The conversion of the British Isles
I can describe how Christianity returned to the British Isles.
The conversion of the British Isles
I can describe how Christianity returned to the British Isles.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- With the departure of the Romans and the invasion of the pagan Anglo-Saxons, Christianity had declined in Britain.
- The Pope sent Augustine to convert the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to Christianity in 597CE, starting with Aethelbert of Kent.
- While the Anglo-Saxons settled in Britain, the Scots, a group from Ireland, began to settle in western Scotland.
- Irish missionaries had been converting Scotland and the north of England since the 6th century.
- Two forms of Christianity existed in Britain; the Synod of Whitby ruled Roman Catholic practices would be followed.
Keywords
Pagan - pagan religious beliefs and practices are those that are different from the main or recognised religions
Convert - to convert someone to a new religion means to change their religious beliefs to that of your own
Missionary - a missionary is a person sent on a religious mission, especially to promote Christianity in foreign countries
Practices - practices are ways of doing something such as religious rituals like prayer
Common misconception
Pupils might think that pagan beliefs were polytheistic and all non-pagan beliefs are monotheistic.
Though many pagan religions were polytheistic, there are non-pagan religions that are polytheistic such as Hinduism.
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The conversion of the British Isles, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 5 history lesson on: The conversion of the British Isles, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 history lessons from the Britain's settlement by Anglo-Saxons: what changed after the Romans left? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Kent and small parts of the South
the East Coast
the South and Midlands
Exit quiz
6 Questions
religious beliefs that are different from main religions
a person sent on a religious mission to another place
to change someone's religious beliefs