Durham Cathedral - sources and historical context
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain the strengths and limitations of key sources for Norman England.
Key learning points
- Different types of sources provide insights into the historical context of Norman England.
- Three types of sources are visual sources, text sources and material sources.
- Each type of source has strengths and limitations.
- Durham Cathedral may have inspired Anglo-Saxons to further worship
- Historians debate the impact of the new building upon ordinary people
Keywords
Source - a direct or first-hand piece of evidence from the past
Historical context - what is happening at the time of a historical event, possibly shaping it
Contemporary - from the same time as something
Common misconception
There are relatively few sources for Norman England, so historians have less to say about this period than later periods of English history.
Historians have plenty to say about Norman England because they are able to interpret the sources available in many different ways to support many different theories.
Teacher tip
This lesson is designed to work with all the Norman England Historic Environments, but could easily be adapted to a specific site, for example, in conjunction with the AQA resource pack for that site.
Content guidance
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.Which word describes the language spoken by ordinary people in a region or country?
Q2.Which word describes the ability to choose and appoint bishops and abbots?
Q3.Complete the sentence: There are key topics making up the historical context of Norman England.
Q4.Which topics does 'Life under the Normans' not cover?
Q5.Which of the following relate to monasticism in Norman England?
Q6.Which word describes the support that an overlord provided to their vassal in return for homage?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word describes a direct or first-hand piece of evidence from the past?
Q2.Which word describes what is happening at the time of a historical event, possibly shaping it?
Q3.The three types of sources most useful for learning about Norman England are _________, text sources and..._
Q4.Which of the following are limitations of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as a source about Norman England?
Q5.Who wrote ‘Gesta Guillelmi’?
Q6.Which of the following are strengths of Norman material sources?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Durham Cathedral - sources and historical context, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Durham Cathedral - sources and historical context, 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 4 history lessons from the Durham Cathedral unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.