1. Finish off glossary from last lesson
Catapult – An ancient military machine used for hurling stones and boulders. Siege – The surrounding of a place with military forces in order to capture it or force it to surrender. Motte and Bailey - a wooden keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade. Battlements – The top of a castle wall often with gaps from which the defendants could fire at the enemy.

2. Why did William build castles?
Lesson aim: To identify the key reasons that castles were built and to describe the first type of castle built.

3. Create your own castle!
In your groups, create your own castle to protect yourselves from the rest of the class!
Think of the sort of features we see in castles.
How are you going to protect yourselves?
Where is the castle going to be placed?
How are you going to fight off invaders?

4. What castles have you been to?

5. Castles didn’t always look like that..
Motte and Bailey Castle

6. Motte
Bailey

7. You can still see the remains today!
St. Clears, Carmarthenshire.

8. Why did William need to build castles?
Protect them from rebel Saxons
Didn’t have enough men to run England
William built castles at important places – hills, rivers, towns – so that if the English tried to control the country they’d be forced to attack a castle – a bad move!

9. Why Motte and Bailey? They had to be built in a hurry.
Motte and Bailey castles could be built in just a few weeks!

10. Bailey – large walled area where the soldiers and animals lived
Moat – this made it harder to reach the walls
Palisade – these were made of wood and formed a fence
Drawbridge – to the entrance to the bailey
Motte – defensive mound of earth
Bridge – from the motte to the bailey
Keep – the safest place in the castle

11. The waste from our bathrooms was thrown into the moat.

12. Why did William build Motte and Bailey castles?

13. The castles were quick to build
The castles were quick to build. A motte and bailey castle could be up in a few weeks! This was a huge difference compared to the years it would take to build a stone castle.
They protected the soldiers that William used to control the country and were easy to defend. Small numbers of Norman soldiers could hold off rebellions or attacks by being in a castle.
Because the castles were not built to last, they were only a temporary solution..
Like the story of the Three Little Pigs, wooden buildings can be burnt down by fire. They can also be affected by rot.

14. The castles were quick to build
The castles were quick to build. A motte and bailey castle could be up in a few weeks! This was a huge difference compared to the years it would take to build a stone castle.
They protected the soldiers that William used to control the country and were easy to defend. Small numbers of Norman soldiers could hold off rebellions or attacks by being in a castle.
Because the castles were not built to last, they were only a temporary solution..
The biggest weakness was the material they were made of – wood. Like the story of the Three Little Pigs, wooden buildings can be burnt down by fire. They can also be affected by rot.

15. Task What were the advantages of Motte and Bailey castles?
What were the disadvantages of Motte and Bailey castles?
List two advantages and two disadvantages.
Explain WHY!
Use the word ‘because’.
Use key words from your diagram.

16. Something I found challenging..
Something I enjoyed..
Something I found challenging..
Something new I have learnt..
Something I want to find out..