Changing power of the British monarchy

A whole unit of 5 lessons covering the National Curriculum objective of the changing power of the monarchy.

Lesson 1 - King John I and the Magna Carta. Children will learn what King John I was like as a king, why the Magna Carta was introduced and how it limited the power of the monarch.

Lesson 2 - Henry VIII and what he was like as a ruler. Children will learn about his main achievements as king but will also analyse sources to understand more about him as well as bias in sources.

Lesson 3 - Queen Mary I and whether she deserved her title of “Bloody Mary.” Children will learn about how she got her title, about her childhood experiences and draw on sources to decide whether she deserved her title or if she was just misunderstood.

Lesson 4 - King Charles I and how how he caused the abolishment of the monarchy. Children will analyse sources to make predictions about what he was like as a ruler and what happened to him before completing independent research to find out accurate facts. Opportunities to discuss biased sources throughout.

Lesson 5 - the modern monarchy and their power and influence. Children will learn about the current monarchy and how much power and influence they have in modern society. They will then go on to answer the key question of how the power of the monarchy has changed and whether they are still as influential today using all the knowledge they have gained throughout the whole topic.