Teacher Toolkit
Background
There is no mention of an Eisteddfod as we know it today before the year 1176. At that time a meeting was held at Cardigan Castle under the patronage of The Lord Rhys, one of the princes of Deheubarth (Southern Region). There is then little mention of an Eisteddfod for some centuries.
The first time the Eisteddfod united with the Gorsedd was in Carmarthen in 1819. From then on Eisteddfodau were held regularly and it earned its place in the heart of Welsh people.
In 1860 it was decided to hold one large Eisteddfod every year, and the first National Eisteddfod was held at Aberdare in 1861. The National Eisteddfod has been held continuously since 1880 apart from the war years in 1914 and 1940 and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
Posted: 03-11-2022
Possible questions to discuss
- What type of festival is the Eisteddfod?
- How is the Eisteddfod different to other festivals?
- How would this years programme be different to the one in 1861?
Activity ideas
- Create a timeline of the major events in the Eisteddfod’s history.
- Create a design for this year's Eisteddfod promgramme cover.
Learning experiences
(derived from the statements of what matters)
Humanities
- Understanding the past
- Interpret sources and information
- Social and cultural importance
- Identity
- Similarity and social differentiation
- Changes over time
Languages, Literacy and Communication
- Language and belonging
- Listen and understand
- Read words and text
- Using imagination
Expressive Arts
- Understand context in creative works
- Convey ideas
- Exploring purpose and meaning
- Develop and refine designs
