Sample Lesson: William the Conqueror, Maintaining Control After Invasion

Context, Demographic, and Introduction:

I designed this lesson while interning in a British secondary school during the
time I spent abroad as part of my masters year. It was taught to Year 7 students
(equivalent to American 6th graders). The students were enrolled in a heterogeneously
mixed general British History course. This course is part of the countrys national
curriculum. The lesson could fill two shorter class periods or one block period.
This lesson directly followed lessons about William the Conquerors 1066
invasion, conflicts with Harold Godwine and Harald Hardrada, and the Battle of Hastings
specifically. This lesson seeks to introduce students to some of the main problems
William faced in maintaining control over England. After this lesson, students would
continue to discuss these issues and learn about the long lasting influence of Norman rule
on their countrys language, landscape, institutions etc.
Enquiry Question:
How do you maintain control in a conquered country?

Objectives:
Students will evaluate which of William the Conquerors challenges as a ruler were most
significant and which of his strategies to address the challenges were most successful.
Students will assess to what extent, and in what ways, historical circumstances influence
the decisions made by political leaders in history.
Students will use reading, writing, speaking and listening skills to gather information
from secondary sources, share it with peers, and create a synthesized product.
Plan:
Hook
The teacher will welcome students to class and ask questions to refresh their
memories about where we left off in the Story of William. Teacher will then play a clip
from the television program Horrible Histories, from the Measly Middle Ages
episode, focused on problems William initially faced in England. The clip also includes
humorous false solutions William might have tried. The teacher should ask students to
recall problems addressed in the clips and record a list on the board. Review the preassembled list in the slides to ensure students grasped all the main issues. 8 mins.
Review Enquiry Question & Class Goals
Teacher will then review the student version of the EQ and the Daily Class Goals
with students. EQ: If a witch in a tower cant help you, how do you conquer a country
and maintain control? Daily Class Goals: We will learn some challenges William the
Conqueror faced when attempting to maintain control of England. We will work to
categorise the ways that ruler might try and maintain control of a country. We will try to
evaluate what the best decisions are for leaders in Williams position. 2 mins.
Specific Advisory Committee Meetings
Teacher will them move students into heterogeneously mixed groups. Once
students are settled into groups, the teacher will explain that each group is a committee
called together by William to give him advice regarding a particular issue. The teacher
will explain to students that they will receive a Letter from William reviewing the

issues he wants them to research and discuss, and that students should use the two class
textbooks, and knowledge from class, to develop solutions to Williams problems.
Students will act as Religious Advisors, Financial Advisors, Military Advisors, Political
Advisors, Citizenship Advisors, and Infrastructure Advisors. Students will then be given
time to read their letters, research solutions, and come up with a committee recommended
solution which should be recorded in their column of the Advice Brochure Template.
Teacher should informally assess the students, offering guidance and clarification where
necessary. 30 mins.
Mixed Advisory Committee Meetings
Once each committee has completed their advice, the teacher will move students
into second heterogeneously mixed groups that contain one member of each initial
committee. In these groups each advisor should report the main issues presented to them
by William and their recommended solution to the rest of the committee. As each student
shares, their peers should record the solutions in the respective section of their Advice
Brochure Template. Once each member of the group has presented every student should
have a completed brochure. The teacher should briefly check each group work and if the
work is acceptable students may move on to illustrating each column of the brochure. 35
mins.
Closer
At the end of class the teacher should bring the class back together and informally
assess students by using questioning to lead a discussion about the main problems and
solutions of William the Conqueror. The teacher should ask students to consider what
some of the most and least successful solutions they researched were. The teacher should
then collect each student brochure for formal assessment. If time permits the class may
watch the last minute of the comedic Horrible Histories clip. 5 mins.
Required Materials:
Accompanying Slides
o Including Link to Horrible History Clip
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHLBYi7SxdY)
Letters from William to Each Advisory Committee
Course Textbooks
Printed Advice Brochure Templates for Each Student
Coloring Supplies

Some News from William the Conqueror What kind of problems is he facing?

William
the Conqueror
Maintaining Control
After Invasion

Problems for William...

Political Uprisings
Maintaining Control of Citizens
Fighting in Foreign Landscape
Conflicts Over Land
Getting Loyalty from the Lords
Financial Issues

Enquiry Question for the Day:

If a witch in a tower cant help you, how do

you conquer a country and maintain control?

During This Lesson...

We will learn some challenges William the Conqueror faced
when attempting to maintain control of England.
We will work to categorise the ways that ruler might try and
maintain control of a country.
We will try to evaluate what the best decisions are for leaders
in Williams position.

William needs your help...

William the Conqueror is concerned about how he will continue to rule over England.
He has assembled his top advisors in this room today. He has asked his advisor to
tackle different issues which he is struggling with as King.
Religious Advisors

Financial Advisors

Political Advisors

Advisory Committee Task

Meet with your fellow committee members. Read your note from William
explaining his problem. Use your own ideas, and information from the textbooks
about how William actually handled the problem in history, to come up with
some advice for how the problem should be solved.

You will then meet with a second committee. This group will have one member
from each of the original committees. Together you will make a concise brochure
guide for William about how to best maintain control of his country.

Citizenship Advisors

Infrastructure Advisors

Advice Brochure
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writing writing writing writing
writing writing

Military Advisors

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writing writing writing writing
writing writing writing writing
writing writing writing writing
writing writing writing writing
writing writing writing writing
writing writing writing writing
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