William's Control

Introduction

Subject: History

Year Group: Year 7

Duration: 60 minutes

Curriculum Area: Key Stage 3 (KS3) - Medieval Britain 1066-1509

Lesson Title: How did William establish control of England? - The Feudal System

Unit of Work: How did William win the Battle of Hastings and how did England change following 1066?

Learning Objectives:

• To understand the Feudal System and explain its impact on society.
• To identify the hierarchical structure of the Feudal System.
• To recognise how the Feudal System helped William to establish control over England.

Resources:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handouts of the Feudal System diagram
• PowerPoint presentation
• Role-play props (crowns, swords, fake coins, etc.)
• Worksheets for student activities
• Assessment rubrics

Lesson Plan:

1. Starter Activity – (10 minutes)

• Engage: Begin with a quick warm-up question: "Who was William the Conqueror, and why is he significant?"
• Discuss: Encourage students to share their thoughts.
• Mind Map: On the whiteboard, create a mind map with "Battle of Hastings" at the centre, and add what students know around it.

2. Introduction to the Feudal System – (10 minutes)

• Visual Presentation: Show a PowerPoint slide introducing the Feudal System.
• Diagram Breakdown: Explain the Feudal System using a hierarchical diagram:
  • King
  • Nobles
  • Knights
  • Peasants
• Student Interaction: Ask students to think about the roles and responsibilities each group had.

3. Teacher-Led Explanation – (15 minutes)

• Detailed Explanation: Describe the roles in detail:
  • King: Owned all the land.
  • Nobles: Leased land from the king.
  • Knights: Protected the lands and served the nobles.
  • Peasants: Worked the land and provided food.
• Q&A Session: Allow students to ask questions for clarification.

4. Interactive Role Play – (15 minutes)

• Set-Up: Divide the class into four groups, assigning each group one role (King, Nobles, Knights, Peasants).
• Role-Play: Use props to make it interactive. Students act out their roles and practice a mock Feudal System.
• Discussion: After the role-play, discuss how this system helped William maintain control.

5. Group Activity – (10 minutes)

• Worksheet Activity: Distribute worksheets with questions about the Feudal System. Questions include:
  1. Describe the Feudal System in your own words.
  2. Explain how the Feudal System impacted different groups in society.
  3. How did the Feudal System help William establish control over England?

6. Plenary – (5 minutes)

• Review: Quickly review key points discussed.
• Feedback: Ask one student from each group to summarise their group's understanding.
• Exit Ticket: Ask students to write one thing they found most interesting about the Feudal System.

Assessment:

Formative Assessment:

• Participation in Discussion: Monitor contributions during the mind map and Q&A.
• Role-Play: Observe engagement during the role-play activity.
• Worksheet Completion: Check accuracy and understanding in the worksheet answers.

Summative Assessment:

• Exit Ticket Responses: Assess the key learnings written by the students.

Differentiation:

For Higher-Ability Students:

• Provide additional reading materials on the Feudal System's long-term impact on medieval Europe.
• Challenge them to compare the Feudal System with another historical social structure.

For Lower-Ability Students:

• Provide simplified diagrams and explanations.
• Pair them with peers for assistance during activities.

By implementing this engaging and interactive lesson plan, teachers will have a detailed understanding of the Feudal System and its significance in helping William the Conqueror establish control over England. The activities are crafted to cater to different learning styles ensuring every student benefits.