Henry VIII and his Six Wives

Teach Henry VIII KS2 with confidence

Few figures in British history capture children's interest quite like Henry VIII. This engaging Henry VIII KS2 scheme of work takes Year 3/4 children beyond the famous story of his six wives to explore why Henry made the decisions he did and how his marriages affected England, religion and the Tudor succession.

Across seven lessons, children investigate Henry VIII and each of his six wives while developing important historical enquiry skills. They use portraits and written accounts as evidence, make inferences, explore cause and consequence, consider different reasons for historical events and distinguish between what historians can know with confidence and what remains uncertain. Along the way, children build their understanding of key concepts including monarch, heir, succession, authority, political alliance and regent.

Whether you're looking for Henry VIII KS2 planning, engaging lessons about the Tudors or a complete Henry VIII history topic for Year 3/4, this ready-to-teach scheme provides everything you need.

Why teach Henry VIII and his six wives?

Henry VIII's marriages provide an accessible and memorable way for children to investigate an important period of British history beyond 1066. Rather than simply learning the names and fates of the six wives, children explore the reasons behind Henry's marriages and consider their wider consequences.

Through this unit, children investigate questions such as:

• What can historical sources tell us about Henry VIII?
• Why was Henry so determined to have a male heir?
• How did Henry's wish to marry Anne Boleyn help lead to religious change in England?
• Why was the birth of Edward important to the Tudor succession?
• How did politics and personal feelings influence Henry's marriages?
• How certain can historians be about what happened in the past?

By the end of the scheme, children will have developed a stronger understanding of Henry VIII's reign while also learning to think critically about evidence, historical claims, similarities and differences, causes, consequences and significance.

What children will learn

By completing this Henry VIII KS2 scheme of work, children will learn to:

• use portraits and written accounts as historical sources
• use evidence to make inferences about Henry VIII
• explain why Henry wanted to end his marriage to Catherine of Aragon
• understand the importance of a male heir and the Tudor succession
• explore how Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn contributed to religious change in England
• explain why Jane Seymour and the birth of Edward were important to the Tudor dynasty
• investigate how political alliances and personal feelings influenced Henry's marriage to Anne of Cleves
• distinguish between accusations, claims and events that can be established with greater certainty
• explore Catherine Parr's education, religious beliefs and role as regent
• compare Henry VIII's six marriages and make supported historical judgements

What's included?

This complete Henry VIII KS2 History scheme of work includes everything you need to teach an engaging Year 3/4 History topic. The 7 fully-planned lessons include: 

• easy-to-follow lesson plans
  
• whole-class teaching slides
• differentiated worksheets and activities for adaptive teaching
• alternative Fancy Something Different...? activities
• historical source material and investigation activities
• event, information and discussion cards
• family tree and succession activities
  
• assessment questions for every lesson
• a Henry VIII and his Six Wives Knowledge Organiser