Zig Zag: The Normans
The Normans is a unit of the BBC Schools TV series Zig Zag from the 1980s, covering Miscellany for Primary pupils.
A look at life during and after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Through the magic of the television studio Sheelagh meets William the Conqueror's brother Bishop Odo, who explains the circumstances of the invasion, the Bayeux Tapestry, how castles were built and and how life worked for the peasants.
A two-part drama serial set in early Norman times, Hungry Times was shown immediately following these documentary programmes, and is covered on a separate page of this site.
The theme of Normans appears in various other Zig Zag units of the early 1980s. Later in 1983 the series looked at Computers, including specifically software for schools studying the Normans. And the Domesday Book inspired the BBC's 1980s Domesday Project which was covered in two of Zig Zag's Topical Programmes. Later still the Over to You programmes showing school projects in action included both a puppet show and an animated film recreating the Battle of Hastings.
Episode List
# | Title | Broadcast |
---|---|---|
1. | The Norman Invasion | 19 Sep 1983 |
2. | Norman Castles | 26 Sep 1983 |
3. | Norman Rule | 3 Oct 1983 |
Broadcasts
Year | Term | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Channel | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1983-84 | Autumn 1983 | Monday, 11:00am | Wednesday, 2:40pm | BBC2 | ||||
1985-86 | Autumn 1985 | Monday, 11:00am | Wednesday, 2:40pm | BBC2 | ||||
1987-88 | Spring 1988 | Monday, 11:00am | Wednesday, 1:38pm | BBC2 |
Credits
Presenter | Sheelagh Gilbey |
With | Arthur Hewlett as Bishop Odo |
Music | Elizabeth Bennett Gustavo Artiles |
Producer | Tom Stanier |
Resources
There were teacher's notes and project books available.
Links
Topics
School topics covered in this programme. Click to find other programmes covering the same topics, but bear in mind topics are a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
Keyword tags
Some features of this programme. Click to find other programmes with the same features, but bear in mind tags are also a new addition to the site in 2023 and not many are set up yet.
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