Norman England · 1066-1087

1066: the year England changed hands

In 1066 three men claim the English crown and two armies invade within weeks. Students follow Harold's race from Stamford Bridge to Hastings, read the Bayeux Tapestry as a source, and see how castles and the Domesday Book tightened Norman rule.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
11–14
On the map
3 steps, AD 1066
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

In 1066 three men claim the English crown and two armies invade within weeks. Students follow Harold's race from Stamford Bridge to Hastings, read the Bayeux Tapestry as a source, and see how castles and the Domesday Book tightened Norman rule.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Explain the three claims to the English throne in 1066.
  • Put in order and locate the events of 1066: Stamford Bridge, Pevensey, Hastings and Westminster.
  • Describe how William controlled England after 1066, using castles and the Domesday Book.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1066

Two invasions

Open the map in 1066 and turn on Historical Events (Battles). Find the Battle of Hastings. Then look north to Yorkshire: why did Harold have to march his army the length of England in a few weeks?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1066

Across the Channel

Zoom out to see southern England and Normandy together. How narrow is the Channel? Where would you gather a fleet to invade?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1066

A tower in London

Zoom in on London and turn on Historical Events (Cultural Milestones). Find the Tower of London. Why would the new Norman king build a stone tower in the biggest city?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. Edward the Confessor died without children. Why does a missing heir so often lead to war?
  2. Harold won at Stamford Bridge on 25 September and fought again at Hastings on 14 October. How might the long march have affected his army?
  3. The Bayeux Tapestry was made for the Norman side. How should we use it as evidence?
  4. The Normans built many castles across England. Why were castles such an effective way to control a conquered land?
  5. The Domesday Book recorded who held land, animals and mills in 1086. Why would a king want to know all that?
4

Game round

10 min

Play Rule History as Saladin, the closest ruler in time on the list, who also had to hold on to lands he had conquered. Afterwards, compare his choices with William's castles, new lords and Domesday survey.

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

€19 per month unlocks every worksheet, every live lesson and the class workspace. The free lesson prints without a subscription.