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Year 2 - History

Constantine II's early life and exile in Ireland

Conflict, conquest and empires

Unit Summary

Stories about significant rulers from the past give students an understanding of key ideas related to early rulers, such as struggles for power and religious influence. They learn about specific rulers from different times and places, helping students build a chronological framework.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to retell some of the story of Constantine's early life.

Key Notes

  • Constantine was the son of a king in a part of Scotland called Alba.
  • When he was very young, his father was killed by someone who wanted to rule in his place.
  • Constantine had to flee to Ireland where he lived with his aunt who was married to an Irish king.
  • Constantine was educated at a nearby monastery and as he grew older he planned his revenge.
  • Eventually Constantine returned to Scotland and defeated his father's enemy at a huge hillfort called Dundurn.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Alba: Alba is the Gaelic name for Scotland and is where southern and central Scotland is today
  • exile: exile means being banned from your own country
  • revenge: revenge is the act of getting back at someone for something they did to you
  • hillfort: a hillfort is a defensive feature where a fort is built on top of a hill

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think revenge always involves killing people.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.

Constantine was the son of a king in a part of Scotland called Alba. When he was very young, his father was killed by someone who wanted to rule in his place.

2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'Alba'

Alba is the Gaelic name for Scotland and is where southern and central Scotland is today.

3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.

Mistake: Pupils may think revenge always involves killing people. Correction: Revenge is the act of getting back at someone for something they did to you. This may involve stealing something or destroying something like property.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 2 History guide library.