Medieval World: King Arthur

PowerPoint and three worksheets that consider whether King Arthur was a real historical figure. The lesson focuses on the utility of three key pieces of evidence in proving King Arthur’s historical existence.

Activities include

• Starter activity in which pupils consider why English monarchs tried to impress foreign visitors by showing them the Winchester Round Table.
• Main activity requires pupils to fill in a grid on how useful the Round Table, Glastonbury Graves and Artognou Stone are as evidence that King Arthur existed. Pupils rank the evidence according to their relative utility.
• Pupils add the three pieces of evidence to the correct location on a partially completed timeline of King Arthur sources which already includes Gildas, Bede, etc.
• Sorting activity of the surviving evidence of King Arthur’s existence into primary and secondary sources.
• Conclusion in which pupils write their own justified judgment on whether King Arthur really existed.

Designed for teaching an academically able Key Stage 3 class covering the Medieval World.
Lesson Length: 1 hour depending on pace.