GCSE History Edexcel: Henry VIII - The Impact of the Dissolution of the Monasteries (Lesson 24)

In this lesson, students will be able to explain the impact and consequences of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. They will also identify which groups benefitted from the closure of the monasteries and which groups lost out. The lesson is suited for or could easily be adapted for students aged 12-16

This is a fully resourced lesson which includes a printable fact sheet as well as worksheets, discussion tasks, engaging background information, warm up tasks and learning reviews.

The downloaded lesson includes the following:
1x A4 printout worksheet of Task 1
1x A4 printout worksheet of Tasks 2 & 3

1x main Power Point:
Slide 1: Title slide – The Impact of the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Slide 2: Main Lesson Aims
Slide 3: As You Enter Warm Up 1: What is happening in the illustration showing the dissolution of the monasteries?
Slide 4: As You Enter Warm Up 2: What can you learn from this photograph (the ruins of an abbey in North Yorkshire)
Slide 5-7: Recap Activity: What were the reasons for Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Includes a higher and lower ability version with answers given.
Slide 8-9: Starter Task: Winner or Losers? Students have to guess which groups/individuals would benefit or not from the dissolution. Answers given.
Slide 10: Starter Task 2: Source analysis from a speech made by Robert Aske about the value of the monasteries.
Slide 11: Task 1: Students use the A4 worksheet included in the resource to identify which groups benefitted and which groups lost out after the dissolution of the monasteries.
Slide 12: Task 2: Students place each group on a scale of ‘winners’ and ‘losers’. This is also available as an A4 printable sheet.
Slide 13: Task 3: Using a table provided, students outline how society was impacted by the closure of the monasteries.
Slide 14: Follow Up Challenge Questions.
Slide 15: Example exam questions.
Slide 16: Learning Review Activity
Slide 27: Lesson Fact Sheet

I would be grateful if you could leave a review for the lesson if you feel the lesson is effective for you. Many thanks if you spend some of your valuable time doing this as feedback is highly valued.

All images used in this lesson are in the public domain and are therefore copyright free at the time of publishing. Images which require attribution have been attributed in the notes section of each slide where the image appears. If you feel any errors have been made, please contact me at raschoolresources@gmail.com in the first instance to resolve any issues. My lessons are completed using PowerPoint and designed on widescreen formatting. Thank you.