Market Place Activity: Medieval Origins of Parliament

Dive into the Medieval origins of Parliament with this engaging and interactive marketplace activity! This resource is specifically designed to develop your students’ critical analytical skills while encouraging collaboration and source analysis, whilst they move around the room looking at the different information slides. This is an ideal lesson for the kinesthetic learner.

This dynamic lesson enhances students’ understanding of the Medieval foundations of Parliament and its significant role in shaping modern British democracy across England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. Additionally, it serves as an invaluable tool for promoting citizenship education, fostering a deeper comprehension of the democratic processes and historical context that influence our governance today.

The lesson begins by tracing the Anglo- Saxon origins of the Witan and how this evolved into the Great Councils held by King John, the impact of Magna Carta in 1215, and the parliaments of Simon De Montford, Henry III and Edward I. The lesson has been designed to provide a sound foundation and the conceptual links that are necessary for students later studying the causes of the English Civil War and reform of the franchise in the 19th and 20th Centuries. It concludes with a change and continuity task which link the historical developments to the evolution of our parliamentary system in the 20th Century, by including an overview section on devolution and Welsh, Scottish and Irish independence movements.

We have included variety of support activities and tasks to cater to different learning needs at KS3. You will find all the additional photocopying and support tasks in the additional resource section at the end.

When you download this lesson you will be able to access a 38 side PowerPoint Presentation, which has also been uploaded as a PDF. The PowerPoint includes aims, objectives, information slides, video links, historical sources, templates, writing frames, missing word activities, word search and various tasks and activities. Please see the detailed preview.

The aims and objectives of this lesson are:

Theme: Medieval Society
Know: Who was Simon de Montford and why did he call the first Parliament?
Understand: Why did English kings continue calling Parliaments?
Evaluate: What were the Medieval origins of Parliamentary democracy?
Skills: British Values, Source Analysis, Cause, Consequence & Collaboration

WILF – What Am I Looking For?
Can You Describe: Who was Simon de Montford and why did he call the first Parliament?
Can You Explain: Why did English kings continue calling Parliaments?
Can You Evaluate: What were the Medieval origins of Parliamentary democracy?