TV series for learning about British medieval history

[Kokeshi123]

I'm trying to help my 8yo daughter learn the basics of British medieval history.

We enjoyed watching Andrew Marr's History of the World together and it really helped her to develop an interest and get a rough grasp of the big names, places and events. Is there anything for the Middle Ages in Britain that might suit?

It does not necessarily have to be a "children's" series--one aimed at adults is OK as long as it is fun and lively and has lots of enjoyable reconstruction type stuff....like actors wearing the costumes and doing all the various things in realistic settings. The Andrew Marr series was like that, and it was fun and easy to understand, as long as I explained the tricky words and concepts for her.

I need something where I can buy the DVD.

I did look at the "Plantagenets" series, and wondered if it might be good.

Plantagenets clip here:
The Plantagenets - S01 - E01 - The Devil's Brood - video dailymotion
www.dailymotion.com/video/x2esowe

Thanks for the clip!

I think I might go for "Britain's Bloodiest Dynasty" I suspect that "The Plantagenets" is actually better history, but at this age I mainly want something that will grab the attention and make the big "ideas" easy to grasp"Britain's Bloodiest Dynasty" has more reenactment scenes in costume, which I think will make it easier for her to follow. :D

Have you tried Horrible Historys I think it is on CBBC , it may not be what your looking for but it is funny and informative my 10 year old loves it .

My kids have retained so much history knowledge from all eras from Horrible Histories. It may not immediately fall into your desire for possibly more high brow and academic, but it's won Baftas and is well regarded by most primary teachers I know. Several episodes in each series relate to the 'measly middle ages' and the 'terrible tudors' And for when she looks at other peroods of history, it cannot be faulted. I defy you not to be impressed by the songs, especially the Rosa Parks song.

Horrible Histories stage shows tour dates:
m.ents24.com/uk/tour-dates/horrible-histories

Horrible histories.

Tony Robinson does some excellent ones in all sorts of aspects of history and he's very engaging. He did one that was a sort of reenactment on the Peasants Revolt. I'm a history teacher and also rate anything by Dan and / or Jon Snow and Dan Brown. Lucy Worsley is great for tudor dressing up / reenactment stuff. You can do a lot worse than search bbc3 and 4 on I player.

Some of the Time Team archaeological dig episodes are pretty good.

Oh yes, we love HH too ("we" as in the whole family, LOL! They are great fun)! We have the full DVD set as we live overseas. I wanted something which focused just on the middle ages only--kings and queens being good, because I think kids remember stuff more easily when they have a human story to link it into. I think the Bloody Dynasty might be good, as long as she watches it with me, as it might be a bit gory at times....!

There are some brilliant ideas hereI must take a look at the Time Team stuff, Tony Robinson, Jon Snow, Dan Brown. Lucy Worsely is good toowe enjoyed watching an episode on the history of the bathroom together (anything to do with toilets tends to impress kids....!)

I like Suzannah Lipscomb, She’s done some interesting programs about the tudors.

There's some great ones on the bbc iPlayer. Horrible histories are good but otherwise most the adult ones are quite accessible

Search the BBC4 websites, we watch them a lot and DD is obsessed with several presenters.

I think it can be difficult, I found some a bit too academic, David Starkey for example is one who talk and talks and DD is absolute not keen on his series despite being fairly decently made.

Can you access BBC bitesize? The KS3 part has a variety of clips from shows about history. DD does Tudors in Y7 at the moment. That may give yiu a bit for talking points.