1. How do we know what happened in the past?
History is about detective work.
Historians look for clues to help them reconstruct the past.
What clues do you think historians look for to help them find out what happened in the past? Brainstorm these on the board.

2. Primary and Secondary Sources
There are two types of resources that we use to understand what happened in the past – Primary and Secondary resources.
Think/pair/share – what is the difference between primary and secondary resources?

3. Primary Sources
Come from the time the event occurred and mainly include the following things
Artwork and pictures
Objects and artefacts
Buildings and structures
Bones and skeletons
Written records
Can be people

4. Secondary Resources
Secondary sources are produced after the event they describe. They can include
Books – including text books
Newspapers
Documentaries
Maps
Timelines
Stories

5. Primary and Secondary sources from your life
Have a look at your time line
Imagine you are writing your families history.
What primary and secondary resources would you use? Create a list of these.

6. One of the most famous primary sources is The Bayeux Tapestry

7. What’s it look like? (It’s 70 metres long and 50 centimetres wide)

8. Why was it made?
The Tapestry was designed and made soon after the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

9. King Edward Dies

10. What was the Battle of Hastings again??
Edward was king of England. When he died it was unclear who he wanted as his heir
Harold became the king
William was unhappy and went to war against Harold at Hastings
Harold was killed and William became king

11. Harold is crowned the new King of England

12. So what does the Tapestry tell us?
It is a record of the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and its aftermath.

13. William and Harold fight a war to see who will be King

14. What else is on the Tapestry?
The Tapestry contains:
623 humans
55 dogs
202 horses
41 ships
49 trees
Almost 2000 Latin words
Over 500 mythical and non mythical creatures such as birds and dragons.

15. It is known that the Tapestry is not complete and that at least seven or eight metres of it are missing. Where and when these pieces disappeared will never be known………