This textbook embeds the three strands of the Junior Cycle History course in an easy-to-follow chronological structure. Discovering History uses clear accessible language throughout to cater for students of varying levels of reading ability.

Each chapter opens with a double-page image to set the scene, followed by a double-page timeline showing when the event took place. This is aimed at helping students to get a sense of when the different historical periods they are studying actually occurred.

Important words or phrases appear at the beginning of each chapter. Recall and Looking at the evidence questions occur throughout chapters, as well as a 2-page Apply Your Learning assessment section at the end of each chapter. This section contains a wide variety of question types including:
Recall, Evaluate, Cause and Consequence, Viewpoints and Objectivity, Change and Continuity, Looking at the Evidence and Historical Empathy.
Contributions from members of the WHAI (Women’s History Association of Ireland) relating to women in history regularly appear throughout the textbook.

• Structure: The book embeds the three strands of the Junior Cycle History course in an easy-to-follow chronological structure.
• Skills of the Historian: The key skills of developing historical consciousness, working with evidence and acquiring the ‘big picture’ are incorporated into the text.
• Language: Uses clear accessible language throughout to cater for students of varying levels of reading ability.
• Key Terms: Important and difficult words or phrases are provided at the start of each chapter. These terms are also highlighted in the text and explained as they occur.
• Assessment: Employs a wide variety of question types, including Recall, Evaluate, Cause and Consequence, Viewpoints and Objectivity, Change and Continuity, Looking at the Evidence and Historical Empathy.
• Classroom Based Assessments: Suggestions for CBA 1 and 2 are incorporated throughout the book.
• Pre-teaching: Thematic timeline, learning intentions, discussion questions and key terms are all at the start of each chapter.
• Design & Layout: Beautifully illustrated with colourful maps and drawings as well as an abundance of clear photographs.
• Women’s History Association of Ireland (WHAI): Contributions from members of the WHAI throughout the book on issues relating to women in history.
• Parallel student Sources and Activity Book follows the chapters in the textbook allowing for independent, collaborative, paired and group work.