Brian Boru & the Vikings - Ireland in Schools

Lesson plan 2 - Brian Boru: a national hero
Date: 15/06/00 Year Group: 6
Group size: 6
Location of Group: Tables
Main Subject Focus: The Vikings - Was Brian Boru a hero
Learning objectives
‘ To learn about Brian Boru and the Battle of Clontarf. (Hi8a/b)
‘ To use a range of historical sources as a form of evidence for and against Boru being a hero. (Hi4a/b)
Strategies
Timings
‘ Whole class introduction (10 mins).
‘ Group introduction (10 mins).
‘ Main task (1 St part) - Defining a hero, introducing the range of sources, children putting together
evidence for and against (40 mins).
‘ Main task (2nd part) - Discuss/collating as a group evidence, refer evidence to question: Was Brian
a hero - discuss as a group, children to design Wanted• or Hero• poster (40 mins).
Teaching Strategies
‘ Group introduction and overview of the Battle of Clontarf.
Key questions: Who was Brian Boru What did he do What happened at the Battle of Clontarf
‘ Ascertain children's knowledge and understanding of a hero. Key questions:
What is a hero
Who is a hero
Why are they a hero
‘ Definition of a hero.
‘ Introduce different sources of information.
‘ Discuss as a group how the different sources can be used. Key questions:
What do they show us
What can we see from the different sources
How might they be biased towards one side
‘ Explain task - using sources to gather evidence for the case against Boru being a hero and the case
for him being a hero.
‘ Demonstrate to group using one source of evidence.
‘ Children to work in pairs when gathering evidence.
‘ Children to record their findings on a worksheet.
‘ Discuss as group findings.
‘ Relate findings to question. Do the children think Born was a hero
‘ Children to design a `Wanted' or `Hero' poster, detailing evidence for their choice.
Learning Strategies
‘ Group introduction to discuss task and ascertain children's previous knowledge.
‘ Questioning to encourage discussion and understanding.
UCN, Brian Boru - national hero, page 12