Normans and Pevensey Castle
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can describe how the Normans made use of Pevensey Castle.
Key learning points
- Pevensey Castle played an important role in the Norman Conquest.
- Pevensey Castle continued to play an important role during the Norman occupation of England.
- The economy of Sussex was boosted by the arrival of the Normans.
- The town of Pevensey grew to be a significant urban centre.
Keywords
Castle - a defensive structure which is also designed to be a place of permanent residence
Economic - relating to the organisation of money, industry and trade of a country or region
Common misconception
Castles built by the Normans were designed to intimidate the local Anglo-Saxons and provided no benefit for them.
One of the primary functions of castles was to intimidate the local population, but castles also frequently drew people to them and created an urban centre, which boosted the local economy.
Teacher tip
For the final task, help students organise their thoughts by having them create mindmaps of each of the consequences of the Norman Conquest for Pevensey. Add evidence for each consequence to each mindmap. Students can then highlight the strongest two or three pieces of evidence for each consequence.
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.A is a military tactic of surrounding a settlement or fortification in order to cut off supplies and weaken troops?
Q2.William the Conqueror died on 9th September, in what year?
Q3.William granted the Duchy of Normandy to...
Q4.Which of William I's sons clashed over their inheritance?
Q5.William Rufus promised some of the nobles who rebelled against him an increase in their and wealth if they supported him.
Q6.Put the following events in the correct chronological order:
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why did William the Conqueror choose Pevensey as his landing site on 28th September 1066?
Q2.What defensive structure did William the Conqueror build at Pevensey on the first day of occupation?
Q3.Who was entrusted with Pevensey Castle and the surrounding area after William the Conqueror became king?
Q4.Why did the Anglo-Saxons likely not rebel against the Normans in Pevensey?
Q5.What significant event occurred at Pevensey Castle during the Rebellion of 1088?
Q6.The economic boost provided by the Normans to the area around Pevensey Castle was mainly due to collection and the growth of the local settlement.
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Normans and Pevensey Castle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Normans and Pevensey Castle, 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.
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