Napoleonic Wars

Contains 3 lessons and 2 sets of resources that formed part of a unit of work on the Napoleonic Wars. These lessons are aimed at year 8 (KS3). All resources are differentiated where indicated.

1. Why were Britain and France rivals?

This lesson covers how the relationship between Britain and France evolved from the Middle Ages (starter and discussion task) up to and including the 18th Century (main task).

Lesson includes:

Differentiated key word activity about what it means to be a ‘rival’.
Discussion activity where pupils have the opportunity to activate prior knowledge (Normans, Middle Ages).
Differentiated map activity where pupils use cross curricular skills to locate key conflicts during the 18th Century and consider how these would effect relations between England and France.
Differentiated plenary.

1. Why did France win the Revolutionary Wars?
   Resources that formed part of a lesson on why France was largely successful against Britain and her allies during the Revolutionary Wars.

Resources included:

Starter quiz.
Differentiated diamond 9 activity with fact file.

1. The Battle of Trafalgar
   This lesson explores events leading up to and including the Battle of Trafalgar

Lesson includes:

Differentiated starter quiz.
Discussion activity where pupils consider why conflict continued between Britain and France despite peace negotiations and treaties.
Differentiated comprehension activity where pupils create Instagram images that summarise the main events of the Battle of Trafalgar.
Summary plenary- pupils consider what they feel confident/ less confident with.

1. How did the Continental System effect Britain?

Resources that formed part of a lesson on the impact of the Continental System on Britain.

Resources included:

Slides that could be used to introduce what the Continental System was and why Napoleon used this tactic.
Differentiated comprehension task where pupils consider the impact of the Continental System on different groups as well as an opportunity to consider how successful the Continental System was.
Reasons for conflict task.

1. The Peninsular War
   This lesson explores the reasons for conflict in Spain during the Napoleonic period and the reasons for French defeat during the subsequent Peninsular War.

Lesson includes

2 options for differentiated starters- key words and causes of conflict.
Slides detailing why there was increasing tension in Spain that led to the Peninsular War and the role of Spanish guerrillas.
Reasons for conflict summary activity.
Differentiated diamond 6 activity- pupils consider reasons why the French were forced to retreat in Spain.
Flow chart plenary.