In the Handbook for the Inspection of Schools published by OFSTED, differentiation is defined as "The matching of work to the differing capabilities of individuals or groups of pupils in order to extend their learning."
Whether a class is setted or mixed ability, it will have a range of different abilities. In their published reports OFSTED have made it clear that differentiation involves recognising the variety of individual needs within a class, planning to meet those needs, providing appropriate delivery and evaluating the effectiveness of the activities in order to maximise the achievements of individual students.
The Yalding Village Project is an attempt to provide a systematic approach to differentiation. I have identified nine different strategies for delivering differentiation in history.
Differentiation by Content
The pupils study different materials within the same topic area but do the same activities.
Differentiation by Activities
The pupils study the same content but do different activities.
Differentiation by Negotiation
The pupils study different materials within the same topic area and also do different activities. Teachers help pupils to select appropriate materials.
Differentiation by Support
The pupils study the same materials, do the same activities, but receive different amounts of support from the teacher or from extra printed information.
Differentiation by Extension
The pupils study the same materials and do the same activities. Extension work is given to the most able after they have finished the basic activities.
Differentiation by Response
The pupils are set open-ended assignments that can be interpreted at different levels.
Differentiation by Group Work
The pupils work in mixed ability groups. Pupils help each other by working together and interpreting the tasks at different levels.
Differentiation by Gradation
The pupils are given the same information and activities. The activities become progressively more difficult. The pupils work through the activities at different rates and therefore only the more able do the more difficult tasks.
Differentiation by Role
The pupils carry out different activities depending on the role they are playing in a simulation. The roles are matched to the abilities, aptitudes and needs of the pupil. The worksheets are differentiated by content, activities, extension, response, support, gradation, group work and role. In an attempt to help you maximise the potential of the pupils in the class I have coded all the worksheets. This coding is based on the readability levels of the sources as well as the level descriptions addressed by the questions on the worksheets.
LA/CA below average achievers/differentiated by content and activities
HA/CA above average achievers/differentiated by content and activities
GRA all abilities/gradation
RES all abilities/response
GRO pupils work in small mixed ability groups
ROLE work will depend on the role the pupil is playing
EXW/S extended writing with extra support materials available
A girl named Mary Richards, who was thought remarkably handsome when she left the workhouse, and, who was not quite ten years of age, attended a drawing frame, below which, and about a foot from the floor, was a horizontal shaft, by which the frames above were turned. It happened one evening, when her apron was caught by the shaft. In an instant the poor girl was drawn by an irresistible force and dashed on the floor. She uttered the most heart-rending shrieks! Blincoe ran towards her, an agonized and helpless beholder of a scene of horror. He saw her whirled round and round with the shaft - he heard the bones of her arms, legs, thighs, etc. successively snap asunder, crushed, seemingly, to atoms, as the machinery whirled her round, and drew tighter and tighter her body within the works, her blood was scattered over the frame and streamed upon the floor, her head appeared dashed to pieces - at last, her mangled body was jammed in so fast, between the shafts and the floor, that the water being low and the wheels off the gear, it stopped the main shaft. When she was extricated, every bone was found broken - her head dreadfully crushed. She was carried off quite lifeless.
