This term in History, Year Two have been learning about two British monarchs: Henry VIII and Elizabeth II. They started by learning that a monarchy is a form of government where one person, called a monarch, is in charge. They then found out that a monarch is a king or a queen.
The boys and girls started by learning about Henry VIII. They learned about his family tree and identified that he became the king after both his father and his older brother died. The children also learned that Henry had six wives and completed a fact file to show how his marriage to each wife ended. They learned a rhyme to help them remember – divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. The boys and girls were very surprised to find out that Henry VIII was allowed to chop people’s heads off! Next, the children found out what Henry VIII liked to eat. He enjoyed eating delicious foods such as game pie and jellies, while his servants would have eaten mutton and bread. The children decided that Henry VIII’s diet was not very healthy because it was very high in fat and sugar.
The children then completed a family tree for Elizabeth II. They found out that she had four children and that they became heirs to the throne. Next, Year Two compared Henry VIII and Elizabeth II. They found out that although they were very different in many ways they did have some similarities. These included the fact that they were both the head of the Church of England and that they are both buried in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Finally, the children looked at how the line of succession has changed over time. They found out that Henry VIII’s youngest child, Edward VI became king after Henry because he was a boy. The boys and girls learned that the rules of succession have now changed and that Charles III therefore succeeded Elizabeth II because he was her oldest child, not because he was male.
Article 28: We all have the right to a good quality education
