Aethelflaed's forgotten history
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why Aetheflaed's story has often been forgotten and how in recent years historians have tried to retell it.
Key learning points
- Despite fighting the Vikings and uniting the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, Aetheflaed's story has often been forgotten.
- One possible reason for this is because her brother Edward wanted to make sure that Mercia stayed loyal to him.
- Edward wanted Mercia to submit to him, and not stay loyal to his sister's memory.
- It is likely that Edward made sure that the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle mentioned a lot about him instead of Aethelflaed.
- Michael Wood is one historian who has tried to tell Aethelflaed's story because it is the story of England's beginning.
Keywords
Loyal - to be loyal means to give or show firm and constant support to a person or place
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle - the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a historical document that contains a collection of annals
Annals - annals are a record of events year by year
Prejudice - prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Common misconception
Pupils may think that all leaders are recorded in history.
Female leaders, like Aethelflaed, are often written out of history as there was prejudice towards women. Despite Aethelflaed's success and the respect she gained, she was likely erased from history so it did not undermine male leaders at the time.
Teacher tip
Explore the various depictions of Aethelflaed, including the modern statues erected in her memory.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.The areas of Britain given to the Vikings were known as the...
Q2.Aethelflaed and Edward’s father was…
Q3.Which battle was the first one that Aethelflaed and Edward fought together?
Q4.Edward was Aethelflaed’s….
Q5.What did Edward and Aethelflaed build to protect their towns?
Q6.By the time of Aethelflaed’s death in 918 CE, which city remained as the only Viking stronghold?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the keyword to the definition.
a record of events year by year
giving or showing firm and constant support to a person
preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience
Q2.Historians are unsure when Aethelflaed was…
Q3.When Aethelflaed married Aethelred, they combined the strength of which two kingdoms?
Q4.Aethelflaed ruled Mercia for eight years on her own after her husband's death.
Q5.Aethelflaed’s story is barely mentioned in the...
Q6.Female leaders like Aethelflaed have often been left out of written history as there was } towards women ruling.
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: Aethelflaed's forgotten history, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 6 history lesson on: Aethelflaed's forgotten history, 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 Vikings: how did Viking settlement change Britain? unit, dive into the full primary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.