This lesson allows students to learn about the main reasons why there had been growing tension between England and Spain during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King Philip II. Students will be able to describe the arguments and issues both sides had with each other and then explain in more depth why these arguments finally led to the Spanish sending the Armada to invade England in 1588. Students will have the opportunity to evaluate which factor led to the most tension between each country and as an outcome, students will be guided through a piece of historical writing about the causes of the Spanish Armada. This single resource contains: 1 x main lesson PowerPoint 1 x A4 differentiated writing frame 1 x BONUS Francis Drake Research/Homework sheet 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will study the role of Matthew Hopkins during the 1640s in England. Students will learn about Hopkins’ background, the methods he used to gain confessions from suspected witches, people’s beliefs about witchcraft and finally explain why Matthew Hopkins was a significant historical figure during the time of the ‘witch craze’ in England in the 1640s. The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and challenge questions for higher ability students. There is a choice of printable resources. The lesson is mainly aimed at KS3 students between the ages of 11-14 but can easily be adapted for younger or older students. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

This lesson provides students with a great selection of activities to help them understand and explain the main causes of the English Civil War in 1642. Students are introduced to the idea of a Civil War and will discuss the role of a parliament in the 1600s. They will then read through a variety of different reasons why King Charles I and parliament argued in the years before 1642 and organise these reasons into economic, religious or political factors. Finally, students will have an opportunity to fully explains the causes of the English Civil War in a piece of extended historical writing before completing a crossword which covers all the main terms from the lesson. The 17-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews as well as engaging background information about King James I and the events which led to the start of the English Civil War. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will learn about the many discoveries of the Scientific Revolution. Students will be able to define what historians mean by the term Scientific Revolution as well as the descriptions of the ‘Age of Faith’, the ‘Age of Reason’ and the ‘Enlightenment’. They will then study the various discoveries of the time and think about which of these discoveries was the most significant. The lesson will help students think about the idea of significance and guide students through the process of completing their own living graph diagram about the discoveries. It will also then guide students through completing an extended piece of writing about the discoveries of the Scientific Revolution. The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and challenge questions for higher ability students. There is a choice of printable resources to suit different ages and abilities. The lesson is mainly aimed at KS3 students between the ages of 11-14 but can easily be adapted for younger or older students. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

This lesson is a great way for students to learn about the causes, key events and consequences of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Students will begin by discussing James I’s background and why there was tensions between the king and the Catholics at the start of his reign. Students will then discuss the idea of terrorism and how far they believe the Gunpowder Plot fits this definition. Students will be given various activities to order the events of the plot and then explain how King James I dealt with Catholics after its failure. Finally, students will be given an opportunity to write a historical account of the events. They will be guided through this with four levelled descriptions. The 20-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews as well as engaging background information about King James I. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will be able to explain the causes of the Great Fire of London as well as the many reasons why the fire was able to spread so quickly over such a large distance. Students will be able to analyse extracts from the diary of Samuel Pepys as well as study illustrations and paintings of the fire to help them understand the impact the fire had on people’s lives. Students will then read information about the fire to help them understand what type of methods were used to fight the fire and the role of individuals such as King Charles II in helping to stop the fire. The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and challenge questions for higher ability students. There is a choice of printable resources to suit different ages and abilities. The lesson is mainly aimed at KS3 students between the ages of 11-14 but can easily be adapted for younger or older students. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will be given all the facts they need to help them fully explain the reasons why Philip II’s Spanish Armada was defeated by the English during the reign of Elizabeth I. Students will be able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of each side using a range of easy to access historical sources, fact sheets and top trump style activities. The lesson will then provide a guide for students to help them complete a piece of extended writing about the reasons for the Spanish defeat. This single resource contains: 1 x main lesson PowerPoint 1 x A4 set of fact sheets 1 x A4 set of differentiated fact sheets 1 x A4 writing frame The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students. 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. Thank you.

This lesson provides an excellent way to introduce students to the era of the Stuart English/Scottish monarchs between 1603 and 1714. Students will learn about the end of the Tudor reign after the death of Elizabeth I and then be given engaging activities to help them complete a timeline of the main Stuart monarchs and seven key events which took place during the reign of the Stuarts. The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews. The outcome will be the completion of a timeline which shows the chronological order of the Stuart Monarchs and the main events of the time. The lesson contains: 1 x Main Power Point (11 slides) 3 x Choice of A4 timeline templates for student to complete using the facts from the main Power Point Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

This lesson provides an excellent introduction to the reign of King James I in England following the death of Elizabeth I. The lesson helps students explain why James VI of Scotland was chosen as the successor to Elizabeth I. Students are then given a range of sources and historical interpretations to form their own opinions about the strengths and weaknesses of King James I. Finally, students will use a fact sheet about James I to help them understand the growing tensions in England between the king and his parliament and religion. The 14-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews as well as engaging background information about King James I. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students look at the fascinating story of what happened to Oliver Cromwell’s head. Students are guided through the key events of Oliver Cromwell’s rule as Lord Protector, his death and the Restoration of King Charles II. Students will then use a fact sheet to help them complete a number of optional tasks including a timeline, storyboard and role play. My students absolutely love this lesson! The 19-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and challenge questions for higher ability students. There is a choice of printable resources. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will be able to understand and then explain the various reasons why there was a so called ‘Age of Exploration’ during the Elizabethan period. Students will be introduced to what little was known about the world by the end of the Medieval period and then discover why so many people began to explore the globe to expand our knowledge of the world. The lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, activities, printable resources, starters and learning reviews. The outcome will be the completion of an extended piece of writing which explains the causes of the ‘Age of Exploration’. The lesson contains: 1 x Main Power Point (15 slides) 1 x Sorting Task/Fact Sheet which covers the main factors that led to an increase in exploration in the 1500s. 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. Thank you.

