Bayeux Tapestry lesson

Lesson on the Bayeux tapestry, titled ‘What can the Bayeux Tapestry tell us about the Battle of Hastings’. Usually used with Year 7 but could be adapted for use with across any KS2 or KS3 class.

Purchase includes worksheet and editable PowerPoint lesson.

The lesson begins with a video (linked), which introduces students to the Bayeux Tapestry.

This is followed by a ‘match-up’ worksheet, on which students should first order the events of the Battle of Hastings (left) chronologically using the numbers 1-7, then match each ‘stage’ of the battle to the image depicting that stage.

Students’ final task then looks into the fact that the tapestry was supposedly ordered by Bishop Odo, William’s half-brother, and requires students to think about the reliability of sources. It is helpful at this point to discuss the concept of ‘reliability’ with students, and aid them with prompts to answer the questions on the final slide.