starter activity

What makes an historical event significant?

What was the most What was the most significant event of the significant event of the

Middle Ages?Middle Ages?

What is historical What is historical significance?significance?

According to a Professor of History at the According to a Professor of History at the University of Cambridge (Christine Counsell), to University of Cambridge (Christine Counsell), to be historically significant an event or individual be historically significant an event or individual must pass the 5 Rs test:must pass the 5 Rs test:

RemarkableRemarkable (an important and notable (an important and notable event/person)event/person)

Resulting in changeResulting in change RevealingRevealing (tells us a lot about a person’s time)(tells us a lot about a person’s time) RememberedRemembered (ways that it is remembered (ways that it is remembered

today)today) Resonant/’ripples’Resonant/’ripples’ (having an effect on future (having an effect on future

generations)generations)

Your taskYour task

You are give a presentation and argue You are give a presentation and argue that one of the topics below was the that one of the topics below was the most significant in the whole of the most significant in the whole of the medieval period we have studied. At the medieval period we have studied. At the end of the presentations we will take a end of the presentations we will take a vote and decide which event we think vote and decide which event we think was the most significant on the basis of was the most significant on the basis of the arguments and evidence put the arguments and evidence put forward. You will then write an essay on forward. You will then write an essay on which you think was the most significant.which you think was the most significant.

1: The Norman invasion, 10661: The Norman invasion, 1066 2: The murder of Thomas Becket, 2: The murder of Thomas Becket,

11701170 3: The Black Death, 13493: The Black Death, 1349 4: The Peasant’s Revolt, 13814: The Peasant’s Revolt, 1381 5: ??? (mystery topic)5: ??? (mystery topic)

starter activity

Can you remember the 5 things (factors) that make an

historical event significant?

What is historical What is historical significance?significance?

According to a Professor of History at the According to a Professor of History at the University of Cambridge (Christine Counsell), to University of Cambridge (Christine Counsell), to be historically significant an event or individual be historically significant an event or individual must pass the 5 Rs test:must pass the 5 Rs test:

RemarkableRemarkable (an important and notable (an important and notable event/person)event/person)

Resulting in change Resulting in change RevealingRevealing (tells us a lot about a person’s time)(tells us a lot about a person’s time) RememberedRemembered (ways that it is remembered (ways that it is remembered

today)today) Resonant / ‘ripples’Resonant / ‘ripples’ (having an effect on future (having an effect on future

generations)generations)

Your taskYour task Now you have held your debate you Now you have held your debate you

must plan your answer. In groups must plan your answer. In groups plan the following:plan the following: IntroductionIntroduction Main body of essay (development)Main body of essay (development) ConclusionConclusion

Now compare your version with the Now compare your version with the writing framewriting frame

Writing frame

What was the most What was the most significant event of the significant event of the

Middle Ages?Middle Ages?

Your taskYour task A student in another class has attempted A student in another class has attempted

to answer the same question. Mark her to answer the same question. Mark her work, but remember be positive!work, but remember be positive!

In one colourIn one colour highlight and explain all the highlight and explain all the things she does well or correctlythings she does well or correctly

In another colourIn another colour highlight and explain highlight and explain the things she needs to change or the things she needs to change or improveimprove

Look at the assessment grid. What level Look at the assessment grid. What level would you give her?would you give her?

Assessment grid