This lesson provides students with a range of resources to help them decide if Oliver Cromwell should be labelled a ‘Hero’ or a ‘Monster’. Students will be provided with easy-to-follow facts about Cromwell which they have to categorise into ‘hero’ or ‘monster’. They will also examine a range of historical sources about Cromwell and evaluate the reliability and usefulness of them. There is also an opportunity for students to complete an extended piece of writing to demonstrate their knowledge of the arguments on both sides before they give their own opinion about Oliver Cromwell. The 18-slide lesson contains a variety of discussion tasks, warm up start activities, printable resources, and learning reviews as well as engaging background information and historical sources about Oliver Cromwell. Please be kind enough to leave a review of this lesson if you have found it effective. Thank you. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will be able to understand and explain the main challenges faced by Elizabeth I as she came to the throne in 1558. Students will take part in a problem solving activity and have to select which solution Elizabeth should take in order to keep her reign of England secure. The challenges featured in this lesson include: the economy, Mary, Queen of Scots, marriage, poverty and religion. Students play the role of one of Queen Elizabeth’s advisors to try and make sure Elizabeth deals with these problems effectively. The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will learn about Henry VIII’s ‘Dissolution of the Monasteries’ in 1536. They will be able to explain the reasons why Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and use a variety of sources to investigate the greed, corruption and poor behaviour that existed in the monasteries by the early 1500s. Students will then write a letter to Henry VIII outlining and analysing their findings about the monasteries. Included in this lesson pack: 1 x main lesson powerpoint 1 x A4 printable report 1 x A4 printable table for the source analysis The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will be able to describe the various features of Queen Elizabeth’s Religious Settlement and explain why and how Elizabeth I attempted to seek a ‘Middle Way’ between the Catholic and Protestant Churches at the start of her reign in 1558. Students will learn about the changes introduced by the Religious Settlement and why they were so important at the time. The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will be able to explain the reasons why Queen Elizabeth I signed the death warrant for her cousin, Mary, Queen of Scots. Students will first learn about why Mary, Queen of Scots was a threat to Elizabeth’s power. They will then analyse a painting of Mary, Queen of Scots’ execution before being able to understand the reasons for and against Elizabeth ordering her execution. The lesson includes one main power point lesson as well as a fact sheet about the events leading up to the execution and a blank timeline. The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will learn about the early life of Elizabeth I as a princess growing up in the royal household. The lesson will cover the type of lessons she excelled in at school, her education at home and her relationship with her family. Students will be able to complete a number of activities to demonstrate their knowledge of Princess Elizabeth’s education such as writing a school report for her. The lesson includes a number of activities which can be adapted to students of all ages, two fact sheets, starter and learning review tasks and a number of other discussion questions. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students will explore a number of portraits of Queen Elizabeth I and use them to explain why portraits were so important to Queen Elizabeth and other Tudor monarchs. Students will have the opportunity to analyse the features and details of some of Elizabeth’s famous portraits to gain an understanding of their symbolism and how Elizabeth used them as a form of propaganda. The lesson contains plenty of activities, printable resources, starter and plenary tasks, engaging background information and discussion points for both high and lower ability students. 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. Thank you.

In this lesson, students have the opportunity to use a range of historical sources and the views of historians to decide how far Queen Mary I of England deserved the nickname ‘Bloody Mary’. The lesson includes: A range of starter and learning review tasks Engaging background information about the reign of Mary I A link to a great ‘Bloody Britain’ documentary about Mary I with a worksheet for students to complete while they watch A Source sheet gives a variety of written and visual opinions about Mary I An opportunity for students to complete their own summary about their view UPDATE 2023: Please note that all images (clipart/vector/illustrations/photographs) are in the public domain and are therefore classed as Creative Commons 1.0 unless otherwise attributed in the notes section of each slide. If you believe there are any errors, please email me directly in the first instance to resolve the issue.

This lesson first allows students to explore the many stereotypes about Henry VIII and then study four historical sources and sour historical interpretations which may challenge these stereotypes. The lesson particularly examines the younger years of King Henry VIII. The lesson includes a starter task which explores the idea of stereotypes. Students are then given brief background information about Henry VIII’s youth. Students are then presented with a variety of sources and interpretations to use as part of a group or individual exercise whereby they infer information about Henry VIII from them. As well as all of the resources needed, you will also get 2 x A4 printable worksheets for students to write their responses on. UPDATE 2023: Please note that all images (clipart/vector/illustrations/photographs) are in the public domain and are therefore classed as Creative Commons 1.0 unless otherwise attributed in the notes section of each slide. If you believe there are any errors, please email me directly in the first instance to resolve the issue.