The Great Fire

Lesson Overview

Subject: History
Year Group: Year 7 (working at Year 2-3 ability)
Lesson Duration: 40 minutes
Curriculum Focus: KS1&2 History - Events Beyond Living Memory
Learning Objective (LO): To explore how the Great Fire of London affected the city and the lives of those who experienced it.

Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes) - Sensory Fire Sounds

Objective: Engage students through a multi-sensory approach to introduce the topic.

• Play crackling fire sounds in the background.
• Dim the lights slightly to create an immersive atmosphere.
• Show a flickering flame visual on the whiteboard (if available).
• Ask:
  • "What does this sound like?"
  • "How would you feel if you saw a big fire?"
• Encourage verbal and non-verbal responses.

2. Main Teaching (10 minutes) - Storytelling with Props

Objective: Introduce the Great Fire of London in an interactive way.

• Use a large storybook or simplified PowerPoint with visuals to narrate the key events (ensure language is simple and clear).
• Use tangible props such as:
  • A small wooden house model (to represent how houses were made of wood)
  • A small candle (not lit) to explain how the fire started
  • A mini leather bucket to discuss how they tried to put out the fire
• Use call-and-response techniques (e.g., "The fire spread because the houses were made of…?" and encourage students to say "Wood!").
• Ensure pauses for comprehension and visual support with images.

3. Practical Activity (15 minutes) - Small-Scale Fire Simulation

Objective: Allow students to understand how the fire spread quickly.

• Create a mini city layout using small paper houses placed closely together.
• Use red and orange tissue paper to show how fire spreads when wind blows.
• Use a hand-held fan to demonstrate how the fire moved through the city.
• Discuss why people were unable to stop the fire.
• Ask:
  • "Why do you think the fire spread so fast?"
  • "What could have helped stop the fire?"

4. Discussion & Reflection (5 minutes) - Impact on People

Objective: Develop empathy by discussing how people felt.

• Show images of London before and after the fire.
• Ask students to describe the changes they see.
• Use emotion cards (happy, sad, scared, surprised) and ask:
  • "How do you think people felt when the fire started?"
  • "How would you feel if you lost your home?"
• Reinforce that this event changed how buildings were made to prevent future disasters.

5. Plenary (5 minutes) - Quickfire Recap with Movement

Objective: Reinforce learning through kinaesthetic engagement.

• Call out statements, and students should:
  • Jump up if they think it’s true
  • Stay seated if they think it’s false
• Example statements:
  • "The fire started in a bakery!" (True – jump up)
  • "People used water hoses to put it out!" (False – stay seated)
  • "Houses were made of stone, so they didn’t burn!" (False – stay seated)
• Praise enthusiasm and participation.

Adaptations & Support

• Visuals and objects used to aid understanding.
• Simplified language and repetition for processing support.
• Movement-based and sensory elements help with focus.
• Checking for understanding through verbal and non-verbal responses.
• Supportive questioning to encourage critical thinking at an accessible level.

Assessment Opportunities

• Observation of student engagement in practical activities.
• Listening to responses in discussion.
• Participation in movement-based plenary activity.

Resources Needed

• Fire crackling sounds/audio device
• Storybook/PowerPoint with pictures
• Wooden house model, candle, leather bucket
• Paper houses, tissue paper, handheld fan
• Emotion cards
• Question & movement game prompts

Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged with the sensory activities?
• Did students demonstrate understanding of why the fire spread?
• Did the movement-based activities help with engagement?
• What adjustments could improve next time?

This lesson blends storytelling, sensory learning, and hands-on exploration to ensure accessibility and engagement for all students. It makes history tangible, memorable, and fun! 🚒🔥