Llywelyn the Great - Medieval Wales

This lesson explores the life of Llywelyn the Great, a prominent Prince of Gwynedd during the early 13th century, renowned for his strategic prowess and diplomatic skills. His leadership was pivotal in uniting Welsh princes and establishing a centralised government, significantly strengthening Welsh independence against English encroachment. Through a series of important treaties, Llywelyn secured formal recognition of his authority from English kings.

Students will begin the lesson by watching a video detailing Llywelyn the Great’s life and reign. Following the video, they will assess their understanding by selecting the correct summary from several options, focusing on his military campaigns and political alliances. This activity encourages careful analysis of the material presented.

Next, students will engage in a timeline activity, organising key events from Llywelyn’s life into chronological order. This exercise aims to deepen their understanding of the historical context and the sequence of Llywelyn’s contributions to Welsh history.

The class will then review slides outlining Llywelyn’s major achievements. They will rank these accomplishments in order of historical importance and write paragraphs justifying their choices using the PEEKA paragraph planning method. This task promotes structured reasoning and analytical thinking.

To conclude, students will participate in a recap quiz designed to consolidate their knowledge of Llywelyn’s victories, conflicts with English kings, and the enduring legacy he left for the Welsh people. This final activity ensures that students appreciate the significant impact Llywelyn the Great had on Welsh history and identity.