AQA GCSE Historical Environment 2018 - Pevensey Castle Whole Unit

Lessons and resources I used to teach the Historical Environment of Pevensey Castle and link it into students’ existing knowledge.

Lesson 1 recaps on previous knowledge and gets class to think about the best locations for a castle to be built and justify their decisions. The lesson then looks at the site and building of Pevensey (I’ve tried to ‘drip-feed’ as many of the provided AQA sources as possible). There is a labelling task (I’ve tried to mix up the tasks as much as possible otherwise these projects can become very dry and lecture-like).

Lesson 2 - focusses more on Pevensey and examines WHY William chose that particular spot. Pupils then look at why the Normans kept an interest in Pevensey and actually improved it. There is some group/paired work to begin with and then some comprehension work using some of the provided sources - I’ve tried to pick out the key bits from the sources and provide them in an easier-to-digest way - the sheets are all included for use/editing.

Lesson 3 - works a bit as a recap/introduction to the events after William I’s death - this was useful for my class before their mocks and also linked in the idea of primogeniture. The task also then links back into the importance of Pevensey and why it was involved in the clashes between William’s sons. The lesson then looks at the exam question, how to approach it and I have given the class a few questions I think might be likely (on the ppt) and asked them to plan around them in pairs

Lesson 4 - acts as a recap and link to previous knowledge of both castles in general and to work on Pevensey. The lesson then focusses onto Pevensey and tries to establish uses for castles, both specific to Pevensey and also to general Norman castles. There is some source work here to support (attached here). Lesson finishes with a look at an example question and uses the source work to begin to plan a framework of an answer.

Lesson 5 - focusses more on Pevensey and tries to apply to factors identified in lesson 1 to the specific Historical Environment. Pupils are encouraged to look at the later events surrounding Pevensey to add to their answer. There is focus on a specific question, advice on how to plan the answer and then focus on an example answer (included).

There is also another example question I have thought of on the last slide - this could be developed further depending on time.

All sheets referred to in the PPT are attached - As mentioned previously, I have tried to adapt the sources given to us by AQA into something more manageable - these can be used as they are or edited to suit.

The textbook referred to in Lesson 1 is AQA GCSE History: Norman England, 1066-1100 by Helena Clarke.

The Video referred to in Lesson 2 is from the BBC - '1066: A Year to Conquer England feat Dan Snow - We have a copy at school - should be available on the internet somewhere, if not, it can be replaced/missed out - the clip shows the weather and conditions William faced as the Normans tried to invade - it’s included in the lesson to again, try to mix it up a bit!