Q & A - The Strangest Events in History You Won't Believe Actually Happened
Our topic Q&A sheets are designed especially for parents and carers who want to support learning at home. These question sheets give you helpful prompts and leading questions you can use during or after the lesson to check understanding, encourage deeper thinking, and spark interesting conversations. They are meant to make home learning more interactive and help you guide your child without needing to be an expert on the topic.
Use these Q&A sheets flexibly — you don’t need to ask every question, and there are no right or wrong ways to use them. Follow your child’s interests, adapt the questions to suit their age and ability, and use them to inspire discussion, reflection, and creativity. You might be surprised by the ideas and questions your child comes up with!
This topic is part of our Info Zone collection. You can read the full topic, once logged in, here: The Strangest Events in History You Won’t Believe Actually Happened. You’ll also find a full Lesson Plan and a ready-to-use Q & A Sheet to help you make the most of this topic.| The Strangest Events in History You Won't Believe Actually Happened | |
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| Tip for Parents | Use these questions to guide conversations with your child about the topic. Try to encourage your child to explain their ideas in their own words, make connections, and share their opinions. Follow their curiosity and let the discussion flow naturally. |
| 1. What happened during the Dancing Plague of 1518? | People started dancing uncontrollably in the streets and couldn't stop. Some danced until they collapsed. What could have caused this? |
| 2. Why was Napoleon chased by rabbits? | During a rabbit hunt, the rabbits thought they were going to be fed and rushed towards Napoleon instead of running away. How would you have felt if you were there? |
| 3. What was the Great Emu War, and who won? | Australian soldiers tried to stop emus from destroying crops but failed. The emus "won" by avoiding the soldiers. Why do you think it was so hard to stop the birds? |
| 4. How did trousers end up exploding in New Zealand? | Farmers used a chemical that made their clothes flammable without realising it. Some trousers actually caught fire! Can you think of other times when people have made dangerous mistakes by accident? |
| 5. What made the Great Molasses Flood so dangerous? | A giant tank of sticky molasses burst and flooded part of Boston, sweeping people and buildings away. How do you think people would have tried to escape? |
| 6. Why was 1816 called “The Year Without a Summer”? | A huge volcanic eruption blocked sunlight, causing cold weather and crop failures. How would you feel if summer suddenly disappeared this year? |
| 7. What was the “Ghost Army” in World War II? | Soldiers used inflatable tanks and fake battle noises to trick enemies. Do you think pretending to be a bigger army was clever? Why? |
| 8. What happened during the London Beer Flood? | A huge beer vat burst and flooded streets with beer. Would you have been scared, excited, or confused if you saw this happen? |
| 9. What strange trial took place in the Cadaver Synod? | A dead pope was put on trial and punished after he had already died! Why do you think people would go to such lengths to punish someone after death? |
| 10. How can strange events like these help us learn about the past? | They show us that history is full of surprises and human mistakes. What lessons do you think people learned from these events? |
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