a legend is a story that has been retold again and again over time, but cannot be proven true or untrue

if you persevere, you keep trying when something is difficult

the moral of a story is the meaning, message or something you can learn from the story

Robert the Bruce and the spider

History

Scotland, England and Robert the Bruce

Aethelflaed, Lady of Mercia

Aethelflaed and the bones of Saint Oswald

Wales, England and Owain Glyndwr

Owain Glyndwr, Prince of Wales

In ‘Traditional stories: what do they tell us about the distant past?’ pupils move to the distant past in order to start building their chronological framework by hearing traditional historical stories. In ‘Significant explorers: how has seafaring changed over time?’ pupils develop this framework further by studying a theme that can introduce change and continuity across a long time span.

In ‘Photographs from history: what can they tell us about Britain's recent past?’ pupils built on another aspect from EYFS: understanding the past, doing so through looking at historic photographs. In ‘Traditional stories: what do they tell us about the distant past?’ pupils move from the more recent past to the distant past in order to start building their chronological framework.

This unit helps students understand the distant past, where customs, appearances, and practices differed greatly from today. It introduces key figures from British history and shares classic stories that have been retold through generations, becoming part of community heritage.

Traditional stories: what do they tell us about the distant past?

Subjects which particular individuals may be sensitive to, eg, adoption, migration, bereavement or death, divorce, poverty, deprivation.

Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Who was Robert the Bruce hiding from in the cave?

What did Robert the Bruce see in the cave?

What did the spider try to do again and again and again?

What is the moral of the story of the spider?

What did Robert the Bruce do after seeing the spider?

Robert the Bruce sent the English back to England.

Which two things happened at the end of the story?

True or false:  A long, long time ago England and Scotland were separate countries.

What did Robert the Bruce first do when England invaded Scotland?

What did Robert the Bruce do after he lost a big battle with England?

What did Robert the Bruce do when he was in the cave?

Robert the Bruce and the spider

Lesson outcome

Content guidance