Lesson(s) that could follow on from English Civil War topic. Students are introduced to the idea of putting a King on trial, the main activity is then to recreate the trial, which has been divided up into 5 scenes. Students will need time to rehearse, make props and even learn lines - although I always let them use the scripts! Students then watch the whole play and fill in observer forms to put together the whole picture. Students can then decide/debate whether Charles ever had the opportunity of a fair trial. The lesson continues with Charles’ execution, a worksheet to complete using source analysis and a creative final task.

Introduction to and investigation into the destruction of Pompeii in 79 C.E. Straight forward carousel activity (print the instruction sheets and create four information stations for students to visit, they make a record of new information in their books). The instructions are differentiated into ‘must’, ‘should’ and ‘could’, but all tasks should introduce students to new and interesting information.