How effectively did Elizabeth I rule England?

This KS3 lesson asks students to evaluate the reasons for Elizabeth I’s successful reign. It will take two lessons to complete. The Power Point leads students through all activities with accompanying resources.

Aims and Objectives:

• To know what type of person Elizabeth was- her personality and skills.
• To understand what problems she faced and how she tackled them.
• To assess how well she dealt with these problems.

After a quick starter using the Armada portrait, students use a collection of sources to learn about Elizabeth’s personality. They then analyse why these aspects made her a successful monarch. We then focus on three key problems and her handling of each of them; Mary Queen of Scots, the Spanish and religion. There are three information sheets on each of these topics. Students complete a summary table explaining how she responded and how successful this was. An SEN cloze version is included (which I’ve also used if short of time- I’ve also divided the class into three and given each group one topic for the same reason). Students finally show their understanding of Elizabeth’s reign through writing a eulogy. This can be set as a homework task.