Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self-isolation, school closure or revision – Why did the Mormons go West? - GCSE American West This lesson looks at why the Mormons moved west. Please note, it does not cover Salt Lake City as this is covered in the next lesson (which I have also posted on here) - Brigham Young and Salt Lake City. This lesson establishes how the Mormon religion began and then explores their journey from Kirtland, Ohio to Missouri and then to Illinois where they built their own city, Nauvoo. At each stage, the students analyse both problems and successes the Mormons had. The lesson ends with a narrative account question which they are then well prepared for because they have explored three chronological events which will fit nicely into a three paragraph narrative answer. As I mentioned, I always follow this lesson with Brigham Young and Salt Lake City. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the information over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed and links to videos are included to help them understand. Enjoy!

Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self-isolation, school closure or revision – The Gold Rush - GCSE American West This lesson covers how the Gold Rush began, what it was, the people who really got rich (i.e. the people selling goods and services to the miners, rather than the miners themselves), lawlessness in the mining towns and the Cholera epidemic which swept through the mining community. It contains some introductory information and then the main task consists of four video links, each with a series of questions to be answered by the students. The clips are produced by the Discovery Channel and are freely available on YouTube. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the information over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed and links to videos are included to help them understand. Enjoy!

This lesson explores what people think caused the Black Death. The lesson starts with a song for a bullet point starter. The students then look at a series of factors to categorise things believed at the time and what we think now (these can be displayed on the board and/or printed out). The students are then asked to try to explain why people believed these things and there’s a slide to give them some ideas after they have spent some time coming up with their own reasons. There are two written tasks to choose from (or both can be done). One is an ‘agony aunt’ task where they write a reply to a concerned peasant. The other is a more traditional exam question with some sentence starters to help out. The lesson ends with a fun game which always works well when I teach it. Enjoy!

This lesson looks at castles built by William after his victory at Hastings. It works well for GCSE or KS3. The lesson includes labelling the features of a Motte and Bailey castle, considering the effect of these castles on the local population and a task where the students explore how to attack these castles and the features of their defence. Enjoy!

This lesson explores rebellions from Edwin and Morcar, Edgar Atheling, Hereward the Wake and the Revolt of the Earls. I usually find it takes me two lessons to get through this as there is a lot there. The lesson has links to several videos which help in their research. The students are asked to consider the causes, events and consequences of each rebellion. There is also an exam question at the end and an example answer which the students are asked to evaluate. Please note - The Pearson textbook - Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is used to add extra information in this lesson. If you use a different textbook, you will need to alter the page numbers on the slides accordingly. Thanks, enjoy!

This lessons explores the battles at Gate Fulford and Stamford Bridge in the run up to Hastings. It includes a key word starter, two BBC Teach videos (links in the slides) with some questions and then a mind map activity. Feel free to adapt to suit your particular groups - I usually do this over two lessons and spend a lot more time on each individual battle. No textbooks are needed for this lesson. Enjoy!

Exploring the four claimants to the throne in 1066. This lesson is a fun activity where students get to act out the roles of the four claimants and complete a worksheet to use in the written task at the end. Suitable for both GCSE and KS3. Feel free to adapt accordingly. I have used copyright-free images as I am selling it on TES but these can also be changed if you have the correct permissions. Enjoy - my students did!

Explores the highs and lows of the life of Bishop Odo. The lesson includes a picture starter, a storyboard task and an exam question. Please note - The Pearson textbook - Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is used to add extra information in this lesson. If you use a different textbook, you will need to alter the page numbers on the slides accordingly. Thanks, enjoy!

An engaging lesson exploring England in 1060, before the Norman invasion. This works well at the beginning of a unit of study on the Normans. The lesson includes a start/end true or false quiz, a source investigation and a written task. All of the resources are included and no text book is needed for this lesson. It works weel at GCSE or KS3 - feel free to adapt accordingly. Enjoy!

Explores how land ownership changed under the Normans. I created a Tenant in Chief game for this lesson in an attempt to lively up a pretty dry topic! You will need some dice for the game, everything else is included in the lesson. The lesson includes a starter, the game, a report and then an exam question. Enjoy!

A full lesson exploring the spread of the Black Death. The lesson includes some background information and then a chronology task. The next activity is a fun task where the students take their chronologically ordered cards and stick them onto an A3 map to show the spread (this links in nicely with Geography as they find all of the places involved). They then bring all of this together in a written task at the end. My students always enjoy this lesson, I’m sure yours will too!

This lesson explores the changes to the church after the Norman invasion, looking at the differences between Stigand and Lanfranc. It includes a starter, a video, a Venn diagram task and a written task. It works well for GCSE and KS3. Please note - The Pearson textbook - Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is used to add extra information in this lesson. If you use a different textbook, you will need to alter the page numbers on the slides accordingly. Thanks, enjoy!

Explores how Saxon England was ruled before the Norman invasion, including the king, the Witan, eardoms and the church. Includes a starter, a lengthier research task and an exam question. Please note - The Pearson textbook - Edexcel GCSE (9-1) History Anglo-Saxon and Norman England, c1060–88 is used in this lesson. If you use a different textbook, you will need to alter the page numbers on the slides accordingly. Thanks, enjoy!

Explores William’s death and looks back at his legacy. Includes a starter quiz, a video with a question sheet and an obituary written task. A great way to end a unit of study on the Normans. Enjoy!

Explores the culture of the Normans including hunting, fashion, hairstyles, language and architecture. The lesson includes a starter, then a jigsaw activity and finally a written task. I usually give textbooks out for this lesson as well to add to their knowledge but they are not needed for the lesson to work. Enjoy!

This lesson explores the feudal system and the Domesday Book. It includes a drawing task, a video with some note-taking and an exam question. I have included an entry from the Domesday Book for a village in our local area which you could easily change to something more relevant for your location. Enjoy!

Explores the way Norman castles were attacked and defended. Features included are battering rams, catapults, trebuchets, seige towers, keeps, moats, drawbridges, portcullises, arrow slits and murder holes. The starter asks the students to identify features of a Norman castle. The main task involves describing different features and saying whether they were used to attack or defend. I have included a gap fill version of the worksheet for students who you think may need a little extra assistance. The slides with the information can be delivered by the teacher or stuck around the classroom for a carousel activity (that’s how I do it). The lesson ends with a written task to show their knowledge. Enjoy!

Explores life in towns in the Middle Ages. Their is a ‘first impressions’ starter which is revisited at the end. The students then use information to complete a Venn diagram, looking at good things and bad things about living in a medieval town. After some true or false questions there is then a written task to bring it all together. I have included a differentiated version of the written task for any students you feel may need it. Enjoy!

Explores the feudal system and also how William I distributed land after the Norman invasion. The starter creates a feudal system for school (Head at the top etc). After some delivered information, including defining the word ‘hierarchy’, The students then attempt to distribute the land of England to the King, the Church and the Barons. The written task involves describing how the feudal system worked - with a worksheet to help. All of the printable resources needed for this lesson are in the slideshow. Enjoy!

Ideal for remote home distance learning, sickness, self isolation, school closure or revision - How did prisons change in the 20th century? GCSE Crime and Punishment. This lesson covers prison work, open prisons, female prisons and modern alternatives to prison. There is also a separate task - Wandsworth Prison Report - where the students follow a link to a video about Wandsworth prison and then complete a report on the conditions as if they were a modern day Elizabeth Fry or John Howard. This is a remote learning resource which can be emailed out or set on Google Classroom or similar platforms. I simply copy the information over into a Google Doc on Classroom so the students can then type their responses straight onto the sheet. All the information needed and links to videos are included to help them understand. Enjoy!