So much this! Nothing more enjoyable than reading out a report from Churchill abkut the 2nd Happy Time in my most terrible Churchill impression. But Helen is bang on, it really engages and hits different for the kids.

Helen @helenpins.bsky.social · 2d ago

Am reading Mary Myatt’s new book (still - it’s not a ‘read it in one sitting’ book) and this jumped out at me in a chapter about reading aloud and challenging texts. #historyteacher #KS3

Trying something new in September with our KS3 history booklets. Each lesson has been reformatted to start with an immersive story. The section is called 'Entering the Past' and is followed by a longer, more analytical section called 'Understanding the Past' where the main content is delivered.

For the #historyreacher crew.Putting my money where my mouth is over teaching warfare. This year I to redid our FWW unit following a narrative format after looking at the work of @counsellc.bsky.social, @hughrichards.bsky.social, @michaeldoron.bsky.social, @paulalobo.bsky.social, /1

Evidence Informed? My recent speech from ResearchED on why I'm so worried about our direction of travel and why once again we may need to fight for evidence informed education. bennewmark.wordpress.com/2026/07/07/e...

Okay, since Right (Reich?) Move have taken down THAT house tour... ...here's the one line every historian dreads hearing from someone, and why.

Advertise your Bluesky account with a Simpsons gif.

Bart Simpson on Teaching History & CRT

ALT: Bart Simpson on Teaching History & CRT

static.klipy.com

For teacher folks and anyone interested in Military History. This is a great opportunity to see Historic Firearms being demonstrated near Worcester. We'll be around to field questions and if you're a teacher we can discuss what we can offer you.

Vickers MG Collection & Research Association@vickersmg.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Now available for everyone to book. Patrons get discount: vickersmg.blog/product/demo...

Doing some really experimental (for me) resourcing. Using an extract from Holmes' Tommy and picking apart how he references other Historians inc. Paddy Griffith, a colleague of his. Will be interesting to see how Y8 engsge with on views about the Somme.

A weird thing in The Big Report is how it's really clear that kids with good gcse grades appear best prepared for work but then implies these courses aren't good preparations for work.

A fascinating new object at the @vickersmg.bsky.social. the Helmet of Andrew Sutherland of the MGC. He was injured, yes injured, on 6th July 1916. He would survive both of thesr gun shot wounds. A great example of helmets could save lives. Rich reckons the unit might have had them only 2 wks before

The inevitable consequence of the alarming NEET statistics is going to be a lot of school blaming and demands schools teach more "work skills." That this isn't the problem won't matter.

Regardless of whether the pontiff is weak on crime, it's indisputable that the Vatican has been neglecting its ability to project naval force in the last few decades. The Regia Marina nicking their last warship probably didn't help.

@hughrichards.bsky.social and @michaeldoron.bsky.social and anyone else doing narratives - have anyone experimented with the use of short vignette characters/stories and if so, how have you deployed them? Got some ideas for my A Level unit and the use of William Marshall for Y7 - any ideas?

We're really focusing on the use of language as a big drive for us. Fortunately, my wife is an English teacher. The goal is to get the kids thinking about using metaphors in their own explanations.

Our latest Extra! Dispatches from the Dugout video discusses the Bren and how easy it was to strip and clean. Also close ups of our skeletonised Bren. #militaryhistory #notjustvickersmg

Want a break from current geopolitics? Ofncoursr you do! What better way than to watch me waffle again about really old firearms. This time, the MP28, an improved MP18 - the grandaddy of modern, handheld automatic firepower.

Vickers MG Collection & Research Association@vickersmg.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Our latest video of the extras from Dispatches from the Dugout is now over on the VMGCRA Patreon. Dave and Rich take a closer look at the MP28 we fired during the range segments.

Watch me waffle about cleaning and maintaining historic firearms

Vickers MG Collection & Research Association@vickersmg.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Our latest video: Extra! Dispatches from the Dugout taking a closer look at the PM1910 Maxim we fired and how it was to clean and maintain it. Only over on the VMGCRA Patreon. Join from £3 per month and access one of the biggest online military history archives.

