A no-prep, 6-lesson history unit on A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066. Written for Year 4 (ages 8-9). Pick it up at lunchtime, teach it that afternoon - every lesson has a full teacher script, projectable slides, a pupil worksheet, and an exit quiz.
Driving question: What was medieval life REALLY like - inside the castle and beyond?

What’s included

• 6 x Teacher lesson plans (Word, fully scripted)
• 6 x Pupil worksheets in 3 differentiated tiers (Support / Core / Stretch)
• 6 x Projectable slide decks (PowerPoint, ~22 slides each)
• 6 x Exit quizzes (single-page printable, with answer key)
• 1 x Knowledge Organiser (Word, 2-page A4 landscape)
• 1 x End-of-unit assessment with baseline + mark scheme
• 50+ original illustrations included throughout
• Curated kid-appropriate YouTube videos linked from each lesson’s slide deck

Curriculum links

• UK National Curriculum - KS2 History: A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 - castles, knights and medieval life in Britain (1066-1485)
• How British castles changed from Norman motte-and-bailey to medieval stone fortresses
• The training, equipment, code of chivalry, tournaments and warfare of the medieval knight
• Daily life inside and outside a castle - the lord, the lady, the village, the church

What pupils will learn

• Pupils know that medieval castles in Britain developed from wooden Norman MOTTE-AND-BAILEY castles to massive stone fortresses
• Pupils know about CONCENTRIC CASTLES - built by Edward I in Wales (Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech)
• Pupils know about the medieval KNIGHT’S TRAINING - page (age 7), squire (age 14), knight (age 21)
• Pupils know about a knight’s equipment - chain mail, helmet, sword, lance, shield
• Pupils know about the CODE OF CHIVALRY - courage, courtesy, loyalty, mercy, defence of the weak
• Pupils know about life inside a castle - the lord, lady, knight, servant, kitchen, great hall, garderobe
• Pupils know about life outside a castle - peasant farming, the medieval village, the parish church