This half term in History, we are learning all about monarchy.
We started our new topic by exploring what a monarch is and identifying some of Britain’s past and present monarchs. The children did a fantastic job remembering Queen Victoria from our previous topic and were excited to share what they already knew. We also discussed our current monarch, King Charles III, and talked about other monarchs from the past, including Queen Elizabeth II.
We then moved on to thinking about what a monarch does. To help us learn more, we became history detectives! The children researched by hunting around the classroom and corridor for information posters. They worked brilliantly to gather facts and wrote down what they had learned, ready to share with their peers. The children discovered that a monarch’s role includes representing the country, meeting important visitors, working with the Prime Minister, and taking part in national celebrations and events.
We finished the lesson by recording our learning and reflecting on the new knowledge we had gained.
Looking Ahead
Next week, we will be learning about the different ways we can find out information about the past. We will explore a range of historical sources including:
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The internet
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Artefacts
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Books
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Diaries
We will also be learning about what life was like during the reign of Queen Victoria, exploring the significant changes that took place during the Victorian era. After that, we will look at what life was like when Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne. The children will compare the two time periods and discuss what changed and what stayed the same.
How You Can Help at Home
You can support your child’s learning in lots of simple and fun ways:
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Talk about the Royal Family and discuss what a monarch does.
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Look at family heirlooms or old photographs and discuss how we learn about the past.
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Visit the library to find books about the Victorians or the monarchy.
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Encourage your child to compare life today with life 100+ years ago (e.g., homes, schools, transport)
We are looking forward to an exciting half term of historical discovery! 👑