Topic title: In what ways is 9/11 like the Gunpowder Plot?
Year group: 8
When taught: September to October
What are we learning?
- What does ‘terrorism’ mean? Explore the concept of ‘freedom fighter’ and consider different points of view;
- Explore different types of terrorism through time and compare and contrast case studies;
- Learn about a number of case studies including the Gunpowder Plot and conflict in the Middle East;
- Understand what happened on 9-11 and why it was a historical turning point;
- Compare and contrast different time periods. Looking also at change and continuity.
Why is this important to know?
- To start to compare and contrast different historical themes like change and continuity over a large time period;
- To build our understanding of chronology;
- To build a greater contextual understanding of current political problems.
Where does this link into our past and future learning?
- From Year 7, cementing understanding of key religious terms such as Protestant, Catholic, Puritan, heretic etc
- Future learning: How individuals may protest against authority throughout time in the forthcoming Power and the People Unit later in Year 8
How will we be assessed on this topic?
- Knowledge Test on terrorism
- Extended writing comparing the Gunpowder Plot and 9/11
What makes a strong piece of work in this topic? What are teachers hoping to see?
- A focus on comparing the similarities of the Gunpowder Plot and 9/11 in 2 separate paragraphs
- Using detailed examples
- Explaining how the aspect is a similarity and commenting on the extent.
- An in depth, balanced conclusion
What key words are there in this topic?
- Words on Quizlet, click here
Protestants: Christians who wanted the church to be simple, services and bibles to be in people’s own language and followed the teaching of Martin Luther
Catholics: Christians who wanted the church to be highly decorate, services and bibles to be in Latin and followed the teachings of whoever was Pope.
Al-Qaeda: Islamic terrorist group led by Osama bin Laden who carried out the 9/11 attacks
Terrorist: someone who unlawfully uses violence and intimidation, in the pursuit of political aims.
Counter Terrorism: The ways the government try to deal with terrorism – by use of force
Jihad: Means ‘struggle’. Can include armed fighting against enemies of Islam.
Mujahedeen: Someone who engages in Jihad. An Islamic fighter.
The War on Terror: Following 9/11 how the US responded – involved the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and – more controversially – Iraq in 2003.
Conspiracy Theory: A way that explains events are caused by secret groups or secret reasons. Often discredited but on occasion are proved accurate.
Liberty: Freedom
Conspirators: People who take part in a conspiracy (a secret plan).
Anti-Semitism: Hatred of Jewish people
What can I try if I want to stretch and challenge myself on this topic?
- Choose another Terrorist group and compare with the Gunpowder Plot and or 9/11
- Think about terrorists might operate today and in the future
What wider reading can be done on this topic? (link to accessit)
The Gunpowder Plot – 5th November 1605 by John Malam (non-fiction), click here
The Gunpowder Plot, A Time for Treason by Ann Turnbull (fiction), click here
Anti-Terrorism Campaigns by Lindsay Lowe (Ed.) (non-fiction), click here
The Rise of Islamic-State by Patrick Cockburn (non-fiction), click here
Terrorism and Security by Nick Hunter (non-fiction), click here
Supporting document/links:
Look at the following websites:
Gunpowder Plot
UK Parliament, click here
Historic Royal Palaces click here
9/11
Imperial War Museums, click here
