Religious buildings and artefacts
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what archaeologists and historians think they have found out about Christianity in Anglo-Saxon Britain from buildings and artefacts.
Key learning points
- Historians believe that Anglo-Saxon churches were built on sites of older pagan temples and places of worship.
- Archaeologists have found the remains of Anglo-Saxon churches and monasteries, such as Jarrow Abbey.
- These were centres of manuscript making and learning; Bede entered one aged 7 and went on to write a history of Britain.
- The Franks Casket, a 700s CE Northumbrian chest, has both pagan imagery and the Christian Adoration of the Magi.
- Historians argue about what else it shows, but it does suggest pagan traditions continued after Christianity’s spread.
Keywords
Pagan - a pagan is a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions
Monastery - a monastery is a building where monks live and work together dedicated to religious life
Manuscript - a manuscript is a handwritten document usually from ancient or medieval times
Imagery - imagery is a way of describing pictures and patterns that can be seen on items
Common misconception
Pupils may think that as soon as Christianity returned to Britain, pagan traditions disappeared completely.
Paganism did not completely vanish. Though the majority of Anglo-Saxons were Christians, pagan beliefs and traditions were still present.
Teacher tip
There are still a fair few churches with original Anglo-Saxon architecture, ruins or at least history. A visit to one in your local area will really add to this unit.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is one of the few written sources that survives from Anglo-Saxon Britain called?
Q2.Which statements accurately describe what 'law codes' were and why they are of historical significance?
Q3.What was given to Anglo-Saxons if they were hurt by someone?
Q4.What is the name given to the system where people are ranked according to their importance?
Q5.Which group of people were at the bottom of the Anglo-Saxon social hierarchy?
Q6.Whom does the word 'widow' describe?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to the correct description.
a person who has beliefs other than those of the main world religions
a building where monks live and work together
a handwritten document usually from ancient or medieval times
a way of describing pictures and patterns that can be seen on items
Q2.True or false. When the Anglo-Saxons first arrived in Britain they followed the Christian religion.
Q3.Which statement accurately describes the impact that missionaries had on Anglo-Saxon Britain?
Q4.Starting with the earliest, order these events.
Q5.Which statements about the Anglo-Saxon monk Bede are correct?
Q6.Complete the sentence. The on 'the Franks Casket' tells us that both Christian and pagan traditions were popular around the same time.
To help you plan your 5 history lesson on: Religious buildings and artefacts, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 history lesson on: Religious buildings and artefacts, 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 2 history lessons from the The Anglo-Saxons: how do we know about life in Anglo-Saxon England? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.