Tudors: Image of a King

Lesson at a glance

Suitable for: Key stage 2

Time period: Early modern 1485-1750

Curriculum topics: Changing power of monarchs, Renaissance and Reformation, Significant individuals, Tudors

Suggested inquiry questions: How did monarchs present an ‘image’ of themselves in the past?

Potential activities: Investigate the document using the videos. Try to replicate one of the images of Henry. Colour in the colouring sheets. Create your own image of Henry VIII as a young or older King. Create an image of yourself as a Monarch in the style of a young or older Henry VIII. Recreate the parchment by scrunching up and tea staining a piece of paper.

How did monarchs present an ‘image’ of themselves in the past?

Welcome to episode two of Time Travel TV! This time we will be exploring an intriguing document showing a very famous monarch, but who is it and what hidden messages does it contain?


Tasks

Part One

Look very carefully at the mystery document and think about what you can see. You might have printed the image out so you can circle things that you spot. Or you can write or draw your ideas.

Part Two

Historians (people who study history) investigate documents a bit like we have– they collect the evidence from the document and then start making suggestions about what this evidence can tell us. We too can work like historians! Have a go at using the evidence we’ve collected to suggest some ideas about who this person is and what all the details represent.

Part Three

Time to find out what this document is, who it is connected to and what all the details represent!

Additional documents to investigate:

Take a look at the documents and use the questions to investigate them.

  • What can you see in the image?
  • Who do you think it is in the centre? How do you know?
  • What words would you use to describe him in this picture?
  • Why do you think he has chosen to show himself in this way?

Read the information about this document. Do you think this image shows Henry as a strong King, in control of his country? Why/ why not?

Which document, the Plea Roll or the Valour Ecclesiasticus is the best at showing Henry as a powerful King? Why do you think this?

Have a look at the other Plea Roll (KB27-1119). It dates to 1541 when Henry VIII was 50 years old. Compare it to the earlier Plea Roll image. What are the similarities and differences?

Follow-up activities

  • Try to replicate one of the images of Henry. You could just pick out an element of the image to draw like the Tudor Rose or one of the other people or creatures in the image.
  • Colour in our Henry VIII colouring sheets
  • Create your own image of Henry VIII as a young or older King.
  • Create an image of yourself as a Monarch in the style of a young or older Henry VIII
  • You could try to recreate the parchment by scrunching up a piece of paper first. Ask an adult to help you dye the paper with a tea bag. Leaving to dry before creating your own Tudor document.


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Lesson at a glance

Suitable for: Key stage 2

Time period: Early modern 1485-1750

Curriculum topics: Changing power of monarchs, Renaissance and Reformation, Significant individuals, Tudors

Suggested inquiry questions: How did monarchs present an ‘image’ of themselves in the past?

Potential activities: Investigate the document using the videos. Try to replicate one of the images of Henry. Colour in the colouring sheets. Create your own image of Henry VIII as a young or older King. Create an image of yourself as a Monarch in the style of a young or older Henry VIII. Recreate the parchment by scrunching up and tea staining a piece of paper.

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Key Stage One Activity Book