Robert the Bruce and the spider
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can retell the legend of Robert the Bruce and the spider.
Key learning points
- One of the most famous legends told about Robert the Bruce is the story of him and a spider.
- While Robert was hiding from the English, it was said that he sheltered from the Scottish winter in a cave.
- In this cave, Robert watched a spider again and again try to spin its web; every time it fell it tried again.
- This made Robert realise that he had to keep trying against the English.
- Inspired by the spider, Robert returned to Scotland and eventually forced the English out of his homeland.
Keywords
Legend - a legend is a story that has been retold again and again over time, but cannot be proven true or untrue
Persevere - if you persevere, you keep trying when something is difficult
Moral - the moral of a story is the meaning, message or something you can learn from the story
Common misconception
That legends are true.
Ensure children understand that legends are stories that are often told verbally and may change over time. Play a game to demonstrate this; children sit in a circle and pass a message around by whispering to each other. Does the messgae change?
Teacher tip
Explore the concept of perservance with the children. Ask them to think of times when they have perserved with a task for example; riding a bike, learning to read, tying their shoe laces. Create a classroom display to share messages of encouragement and examples of when the children have perserved.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false: A long, long time ago England and Scotland were separate countries.
Q2.Match the ruler to the right country.
Scotland
England
Q3.What country invaded Scotland?
Q4.What did Robert the Bruce first do when England invaded Scotland?
Q5.What did Robert the Bruce do after he lost a big battle with England?
Q6.What did Robert the Bruce do when he was in the cave?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who was Robert the Bruce hiding from in the cave?
Q2.What did Robert the Bruce see in the cave?
Q3.What did the spider try to do again and again and again?
Q4.What is the moral of the story of the spider?
Q5.What did Robert the Bruce do after seeing the spider?
Q6.Which two things happened at the end of the story?
To help you plan your 1 history lesson on: Robert the Bruce and the spider, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 history lesson on: Robert the Bruce and the spider, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 history lessons from the England, Scotland and Wales unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.