You're dead to me is my go to podcast while driving

I loved the horrible history books as a kid and have watched the cbbc series as an adult and loved it. Is it an accurate representation of history? No, it isn't really. Did it get me super interested in history? Yes, and I and many people I know, even the really nit picky historian types give it a pass because it gets kids into the idea that history isn't just a series of events written in boring books.

I also do school history workshops and try and bring along as many props/replicas as possible so the kids can be hands on. The best objects are:

Clothing - always one kid who tries to wear everything I have and then overheats because it's mainly wool and they were already wearing school uniform

Quern - it spins! It hypnotizes, they can see it working as the grain turns to flour and they are all waiting to take turns

Flint and steel - difficult to get right but keeps them focussed

Weapons... doesn't need much of an explanation why

Kids respond to stuff that is sort of familiar to their day to day life but not the same, it gives them something to relate to!