A free KS1 history topic exploring castle features, who lived in castles, how castles were built, heraldry, the Bayeux Tapestry and everyday life in the past.
1. Castle Timeline.pdf
1b. Castle Timeline Cards.pdf
1c. History Timeline Cards.pdf
2. Design And Build A Castle.pdf
2b. Castle Design Criteria Sheet.pdf
3. Castle Characters.pdf
3b. Who Lived In Castles Activity Sheet.pdf
3c. Castle Characters Activity Sheet.pdf
4. Heraldry Design.pdf
4b. Heraldry Design Activity Sheet.pdf
5. Illuminating Letters.pdf
5b. Illuminating Letters Activity Sheet.pdf
5c. History Timeline Cards.pdf
6. Cooking In Castles.pdf
7. Bayeux Tapestry Story.pdf
8. Design And Make A Catapult.pdf
8b. Catapult Design Criteria Sheet.pdf
9. Castle Fieldtrip.pdf
9a. Castle Fieldtrip Activity Sheet.pdf
Key Details +
A complete Year 2 KS1 Castles topic covering castle features, castle design, who lived in castles, heraldry, illuminated letters, cooking, the Bayeux Tapestry, catapults and castle life. Includes printable classroom activities, design tasks, timeline work and a field-trip activity.
Curriculum Alignment +
Supports Key Stage 1 history learning through the study of castles and life in the past. Children explore chronology, historical vocabulary, changes over time, historical evidence, significant places and people, design and technology links, art and creative work, speaking and listening, and practical enquiry.
Teaching Tips +
Begin with the Castle Timeline and timeline cards to establish a clear sense of chronology. Ask children to place events in order and explain what changed over time.
Use the castle design activities to compare different castle features and discuss why castles were built in particular locations. Encourage children to justify their design choices using historical vocabulary.
The Castle Characters and Who Lived in Castles activities are useful for exploring different roles, status and everyday life. Children can use role play, questioning and short pieces of historical writing.
Use Heraldry Design and Illuminating Letters to connect history with art and design. Discuss symbols, colour, pattern and what these can tell us about identity and status.
The Bayeux Tapestry Story provides an opportunity to explore historical evidence and storytelling. Ask children what the images show, what they might leave out and how historians use sources.
Designing a catapult and completing the castle field-trip activity provide practical ways to link historical learning with design, making, observation and enquiry.
Choose the activities that best suit your class and use the printable sheets as independent work, group tasks, evidence for assessment or follow-up activities after topic videos and discussion.
