Wrestling with Stephen and Matilda: planning challenging enquiries to engage Year 7 in medieval anarchy.

In this article, the author discusses her methods in teaching her British Year 7 history students about the conflict between King Stephen of England and Empress Matilda in the mid-12th century, or the Anarchy. Her use of the inquiry method to teach the subject is explained, as is her requirement that students perform speeches arguing whether the period was characterized by true anarchy. Her wish that students would also learn about the origins of King Henry II's reign is also explained.