Historical Figures Teaching Resources
Expand your students' knowledge of famous historical figures from Australian history and from around the world with biographical teaching resources created by teachers for teachers.
Explore the real-life experiences of politicians, inventors, social activism leaders, explorers, and other famous people from history with writing activities about influential figures, biographical worksheets, constructed responses, crossword puzzles and more explorations into the lives of some of history's best-known figures.
Is this your first year incorporating historical figures into a lesson plan? Or maybe you're just looking for a refresher? Take a peek at a primer from our teacher team, including a list of some of the many important historical figures featured in this collection.
Why Is It Important to Learn About Historical Figures?
When students learn about the various historical figures who have made a mark in the nation's and world's history, they develop a better understanding of the relationships between individual people and society as a whole.
Learning about famous people from throughout history also helps our students connect to the past as they look at history through the lens of real-life experiences.
Famous Historical Figures in This Collection
This collection of teaching resources includes activities, instructional slide decks, and more educational resources to help students learn about important figures from the colonisation era to more modern times, including:
- Alfred Deakin
- Edmund Barton
- Peter Lalor
- Louise Mack
- Edward Hargraves
- James Cook
- Cathy Freeman
- Abel Tasman
- And many, many more
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Influential Australian Inventors Instagram Profile Templates
Demonstrate learning about the most influential Australian innovators in history with an engaging social media biography template.
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Henry Ford Mini Book - Famous Inventor Activity Book
Provide students with cross-curricular history, science and reading instruction with a printable Henry Ford mini book.
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Amazing Innovators Note-Taking Organiser
Record and remember key facts and details about famous inventors with a printable graphic organiser.
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Famous Inventors Fact File — Alessandro Volta Comprehension Worksheet
Print an Alessandro Volta fact file worksheet to introduce students to this famous inventor and expand their understanding of electricity!
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International Women's Day Trivia PowerPoint
Engage students in learning about inspirational women around the world with this International Women’s Day trivia game.
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Who Was Marie Maynard Daly? Women in History Activity Pack
Learn about the life and contributions of Marie Maynard Daly with a comprehensive pack of inspirational women worksheets.
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International Women's Day - Influential Women Worksheet
Identify six different inspirational women in history using this cut and paste worksheet for Internatioanal Women’s Day.
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Influential Women — Female Scientists and Mathematicians Teaching Slides
Teach students about brilliant female scientists and mathematicians with this 14-slide teaching deck.
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Comprehension Activity
Learn about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a famous women's rights advocate, with a reading comprehension passage, assessment, and vocabulary practice worksheets.
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Why Teach About Bunduk Marika? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about notable Aboriginal woman, Bunduk Marika.
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Why Teach About Oodgeroo Noonuccal? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about notable Aboriginal woman, Oodgeroo Noonuccal.
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Why Teach About David Unaipon? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about David Unaipon.
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Why Teach About Cathy Freeman? Poster
An educational poster providing a rationale for teaching Australian children about notable Aboriginal woman, Cathy Freeman.
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Poster Profile - Professor Stephen Hawking
A profile about English Professor Stephen Hawking.
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Early Explorers Assessment Task
An inquiry-based assessment task in which students will demonstrate an understanding of the Age of Exploration and how the journeys of explorers impacted upon other societies.
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Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch Explorers
A 60 minute lesson in which students will identify how the Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch explorers contributed to the European 'discovery' of Australia.