Teaching Castles At KS1 - Lessons and Resources | Keystage History

kenilworth castle This is a great topic. Not only does it make the Homes topic really come alive, but it also helps low attaining pupils to grasp what really old means. The contrasts with the present are so clear-cut that all can get involved. And they love it! Build in a visit and the whole topic takes off! In the medium term planning section you can find Sarisbury Infant School’s attempt to integrate a range of subjects. What I like about this school’s planning is the way they bring in subjects at the most appropriate time. They plan as a flow diagram, not a spider diagram, which helps so much to see the topic from the learners’ perspective not the teacher’s brainstorm.

Castles Scheme of Work, Knowledge Organiser & Quiz

Subscribers only: You must be logged in to view this content in full. Please Login or register

All Castles Key Questions	Historical focus
Castles – KQ1 – What makes a castle a castle?	Historical enquiry and understanding
Castles – KQ2 – Why did people build castles in the past?	Causation and motivation
Castles – KQ3 – What made castles so strong?	Historical enquiry and understanding
Castles – KQ4 – What were medieval castles like to live in and how can we possibly know when so many are now ruins?	Chronology and duration and Historical experience and reconstruction
Castles – KQ5 – How did castles change over time?	Change, continuity and comparison
Castles – KQ6 – How are castles used today?	Historical enquiry and understanding

Castles end of unit quiz – KS1

You’ve discovered how castles were built, what life was like inside the walls, and how they were used to protect people long ago. Get ready to travel back in time…

castles knowledge organiser

Castles knowledge organiser – KS1

You are learning about castles because they are one of the most fascinating buildings that have been there for hundreds of years. Not only will you learn how castles were…

castle planner

Castles – medium term planner

The main focus of this topic is the exploration of the past beyond living memory through a topic that is sure to spark pupils’ interest and curiosity. There are plenty…

castle

Castles – KQ1 – What makes a castle a castle?

Having elicited pupils’ initial knowledge of castles from books film and family visits, pupils are asked to explore a number of images in order to work out what makes a…

kenilworth castle

Castles – KQ2 – Why did people build castles in the past?

This session is straightforward in that pupils are introduced via a short video to a variety of reasons which not all pupils will fully grasp on first showing. To reinforce…

castles kq3

Castles – KQ3 – What made castles so strong?

Rather than going through all the different methods used chronologically, this really fun session focuses on one year and casts the pupils as advisers to a castle builder who wants…

castle kq4

Castles – KQ4 – What were medieval castles like to live in and how can we possibly know when so many are now ruins?

This five-part lesson starts with pupils in role as workers for company charged with recreating what a medieval castle would have been like in peace. They watch a short video…

castles kq5

Castles – KQ5 – How did castles change over time?

This lesson starts with encouraging pupils to spot differences between 3 castles to give them confidence before working in groups of 4, pupils are given 5 undated images of castles…

castle kq6

Castles – KQ6 – How are castles used today?

Pupils have to deduce from a range of visual clues of castles they will see around them, the uses to which castles are put today and then to consider, using…

Using role play area when teaching Castles at KS1

There are at least 6 ways you can help young children make sense of the past using your role play area. 1. Colourful Costumes Having a range of costumes enhances…