Y1/2 (B): Lesson 6: What was a monarch in the past?
Describing how the monarchy has changed.
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Learning objective
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To evaluate how the monarchy has changed.
Success criteria
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I can describe what kind of monarch William the Conqueror was.
I can compare the monarchy in the past to the monarchy today.
I can recognise that the monarchy has changed.
Before the lesson
Check all images, videos, links and presentation slides are suitable for your class.
- Presentation: What was a monarch in the past?
- Presentation: Comparing monarchs.
Blank paper (optional – see Main event).
- The Resource: Knowledge organiser: History - What is a monarch? (optional – see Adaptive teaching).
- Link:Assessment – History Y2: What is a monarch? (optional – see Wrapping up).
Subject knowledge
Absolute monarchy and constitutional monarchy
In the past, the UK was an absolute monarchy, which meant the king or queen had all the power to make decisions. However, they did not have power over the Church, which was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. After 1534, the monarch became Head of the Church of England and was in charge of religious decisions.
Today, the UK is a constitutional monarchy; decisions are made in parliament. For details of the role of the monarch today, see the Teacher video: Monarchy.
Lesson plan
Tell the class that they will watch a video and as it is playing, they will take turns with their partner to say as many facts as they can about castles, holding up one finger for each fact.
Take feedback, correct any misconceptions.
Show the Presentation: What was a monarch in the past? and discuss the questions below.
Questions
- Who is in the image? (William the Conqueror.)
- What is happening in the image? (It is his coronation.)
- Which part of the coronation is it? (The crowning, when a crown is placed on a new king or queen's head.)
Explain that William the Conqueror’s Coronation took place on Christmas Day in 1066 at Westminster Abbey.
1. Display slide 1 of the Presentation: Comparing monarchs, which shows the coronations of William the Conqueror and Charles III.
Remind the children that William the Conqueror was a powerful monarch. He made important decisions without needing permission from others. He introduced new rules and made people pay taxes (money) to keep their land. Ask the class:
- What has stayed the same over time (the continuity)? (We still have a king or queen and coronations.)
- How have monarchs changed? (In the past, the king or queen had all the power to make decisions. Now, the monarch is the Head of State, but Parliament, which includes the House of Commons and House of Lords, makes the decisions.)
2. Show slide 2, read each adjective aloud and check the children understand their meaning.
3. Ask the children which of the words best describe William the Conqueror (answers could include: greedy, brave, powerful, strict).
4. Invite the children to close their eyes for a moment and imagine the perfect monarch, thinking about what kind of person would make a good king or queen. Allow a minute for partner talk to share ideas before taking feedback.
5. Choose one of the words from the slide and ask the children to vote for whether their monarch should 'always', 'sometimes' or 'never' act in that way. Take feedback and drag the word to the appropriate column.
6. Repeat with the remaining adjectives. Use the pen tool to add any other suggestions the children may give.
7. Talking in pairs or small groups, invite the children to complete the sentence 'I would like my monarch to be... '. Take feedback.
Optional: invite the children to write or draw how they would like their monarch to be. Remind them to think about the role of the monarch today, as seen in Lesson 1: What is a monarch?.
Return to slide 1 of the Presentation: Comparing monarchs. Ask the children to choose whether they prefer the monarchy of the past or present. Vote by standing/sitting or cheering for each of the monarchs.
Optional: provide each child with the Quiz - pupil answer sheet and display the Unit quiz (see link: Assessment - History Y2: What is a monarch?). Read each question aloud and allow the children time to answer. Reveal the answers and ask them to self/peer mark their answer sheets.
If pupils completed the Skills catcher in Lesson 1, they can revisit them and add new information in a different colour.
Full-screen slides, ready for your classroom, chosen by you.
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To evaluate how the monarchy has changed.
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