War. We will end the week by looking at the Anglo-Irish Treaty and the creation of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.

1930s-1960s: Monday 14th October and Wednesday 21st August
This week, we will look at technological developments in flight, medicine and electricity and think about the impact this had on everyday life. We will also look at the impact of World War 2 on both Northern Ireland and Eire (as the Republic of Ireland was then called). We will end the week by looking at popular culture, including the development of television in Ireland, the visit of John F. Kennedy and Beatles.

The Troubles: 31st July Monday 21st October and Wednesday 28th August
This week, learners will look at the increasing violence in Northern Ireland from the late 1960s to 1990s. We will look at protests and how threats of violence impacted everyday life. We will look at the Peace talks that occurred in the 1990s and learn about the Good Friday Agreement and the nationwide vote. We will end the week by looking at Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland today.

No prior knowledge is needed for this class. There will be a small amount of writing on some slides, however, I will ensure that information is read out loud. Each week will use a timeline at the bottom to help learners place the time period discussed in context. It would be useful for learners to have some concept of the passing of time (such as a knowledge that 2000 years ago is before 100 years ago)