Y1/2 (B): Lesson 2: Who is our monarch today?

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Y1/2 (B): Lesson 2: Who is our monarch today?

Learning objective

To explore coronations by acting out the ceremony.

Success criteria

I can explain how and when someone becomes a monarch.
I can identify steps in the coronation ceremony.
I can explain the use of special objects in a coronation.

National curriculum

History

The National curriculum for history aims to ensure that all pupils:

Know and understand the history of these islands as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day: how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world.
Gain and deploy a historically grounded understanding of abstract terms such as ‘empire’, ‘civilisation’, ‘parliament’ and ‘peasantry’.
Gain historical perspective by placing their growing knowledge into different contexts, understanding the connections between local, regional, national and international history; between cultural, economic, military, political, religious and social history; and between short- and long-term timescales.

Pupils should be taught about:

Changes within living memory. Where appropriate, these should be used to reveal aspects of change in national life.

See National curriculum – History – Key stages 1 and 2.

Cross-curricular links

Thematic links

Explore other units related to this topic:

Year 1/2 (A): Citizenship

Understanding rules, roles and similarities and differences between people.

Curriculum links

English

Spoken language

Pupils should be taught to:

Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play/improvisations and debates.

See National curriculum – English - Key stages 1 and 2.

British values

Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

See Promoting fundamental British values as part of SMSC in schools (non-statutory advice).

Before the lesson

Watch

Teacher video: Monarchy

Lesson plan

1: Recap and recall

Put the children in pairs and show the Presentation: Which role?

Presentation: Which role?

Make presentation full-screen

Ask the children to discuss with their partner which role of the monarch is hidden under each coloured splat, rehearsing the action and naming each role. Take feedback, then click to reveal the images.

2: Attention grabber

Remind the children that the monarch today is King Charles III. He is the 62nd British monarch to serve over the past 1,200 years.

Open the link: Kapow Primary timeline and select the 21st century timeline. For clarity, use the filters button at the top left to unselect all features and then tick ‘monarchs’ and ‘King Charles III’.

Click on the blue dots to show that Charles became King on 8 September 2022 when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died.

Explain that when a monarch dies, their eldest child becomes the new monarch. In the past, it would have been the eldest son; today, the crown passes to the eldest child, regardless of gender (see Teacher knowledge).

3: Main event

1. Show slide 1 of the Presentation: The coronation.

Presentation: The coronation

Make presentation full-screen

Talking in pairs, ask the children to discuss how the pictures are the same or different. Take feedback. The children may suggest:

In both pictures, a crown is being placed on the monarch’s head.
Both monarchs are sitting down.
Both are wearing special clothes.
One is a king, one is a queen.
One is a photo, one is a painting.

2. Tell the children that both images are showing a coronation (a special religious ceremony where a new king or queen is crowned in front of many people). Reveal the text to show that the first image is of King Charles in 2023 and the second of Queen Victoria in 1838.

3. Show slide 2 and explain that all coronations take place at Westminster Abbey in London. Click on the arrow to reveal more information.

4. Use slides 3–7 to share information about each part of the ceremony (the oath, the anointing, the investing, the crowning and the procession).

5. Ask the class:

What is a coronation? (A special religious ceremony where a new king or queen is crowned.)
Where do coronations take place? (Westminster Abbey.)
Why did King Charles III need a coronation? (It is a religious ceremony to show that he is King and Head of the Church.)
What other changes might happen when we have a new monarch? (Some of the changes include: new coins, notes and updated postage stamps will feature the monarch’s image and the words in the British National Anthem will change from ‘God save the Queen’ to ‘God save the King’. The royal cypher, or initials, on new post boxes will also change.)

6. Hand out the Activity: Coronation scenes to each child. Invite the children to draw a picture to represent each stage of the coronation ceremony. Refer back to the Presentation: The coronation to support.

4: Wrapping up

Pair the children again, one to take the role of the King and the other of the Archbishop of Canterbury. Call out the first stage of the coronation ceremony (the oath) and invite the children to act it out. Ask them which stage comes next to help practise the names, before acting it out. Complete each stage and finish with a whole-class procession to celebrate.

To explore coronations by acting out the ceremony.

I can explain how and when someone becomes a monarch.
I can identify steps in the coronation ceremony.
I can explain the use of special objects in a coronation.

anointing
Archbishop of Canterbury
ceremony
coronation
crowning
oath
orb
procession
sceptre

Using the extended display mode will allow you to view your lesson plan on one screen, while displaying presentation mode on the other.

Follow this guide or watch our explainer video to extend your display.

Use presentation mode

Adaptive teaching

Pupils needing extra support

Could use the Presentation: The coronation to remind them of each stage of the ceremony.
Could act out each stage and take photos, using the captions on the activity sheet for support.

Pupils working at greater depth

Could explain which part of the ceremony they think is most special and why.
Could describe how the monarch might feel during their coronation ceremony.

Assessing progress and understanding

Pupils with a secure understanding can:

Explain that a king or queen is crowned in a special ceremony called a coronation.
Name some of the main steps in the coronation ceremony.
Explain the use of special objects in the coronation.

Pupils working at greater depth can:

Describe some of the main steps in the coronation ceremony.
Explain how a king or queen might feel during the coronation.

Vocabulary definitions

anointing

To make someone king or queen as part of a religious ceremony using oil.
Archbishop of Canterbury

The leader of the Church of England.
ceremony

A special or important event.
coronation

A special ceremony where a new king or queen is crowned.
crowning

When a crown is placed on a new king or queen’s head.
oath

A special promise.
orb

A special object, part of the crown jewels.
procession

A number of people or vehicles moving forward as part of a ceremony.
sceptre

A special object which is part of the crown jewels.

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In this unit

Assessment - History Y1/2 (B): What is a monarch?

Y1/2 (B): Lesson 1: What is a monarch?

Y1/2 (B): Who is our monarch today?

Y1/2 (B): Lesson 3: How did William the Conqueror become King of England?

Y1/2 (B): Lesson 4: How did William the Conqueror rule?

Y1/2 (B): Lesson 5: How did castles change?

Y1/2 (B): Lesson 6: What was a monarch in the past?

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Maintained by: Kapow Primary team

Last update: 27th March, 2026