Investigating The Wars of Independence: 1296–1357 The Wars of Independence is one of most exciting and important periods of Scottish history, and is widely studied in Scotland’s schools. Throughout Scotland today are the remains of many historic sites which bore witness to these events. This resource identifies those sites and shows how investigating the surviving historical evidence can inspire learning, help separate fact from fiction and bring the reality of this period to life for both young and old. A statue of Robert the Bruce with Stirling Castle in the background EVENTS 2 The Wars of Independence 1296–1357 The list of sites on page 15 gives a Contents How to use this brief summary of the involvement of P2 each in the Wars of Independence and How to use this resource resource is intended to help you choose a site to visit which best supports your topic. P3 This resource is aimed at teachers It is also intended to raise awareness Integrating a visit with a and designed to link classroom studies of important but lesser-known sites classroom study based on the Wars of Independence to which may be on your own doorstep. P4-5 the real historic sites where these Those in the care of Historic Scotland events took place. Supporting learning are highlighted. and teaching NB These notes are not intended to be P6 copied and distributed to pupils. How to book a visit Timeline: the Wars of The resource aims to provide: Historic Scotland operates a year- Independence • a clear indication of how visits to round free admission scheme for P7 historic sites can bring to life a educational visits (except Edinburgh Map of major sites of study of the Wars of Independence Castle and Stirling Castle where a conflict in the between and provide support for the 5–14 charge is levied during May–August 1216 and 1314 National Guidelines inclusive). To find out how to book a class visit please visit the education P8-13 • historical background information to pages on the Historic Scotland the Wars of Independence for the The Wars of website: www.historic-scotland.gov.uk Independence: non-specialist teacher or telephone 0131 668 8793. historical background • maps and other information to P14 show which sites are linked to Map of Historic Scotland the Wars of Independence sites linked to the Wars • information about potential of Independence historic sites to visit and other P15 useful information. Additional information Bringing the past to life Historic Scotland looks after many sites that saw action in the Wars of Independence or were involved in other ways. Visits to historic places fire the imagination and inspire learning. Pupils can stand on the site of a castle and experience the strategic position it holds. They can see the damage to buildings brought about by siege warfare and gain an understanding of what it might have been like to be trapped and under fire in a castle during the Middle Ages. HISTORIC SCOTLAND The Wars of Independence 1296–1357 3 As they explore the buildings, artefacts, plaques, Integrating a visit with a statues and memorials commemorating battles or events, pupils can compile an evidence record in words classroom study and pictures about the site. The aim of the evidence record should be to encourage development of Educational visits have the greatest value if they are observational, descriptive and recording skills rather built into the original planning of a topic. We than to look for answers to specific questions which recommend you plan your visit somewhere in the they can equally well find out from books in middle, giving your pupils time to become familiarised the classroom. with the key characters involved and the events that took place there. The evidence record can ask pupils to use the headings ‘I see’, ‘I hear’, and ‘I feel’ at chosen locations, to look Before the visit for clues to explain what went on at the site, and to look for evidence of changes or damage to buildings. • Log on to the Historic Scotland website: www.historic- scotland.gov.uk for more information about your Pupils can record by: chosen site and any site-specific or relevant themed • taking notes of factual information resource material available. Many sites also offer • making quick diagrams of specific details programmes of curriculum-linked on-site activities. • taking photographs significant features or views • If possible, make a free planning visit before taking a class to your chosen site so that you familiarise • using tape-recorders to describe what they see, hear, yourself with the site and the evidence it offers. To feel and smell. book a free planning visit to Edinburgh Castle or Suggestions for follow-up work Stirling Castle telephone 0131 668 8793. Planning visits to other sites can be booked direct with Following the visit your pupils should pool their findings the site. to form a broad view of how the site they have visited featured in the Wars of Independence and what it would • In order to assess the extent of the learning which have been like for those who fought in the battles or takes place, it is a good idea to conduct a were under siege in the castle. Pupils can be asked to benchmarking activity which records pupils’ look at the clues and work out what they definitely know knowledge and understanding of the event and and what they can reasonably guess. characters on which the visit focuses. This can form the basis for a wide range of language • Use the timeline (see page 6) to help pupils gain an and Expressive Arts activities, such as role-play and understanding of at what stage of the Wars of drama, compiling their own guidebook or leaflet, or Independence this event took place, who was involved interviewing local historians/museum curators. These and what the outcome was. activities can: • With pupils, look at maps of the area around the • develop skills and techniques in language and the castle and/or battlefields you are going to visit. expressive arts • Discuss with pupils why they think castles were built • consolidate and expand knowledge and understanding in that location and/or why battles took place in about people in the past specific locations. • help to develop informed attitudes about the ways in • Discuss with pupils what kinds of weapons would which our heritage is preserved. have been used and what the fighting would have been like. If the focus of the visit has highlighted siege warfare, Historic Scotland Education Unit offers a resource pack Working on site which contains detailed information about siege engines Your pupils’ task should be to look for physical evidence linked to the Technology component of 5–14 of the site’s involvement in the Wars of Independence. Environmental Studies. HISTORIC SCOTLAND 4 The Wars of Independence 1296–1357 The same questions can then start to be explored in Supporting learning relation to the Wars of Independence, providing a lead in to: and teaching • why people fought in the Middle Ages in Scotland Education for Citizenship • how and where people fought during the Wars of Independence One possible introduction to a topic on the Wars of • who was involved in the Wars of Independence (Which Independence could be to ask pupils: individuals or groups of people? Which countries?) • What causes people to fight? (In the school • what the outcome was. playground? In the street? In the world?) The issues arising from this approach and the events • Who is involved? (Individuals? Groups of people? that took place during the Wars of Independence offer Countries?) good opportunities for discussion relating to Education • How do people physically express discontent today? for Citizenship. (Demonstrations? Rebellions? Guerrilla raids? Civil war? International war?) • What kinds of weapons do people use in war today? • What is the outcome of war? (Peace? Political independence? Control of one country over another? Continuing unrest?) Learning Objectives Teaching Activities Learning Outcomes Learn about reasons for conflict eg Study newspaper reports of modern Recognise that conflict about these disputes over land, rulers, valuable conflicts issues is ongoing assets such as minerals, religion and race Investigate ways in which conflict can be Discussion and role-play Understand that there are alternative resolved eg discussion, mediation, ways of resolving conflict treaties and agreements Find out about the consequences of Discuss human rights issues; visit Know that conflict causes damage and conflict castles and other sites to look at war the loss of life damage; visit castle prisons; look at photographs of war memorials Examine human rights issues Use role play to ‘try’ William Wallace Understand the importance of human under modern human rights legislation hights Learn about the Declaration of Arbroath Study relevant parts of the text of the Know that the Declaration laid the Arbroath Treaty foundation of democracy in Scotland HISTORIC SCOTLAND The Wars of Independence 1296–1357 5 Environmental Studies – Social Subjects: The suggested activities can be easily adapted to People in the past differentiate for all levels of pupils. This resource complements the Social Subjects component of the 5–14 Environmental Studies Guidelines. It focuses mainly on the attainment outcome People in the past at levels A–D. Knowledge and Understanding – Teaching Activities Learning Outcomes Strands People, events and societies Use a wide range of sources including Recognise the names and fates of the visiting sites linked to the Wars of main characters and the outcome of Independence events Change, continuity, cause and effect Study maps, identify and visit sites Understand why battles and sieges took place where they did, what that involved and what the outcomes were Time and historical sequence Study the timeline/create a human Understand that there were two Wars of timeline in the classroom through Independence, when these were and role-play who took part in which.