education resources
Explore the Education Resources
Access educational activities, lesson plans, and content designed to deepen engagement with the history of Northern Ireland between 1965 and 1972.
These resources were created to encourage students and schools to visit and make use of the evolving collection of objects in museums. The objects are not only thought-provoking reminders of past events, they are also valuable educational resources linked to the history curricula of our schools.
Curriculum Alignment: This resource is tailored to meet the Key Stage 4 statutory skills requirements for GCSE History, including “cross-curricular skills” and “thinking skills.” It also supports the development of students’ personal abilities, fostering critical thinking and analytical skills.
About this Resource
This resource includes guidance notes and a range of pre-visit activities for teachers who would like to prepare their students for visits to the Ulster Museum. The focus is on the years between 1965 and 1972, inclusive. Materials will also be provided for students to use while they pass through the Museum. With those, they will be able to engage fully with displays and obtain the greatest possible benefit from their visits.
It is hoped that, by facilitating such activities (and by directing students to the wealth of Ulster Museum and CAIN resources which are available online), the material will stimulate students’ independent investigations and lead to useful examination of
- the events themselves;
- their significance immediately afterwards; and
- their lasting impact on the politics of Northern Ireland and on all the people of the region.
Post Museum Visit Activities
After students have visited the Ulster Museum and they have completed some of the activities included in these resources they should consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the key events in this period with one final project. Students should work in class groups on one of the following learning focus areas which will involve independent research and study before delivering a group presentation on these areas to their fellow students. (COMM, UICT, WO, SM)
- How and why did British Government policy towards N. Ireland change between 1965 and March 1972?
- How and why did Irish Government policy towards N. Ireland change between 1965 and March 1972?
- How important was the international context in influencing events between 1965-1972?
- How and why did the role of the media in N. Ireland change between 1965 and March 1972?
- How had the position of Nationalists improved politically and socially between 1965 and March 1972?
- How had the position of Unionists changed politically and socially between 1965 and March 1972?
- Why was there so much public support for Loyalist and Republican violence between 1969 and March 1972?