Level: Intermediate
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
Time: 90 mins
Skills: Listening
Topic: WINDSOR CASTLE
Students will learn and practice vocabulary to describe Windsor Castle
Students will learn about the UK ‘Coat of Arms’ and design their own
Materials: Windsor Castle official video plus transcript, vocabulary activity, follow-up
questions, pictures of foot guards and coat of arms, projector and computer for video
Video access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUDDsZ2I_gk
Stages
1. Start to draw a castle on the board, one line at a time. After each line, encourage students to guess what the
picture is. Encourage creativity! Once the students guess ‘Castle’, explain that is the topic of the lesson. Elicit any
castles they’ve heard of in the UK (or their own countries), and explain today’s aim is to prepare for the trip to
Windsor Castle. 5 mins
2. Windsor Castle Video. Explain to students that they will be watching the official video of Windsor Castle. Board /
dictate the following questions to discuss are they view the video:
In your opinion, which word best describes Windsor castle?
What colour do you most associate with Windsor castle?
Which ‘typically British’ things did you see in the video?
After the video, students discuss in pairs, leading to class feedback / discussion 6 mins
3. Video Observation Challenge. Organise the students into pairs. Dictate the questions for an ‘Observation
Challenge’. Check spellings and concept check some vocabulary (e.g. Sculpture, throne, knight, frame, foot guards).
Use flashcards if necessary. Once students are clear on the questions, play the video once. Give each pair time to
discuss their answers. They will probably want to see the video again – play it if you are feeling generous. 15 mins
Questions:
1. What is the pub behind the foot guards called?
HORSE AND GROOM
2. Complete the words on the sign: ‘Windsor Castle…’
VISITOR ENTRANCE
3. Which flag is flying at the castle?
THE UNION JACK
4. What two letters can you see under the crown?
E.R.
5. TRUE or FALSE… The video shows a sculpture of George IV
TRUE
6. Which two animals can you see above the throne?
LION and UNICORN
7. Which artist’s name is shown on the picture frame?
REMBRANDT
8. What six words can you see around the Knight on the horse?
HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
9. Whose name is under William Arthur?
PHILLIP LOUIS
10. What date is written on the memorial for the fire at Windsor Castle?
20th NOV 1992
(Note: ER means Elizabeth Regina (Queen in Latin). HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE means “Evil to him who evil thinks”,
the motto of the Order of the Garter)
4. Listening for detail task. Give students the video transcript, with 10 gaps. Play the video (audio only) and students
try to complete the gaps with the correct words. Don’t go through meanings just yet, students should just try
recognising the sound of each word. Elicit some responses, board correct form if students wish. 8 mins
Answers:
1 – inhabited
2 – striking
3 – legacy
7 – splendid
8 – chivalry
9 – devastating
4 – notable
5 – iconic
6 – dazzling
10 - blaze
5. Vocabulary matching from the gap fill. Explain to students that these are words they are likely to hear on the
audioguide at Windsor Castle. Give students an activity where they should match the target vocabulary from the
transcript with the correct meaning. 10 mins
Answer:
a) inhabited
b) legacy
c) chivalry
d) dazzling
e) notable
f) blaze
g) devastating
h) striking
i) iconic
j) splendid
(Note: splendid, dazzling and striking are pretty much synonyms. In this activity, splendid and striking can be
interchangeable)
6. Follow up. Give each pair of students a set of questions which feature some of the words above. Students discuss
these questions together, leading to class discussion / feedback. 8 mins
7. Coat of Arms activity
Show the students a picture of the Prince of Wales Feathers and the UK coat of arms. Teach the phrase ‘Coat of
Arms’ and explain to students that they will see these all around Windsor castle.
First, get students to look at the pictures and describe them, what can they see?
Then get them to talk about what they think the coat of arms actually mean? Encourage creativity.
7 mins
Talk about the meanings, and the words:
The Prince of Wales feathers – the Prince fought in a battle, and the king he defeated was wearing an ostrich feather
hat, so he took the feathers. The crown is just a regal sign. Ich Dien is Germanic for ‘I serve’.
The UK coat of arms – left is a lion, symbol of England. Right, a unicorn, symbol of Scotland. It is chained as it is a wild
beast. Motto has order of the garter motto, and ‘God and my right’.
8. MAKE YOUR OWN COAT OF ARMS…
Students work in pairs to design their own coat of arms. This should represent their own lives and things that are
important or ‘symbolic’ to them. They should make a coat of arms that incorporates their ideas and symbols
together, and write a brief description about their choices. Tell students to take pride in their work as it will be
displayed, and it will help other students and teachers in the school to learn about them.
20 mins
Teacher should monitor and assist, correcting errors where necessary.
Students can present their coat of arms to each other for the last 10 minutes of class
10 mins
Historic castle, royal palace, family home. Windsor Castle, the longest continually inhabited
castle in the world.
Official residence of Her Majesty the Queen, and destination of a million visitors each year.
Just 23 miles west of London, the castle sits on its striking hilltop site – a potent symbol of
the British monarchy.
Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor has since been home to 39
monarchs. Each shaped the building to their own tastes and needs, and their legacy can be
seen throughout the castle. Perhaps the most notable was George IV, who in the 1820s
gave Windsor its famous skyline, almost doubling the height of the castles iconic round
tower. And, as Kings and Queens had done before him, George IV created magnificent new
rooms, but his remain the most dazzling of them all. In 1848 Queen Victoria opened the
state apartments to the public. They are Windsor’s most impressive rooms.
Furnishing these splendid interiors are some of the greatest treasures from the royal
collection, assembled by Kings and Queens over the last 500 years. From old master
paintings, to tapestries, porcelain, furniture, even a royal dolls house and armour. As you
can guess by the size of it, this suit belonged to the larger than life King Henry VIII.
Windsor Castle is home to the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest order of chivalry, and its
annual ceremony is held as St George’s chapel. The Garter Star and the Orders motto can
be seen all around the castle. Here in St George’s Hall the shields and armour of over a
thousand Garter knights decorate the walls and ceiling.
In 1992, a devastating fire swept through the building. It took 15 hours and 200 firefighters
to bring the blaze under control, and some of Windsor’s rooms were reduced to burnt-out
shells. Five years later, a multi-million pound and award-winning restoration project
returned the castle to its former splendour, and even added completely new interiors.
Today, Windsor is one of the world’s few remaining working palaces and the setting for
grand ceremonial and state occasions. A national monument, Windsor Castle tells the story
of a thousand years of British royal history like nowhere else, and is enjoyed by visitors
from all over the world.
Historic castle, royal palace, family home. Windsor Castle, the longest continually 1.
___________castle in the world.
Official residence of Her Majesty the Queen, and destination of a million visitors each year.
Just 23 miles west of London, the castle sits on its 2.__________ hilltop site – a potent
symbol of the British monarchy.
Built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Windsor has since been home to 39
monarchs. Each shaped the building to their own tastes and needs, and their
3.___________ can be seen throughout the castle. Perhaps the most 4.__________ was
George IV, who in the 1820s gave Windsor its famous skyline, almost doubling the height of
the castles 5.__________ round tower. And, as Kings and Queens had done before him,
George IV created magnificent new rooms, but his remain the most 6.___________ of them
all. In 1848 Queen Victoria opened the state apartments to the public. They are Windsor’s
most impressive rooms.
Furnishing these 7.___________interiors are some of the greatest treasures from the royal
collection, assembled by Kings and Queens over the last 500 years. From old master
paintings, to tapestries, porcelain, furniture, even a royal dolls house and armour. As you
can guess by the size of it, this suit belonged to the larger than life King Henry VIII.
Windsor Castle is home to the Order of the Garter, Britain’s oldest order of
8._____________, and its annual ceremony is held as St George’s chapel. The Garter Star
and the Orders motto can be seen all around the castle. Here in St George’s Hall the shields
and armour of over a thousand Garter knights decorate the walls and ceiling.
In 1992, a 9.____________ fire swept through the building. It took 15 hours and 200
firefighters to bring the 10.____________ under control, and some of Windsor’s rooms
were reduced to burnt-out shells. Five years later, a multi-million pound and award-winning
restoration project returned the castle to its former splendour, and even added completely
new interiors.
Today, Windsor is one of the world’s few remaining working palaces and the setting for
grand ceremonial and state occasions. A national monument, Windsor Castle tells the story
of a thousand years of British royal history like nowhere else, and is enjoyed by visitors
from all over the world.
Inhabited
Dazzling
Striking
Splendid
Legacy
Chivalry
Notable
Devastating
Iconic
Blaze
a) people live there… ______________
b) something that passed on from your ancestors… ____________
c) system of values that knights follow… _____________
d) very bright and colourful… ______________
e) very successful or respected… _______________
f) an intense and dangerous fire… ______________
g) causing great damage or harm… _______________
h) very interesting and attractive… ____________
i) an adjective to describe an easily recognised symbol… _____________
j) very impressive and beautiful… ______________
------------------------------------------------------
Inhabited
Dazzling
Striking
Splendid
Legacy
Chivalry
Notable
Devastating
Iconic
Blaze
a) people live there… ______________
b) something that passed on from your ancestors… ____________
c) system of values that knights follow… _____________
d) very bright and colourful… ______________
e) very successful or respected… _______________
f) an intense and dangerous fire… ______________
g) causing great damage or harm… _______________
h) very interesting and attractive… ____________
i) an adjective to describe an easily recognised symbol… _____________
j) very impressive and beautiful… ______________
What is the most iconic landmark in your country?
Do you think men in your country are chivalrous?
Have you seen any striking buildings in England?
Can you name any notable writers from England? How about from
your country?
Can you think of any world events that were devastating?
If there’s a blaze at LTC, what do you do?
---------------------------------------
What is the most iconic landmark in your country?
Do you think men in your country are chivalrous?
Have you seen any striking buildings in England?
Can you name any notable writers from England? How about from
your country?
Can you think of any world events that were devastating?
If there’s a blaze at LTC, what do you do?
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