Lesson Topic – The Reign of King
John
STARTER. What qualities do you think a good king should
have?
What does this picture suggest about the
relationship between King John and his barons?
Learning Objectives
• Able to identify the key events and challenges during the
reign of King John.
• Able to evaluate why King John is often considered a
controversial monarch.
• Able to describe the significance of the Magna Carta and its
implications.
WHO WAS KING JOHN?
King John’s brother Richard the Lionheart had been popular
and successful; John was unpopular and unsuccessful.
King John
• King John was the Younger
brother of King Richard the
lion heart
Early 13th century John was
crowned King of England
instead of Richard’s son,
Arthur
• Described by historians as:
– Clever
– Greedy
– Cruel
– Untrustworthy
– Weak military leader
The following made John
Unpopular/Unsuccessful
.
In 1203, John lost in war to
King Philip of France.
In 1205 John fell out with the Thereby
Pope about who should be Giving up English-held lands
Archbishop of Canterbury. He in Anjou and Normandy.
took the lands belonging to
the church and intimidated
who ever supports the John was not
church. The feud with the WHY HAD KING JOHN running the
church lasted for 8 years until BECOME UNPOPULAR country properly.
John gave in . / Unsuccessful ? He refused to listen
to the barons
advice.
John’s relation with the
barons was not good. He
treated them unfairly. He
The Pope excommunicated John from the arrests barons and puts them
Church and all English churches were closed in prison without a trial. He
down. increased tax. In the year
1215, one of the
barons,Robert Fitz Walter led
a revolt against John. Leading
Activity 1 (12 Minutes)
Divide students into small groups and assigns each group one King
John’s challenge
Group A - The loss of Normandy,
Group B - Conflict with the barons,
Group 3- Conflict with the church
Group 4 - Magna Carta).
Task:
● Research using Google Docs to summarize the event and its
consequences.
● Focus on how this event contributed to King John’s
unpopularity.
● Include any primary sources (such as excerpts from the Magna
Carta or letters) if available.
Class Share
Class Share (10 mins)
● Groups present their findings using Google Slides or Padlet.
● Encourage students to ask questions or provide additional
insights after each presentation.
Activity 3: Role Play: Debate on King John’s Leadership. 10 minutes
Group DEBATE
● In pairs, students will role-play a debate: One group defends
King John’s actions, while the other criticizes him.
● Use information from your research and the Magna Carta to
support your arguments.
● Be creative: For example, You can pretend to be nobles from
the time of King John, using language and reasoning
appropriate to the period.
Plenary
Exit ticket : Do you think King John was a good or
bad king? Why?
FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE
CLIP
[Link]
Cok
WHAT WAS THE BARONS’ RESPONSE?
The barons rebelled against the King in May 1215 and captured London.
However, they did not defeat John entirely and by the Spring of 1215,
both sides were willing to discuss matters.
WHAT WAS THE RESULT OF THE
REBELLIONS BY THE BARONS?
The result was the 'Magna Carta’ which is Latin
for "Great Charter".
Task
• Study pages 81 – 83 and attempt questions 3
to 8
Plenary
• Students discuss The Reign of King John
LESSON TOPIC -MAGNA CARTA
Starter….
• What were the things that made King John’s
Reign unpopular?
Learning Objectives
• L0 1 – Able to explain Magna Carta
• L0 2 – to describe the significance of Magna
Carta
• L03 – to identify the contents of the Magna
Carta.
KING JOHN SIGNING THE MAGNA
CARTA AT RUNNYMEDE NEAR
WINSOR CASTLE
WHAT WAS THE MAGNA CARTA?
Magna Carta was a document that contained series of written
promises between the king and his subjects. that he, the king,
would govern England and deal with its people according to the
customs of feudal law.
It also Means “Great Charter”
Signed June 19 1215
Magna Carta was an attempt by the barons to stop a king - John
- from abusing his power.
Some of the main points of the Magna
Carta
Magna Carta
I, King John have to rule according to the Feudal
law. I agree...
1. Not to imprison barons without a trial
2. To hold trials in court, not in secret.
3. To have fair taxes for the barons.
4. To let freemen travel where they like.
5. Not to interfere with the Church
[Link] people would have access to courts,
regardless of wealth.
[Link]
AmA
WHAT WAS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF
THE MAGNA CARTA?
Magna Carta is one of the most important documents in history as it established the
principle that everyone is subject to the law, even the king, and guarantees the rights
of individuals, the right to justice and the right to a fair trial.
Who Was Involved in the signing?
• A total of 25 barons, 13
bishops, and 20 abbots
• were party to the
signing of the Magna
Carta.
• The barons accepted
the responsibility of
• ensuring that King John
followed the clauses of
the Magna Carta.
Magna Carta Today
• Original document
• Purchased by Ross Perot
• Donated to National Archives in Washington,
D. C.
• On display for public viewing
TASK 1 - write out the 6 main points of the Charter on
your copy of the scroll and illustrate
TASK 2
• Attempt the Brain work in page 85
