Thank you for all your fantastic work last week. I wanted to share with you a couple of the newspaper reports I received - there are more on Purple mash you can look at too. Thank you to Lois and Mason for these...

The Normans introduced the first proper castles, starting with the wooden Motte and Bailey castles, to England following their victory at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

THE BATTLE OF HASTINGS

The Battle of Hastings is one of the most famous and important battles in English history.

It took place, back in the Middle Ages, on 14th October 1066.

It was fought between William of Normandy and his army from France (called the Normans), and King Harold II and his English army. The English were known as the Anglo-Saxons back then.

Today we are going to learn about this period in history and what led up to this famous battle.

Get yourself comfortable and watch the films below...it is quite a story!!!

We are starting to learn how, in the past, many families fought for the crown of England. Each family had rich friends that supported them. In the past families and their supporters could be identified by their Coats of Arms. This was a special symbol that represented their family. Having a special symbol or coat of arms is often called "heraldry".

How did having a coat of arms get started?

The first coat of arms was used to distinguish one knight from another in a battle. When a knight had on his full armor, including plate mail and helmet, even his friends couldn't recognise him. Because of this, knights began to paint symbols on their shields. They eventually began to put the symbol on their banner and the coat they wore over their armor. This is how it got the name "coat of arms".

The Herald

Each coat of arms needed to be unique. However, there were so many knights that it was tough to keep track of who had what symbol. It became the job of people called heralds to keep track of the different coats of arms. They made sure that new coats of arms were unique. They also kept track of who each coat of arms belonged to.

Laws

Over time, there became strict laws in applying for a new coat of arms. Each new coat of arms needed to be registered with the government. A coat of arms belonged to the family of the knight. He would pass the coat of arms down to his eldest son.

• Escutcheon - The escutcheon is the main shape of the coat of arms. It was in the shape of a shield, but the exact shape could vary (see picture below).

• Field - The field was the background colour. At first the field was a solid colour, but later patterns began to be used for the field.
• Charge - The charge is the main picture in the centre of the coat of arms. It was usually an animal, but could be other things such as a sword or a ship.
• Ordinaries - Ordinaries were designs that appeared on the field. They added additional colour and uniqueness to the coat of arms.

What did the colour mean?
Different background colours came to have different meanings. Red was the colour of a warrior and nobility. Other colours included blue for truth and sincerity, black for piety and knowledge, and green for hope and joy. The colours in heraldry are called tinctures.

What did different charges mean?
The charges used as the main figure in the coat of arms had different meanings as well. For example, the lion stood for majesty and strength, the elephant for wit and ambition, the boar for courage and ferocity, and the sun for power and glory.

Design your own coat of arms for your family.
Think of the shape.

What pictures could represent your family today? (animals, objects, places, hobbies, interests etc)
What shapes and colours would you choose?

Plan it out and then draw or paint it  - make it so that you can display it.

To see some real coats of arms click here.

Could you create a shield or a flag featuring your coat of arms?

Here is one idea for a shape you could use but the choice is yours...

Listening to someone read a story is a great way to relax and unwind.
We are lucky that, at the moment, we have some fantastic stories being read by famous people and excellent story-tellers that are wonderful to enjoy.

Choose a story from below to listen to. Choose somewhere to relax and enjoy it.

David Walliams is sharing his stories and they are funny...

► WHAT ELSE?

EXTRA LEARNING SKILLS & EXPERIENCES