Pupils have been commissioned to produce two brief podcasts for the British Library website aimed at a teenage audience. The first podcast is to last 100 seconds and must explain why Magna Carta is significant. The second is to last just 50 seconds and argue that its importance has been over-estimated. A PowerPoint presentation RS2 offers an image of the British Library webpage and screenshot of the podcast they currently offer. Can the pupils improve on the one offered?
First they must make sure that they have a secure grasp of the arguments. The first few slides of the PowerPoint offer a few pointers but the main work comes when pupils try to sort the ideas offered as cards in an envelope. ( Resource Sheet 1 gives the cards which need cutting out).
The pupils’ task is to simply sort them into arguments for and against Magna Carta being seen as really significant. The more important part comes next. They move the cards along the spectrum provided (Resource Sheet 2) to shape their overall argument. Which points will be privileged with greater weight? Which will be linked?
When they have clarified their thinking, ask pupils to watch the actual podcast
