Market Place Activity - What roles did women play during the English Civil War?

This fun and interactive lesson, has been commissioned by the History Academy, to shine a spotlight on a lesser-explored facet of women’s history. Delving into the different roles women played during the English Civil War, the lesson illuminates their contributions, from leading armies and fortifying against sieges, to safeguarding homes, serving as camp followers, providing medical care, trade, ensuring food production, assuming responsibilities in law enforcement, leadership of their churches and, diplomatic negotiations and even fighting as soldiers.

Once the marketplace activity is complete, students have the opportunity to reinforce their learning through engaging exercises such as a ‘heads and tails’ activity or a continuum, post-it note voting exercise. Subsequently, you can then choose to set them a fully supported extended writing task that challenges students to critically analyse the extent to which they agree with the traditional interpretation encapsulated in the statement: “Women did not play any important roles during the English Civil Wars.” This task encourages students to delve deeper and reevaluate the significance of women’s contributions during this period.

When you purchase this lesson you will be able to download 33 slide Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation that contains aims, objectives, differentiated outcomes, information slides, templates, historical sources, writing frames, a continuum exercise, heads and tails summary, word search, tasks and activities. Everything has been carefully pitched to suit a wide range of abilities. This lesson has also uploaded as a PDF. Please see the detailed preview.

The aims and objectives of this lesson are:

Theme: English Civil War
Know: What were the lives of women live before the English Civil War?
Understand: What roles did women play during the English Civil War?
Evaluate: How far did the English Civil War change the lives of women?
Skills: Source Analysis, Change, Continuity & Collaboration

WILF – What Am I Looking For?
Can You Describe: What were the lives of women like before the English Civil War?
Can You Explain: What roles did women play during the English Civil War?
Can You Evaluate: How far were women confined to domestic roles?

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Kind Regards

Roy