Use AI to Compare Historical Perspectives on One Event

Encourage critical thinking by comparing two historical viewpoints on one shared event.

Teaching Context:
Recommended for Year 9 to Year 12 History students working on source analysis or historiography.

Basic AI Prompt:
Explain how World War I is viewed by British and German historians.

Enhanced AI Prompt:
You are comparing how two different historians view the same historical event. Ask AI to show you how interpretations differ for events like colonisation, revolutions or world wars. Include possible reasons for the differing perspectives.

Spice it Up (Optional Extension):
Ask for a mock debate script between the two perspectives.

Lesson Implementation:
Choose an event (e.g. French Revolution) and model two opposing interpretations using a sample text. Students select an event and use AI to generate differing views, then complete a Venn diagram comparing interpretations. Use a scaffold with prompts like “This historian believes…” and “Evidence used includes…”.

Students present findings as a short comparative paragraph or infographic. Tools like Canva or Google Slides are great for sharing. This activity supports evaluative thinking and aligns with source analysis and interpretation criteria.

Got ideas on different ways to use this prompt? Share them with the class in the comments below!

Also, if you liked this, you'll love the thousands of subject-specific prompts in our books section!