Significant People

Lesson at a glance

Suitable for: Key stage 1

Time period: Early modern 1485-1750, Empire and Industry 1750-1850

Curriculum topics: Diverse histories, Significant individuals

Suggested inquiry questions: What can we find out about these people and what made them so important?

Potential activities: Complete the worksheets. Design your own worksheets. Which other significant people could we include?

Download: Lesson pack

Key Stage One Activity Book

Throughout history there have been many significant people who have changed the way people live in our country and abroad.

What can we find out about these people and what made them so important?

What items did they leave behind that we can use to find out about their lives?

Here are some tasks on three significant people from History – how much can you find out?


Tasks

1. Look at this desk.

  • Who do you think this desk belongs to?
  • Why might they have been important?

2.  This desk is empty.

  • Who is an important person in your life?
  • Draw what their desk would look like.

Complete the tasks on Queen Elizabeth’s seal and signature.

What can you find out about Captain Cook using the poem?

Can you put the events of James Cook’s life in Order?

Who do you think this person was?

Does the information match your first ideas?

Design a poster for something that matters to you.

What have you discovered? Why were these people important?


Teachers' notes

High-resolution, full page versions of the sources and worksheet pages are available in the full PDF eBook (27.7MB) which you can download as a Lesson PDF at the top of the page.

This workbook was designed by students on the University of Worcester’s Graphic Design course. During their Children’s Book Design module they were given a live brief to create an activity book which focussed on three key people and incorporated archival material. The students were given a shortlist of significant people to choose from as well as biographical information.

The students also visited The National Archives to hear about the curriculum and our requirements. After the students submitted their designs, staff at The National Archives and the University of Worcester amalgamated some of them into the final resource found on this page.


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Lesson at a glance

Suitable for: Key stage 1

Time period: Early modern 1485-1750, Empire and Industry 1750-1850

Curriculum topics: Diverse histories, Significant individuals

Suggested inquiry questions: What can we find out about these people and what made them so important?

Potential activities: Complete the worksheets. Design your own worksheets. Which other significant people could we include?

Download: Lesson pack

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