AI generated slop combined with the usual ignorant and motivated messaging really annoys the shit out of me. 1. The Glosters were not alone. They were in a Brigade formation that was strengthen with a Battalion of Beligans. Geography and being over-stretched isolated units physically, but were /1

I had some time due to Y13 Mocks to watch some film clips linked to my unit, we watched some of this beaut, Tell England (1931). Look at these shots, recognise them from a certain Spielberg film? Especially the action shots moving up from the SS River Clyde on Y Beach. youtu.be/vanJZ3ColDk?...

Gallipoli Beach Assault From the Movie Tell England (1931)

YouTube video by Chzz77 Dacan

youtu.be

Over the course of next October we'll be running an exhibition about the history of the Vickers and British machine gunnery from 1910s to 1960s. This is an awesome opportunity to support us if you fancy some museum work or to visit and see hands on what we do.

Vickers MG Collection & Research Association@vickersmg.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Big news for 2026 - The Vickers MG Exhibition.

My headcanon has the events of this Armstrong and Miller sketch matching the origin. There is, however, a rather heartwarming notion that it was likely made by some absolutely hilarious squaddie. youtu.be/Y1DWJQkOJew?...

The Armstrong and Miller Show | Hitler Has Only Got One Ball

YouTube video by Hat Trick Comedy

youtu.be

Hugh Richards@hughrichards.bsky.social · 9mo ago

So the “Hitler has only got one ball” marching song. His medical records were clearly leaked/discussed by people with plenty of balls. How maddening must it be to hear your enemy is singing about that en masse? I hope someone told him. Makes you wonder if Himmler *was* ‘very simmler”

Currently at the Bristol Beacon supporting @davidolusoga.bsky.social's A Gun Through Time. Do come and have a chat with us!

Sounds really promising - I’ll direct her that way. Also found this during lunch time, looks like there might be some important narratives to explore here huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu/allfacultyot...

Five Hundred African Voices: A Catalog of Published Accounts by Africans Enslaved in the Transatlantic Slave Trade, 1586-1936

The importance of published accounts by African slave ship survivors is well-known but not their existence in large numbers. Fogleman and Hanserd catalog nearly five hundred discrete accounts and more...

huskiecommons.lib.niu.edu

Strongly agree. So many 17th century enquiries miss out King James I. He’s not just fascinating but his reign is crucial foundational knowledge to understand what comes next. Here’s a story we use to kick off our enquiry.

Jenny Hall@jenhistorycw11.bsky.social · 10mo ago

I'm loving the recent trend of books on the reign of James I. Charles & Cromwell tend to get all the attention but I love teaching about James. All 3 of these are full of stories and details that help bring the reign to life for me and my students. Highly recommended. #historyteacher #history

New blog so that the GCSE historical stories that myself and @benbassett.bsky.social have worked on can be shared with the wider history teaching community. Enjoy. open.substack.com/pub/petejack... #historyteacher

Would you like to use more stories in your GCSE teaching?

Sharing some of our best stories to make GCSE History memorable and engaging.

open.substack.com

the man is wearing a suit and tie and clapping his hands .

ALT: the man is wearing a suit and tie and clapping his hands .

media.tenor.com

Ben Newmark@bennewmark.bsky.social · 10mo ago

New post. Has additional become the point? bennewmark.wordpress.com/2025/10/10/h...

Did some archive work at @vickersmg.bsky.social today. Quite emotional, lots of log books from aircrews who were KIA and this Christmas card wish Xmas to be bomb-free. Then again, there is this unintentionally funny wedding photo.

A project long in the making. It you want to know the concepts and practicalities of early Machineguns, then this episode of Dispactes from the Dugout by us @vickersmg.bsky.social will be essential viewing for you. Lots of discussion on what the impact of the MG was in 1914 youtu.be/jAFZm_yKB64?...

Maxim - Vickers - Trenches | Dispatches from the Dugout

YouTube video by Vickers MG Collection & Research Association

youtu.be

Recently I've been experimenting with a new type of booklet for students in KS3. Unlike my GCSE booklets, students don't write in these and instead use an exercise book for their class work. These booklets are also less task-based, consisting mainly of a story to be read and discussed in class.

Caught up with 2 of our Y12s who had done work experience @vickersmg.bsky.social. It was great seeing their joy at accessing the archive and being involved in the process of catalouging primary material. That was their focus, learning how to strip a MG was just a side feature for them.