Elizabeth II's Reign

National Curriculum Links

History KS1:

• Pupils should develop an awareness of the past, using common words and phrases relating to the passing of time
• Know where the people and events they study fit within a chronological framework
• Identify differences between ways of life at different times
• Ask and answer questions, choosing and using parts of stories and other sources to show understanding of key features

(History Programme of Study, Key Stage 1 – Department for Education, England)

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Learning Objectives

I can:

• Talk about important events during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
• Compare Queen Elizabeth II’s time as Queen to a previous queen we have studied.
• Put key events of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign in order on a timeline.
• Share my ideas about what makes a modern monarch.

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Success Criteria

• I can explain one way Queen Elizabeth II’s reign is different from another queen’s reign.
• I can describe at least three key events or changes that happened during Queen Elizabeth II’s time.
• I can place events in the right order on a timeline.
• I can explain my thoughts about Queen Elizabeth II in a short letter format.

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Resources Needed

• Large printed pictures of Queen Elizabeth II and the Queen previously studied (e.g., Queen Victoria or Elizabeth I)
• Timeline template (large paper with blank boxes)
• Picture cards with key events (e.g., coronation, London Olympics, Diamond Jubilee)
• Storybook or simple biography of Queen Elizabeth II (age-appropriate)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Writing materials: lined and unlined paper, pencils, crayons
• Paired discussion prompt cards
• Visual aids showing society changes (technology, communication, fashion, education)

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Lesson Structure (60 minutes)

1. Engage and Recall (10 minutes)

• Welcome and briefly revisit last lesson’s queen. Use a small quiz or flashcards to recapitulate key facts.
• Show picture of Queen Elizabeth II and ask the class what they already know about her (draw out any connections to themselves and modern life, e.g., TV, coins).
• Share a brief story or video clip (3-4 mins) highlighting key moments in Elizabeth II’s reign, using age-appropriate language.

2. Explore: Differences and Changes (15 minutes)

• Use a paired discussion approach: students work in pairs (Reception paired with KS1 for support).
• Provide prompt cards with simple questions:
  • “How is Queen Elizabeth II different from the queen we learnt about before?”
  • “What things have changed in the world since she became queen?”
• Use visual aids to show changes in society (old phones → smartphones, traditional clothes → modern clothes, school in the past → now).
• Circulate and support students to formulate simple sentences comparing queens, encouraging full sentences and key vocabulary.

3. Create: Timeline Activity (20 minutes)

• Introduce the timeline template. Demonstrate putting a few events in order (coronation, 2000s London Olympics, Diamond Jubilee).
• Give students picture cards of key Elizabeth II events. Students place pictures on their own or group timeline under support. Reception children can place pictures while KS1 record short captions with help.
• Encourage students to explain why they think the order is correct (encourages reasoning and speaking).

4. Reflect and Write (10 minutes)

• Advanced learners write a short letter to Queen Elizabeth II sharing a thought or question about her reign ("Dear Queen Elizabeth, I like when you...").
• Reception and SEN learners draw a picture of Queen Elizabeth II and say one thing they learned (with adult scribing if needed).
• Use sentence starters on the board: “I think Queen Elizabeth II is...” / “One difference is...”

5. Plenary: Share and Celebrate (5 minutes)

• Invite pairs or individuals to share their timeline or letter drawing. Praise all contributions and emphasise the changes queens bring over time.
• Recap learning objectives using “I can…” statements on board.

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Differentiation

• Paired discussions mixed EYFS & KS1 support expression and confidence.
• Picture prompts and sentence starters for pupils with speech & language needs.
• SEN learners can express learning orally or through art rather than writing.
• Advanced learners challenge: Write full letter using conjunctions (and, because) and extended vocabulary.

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Extension Activity

• Children who finish early or want more challenge write a mini ‘diary entry’ imagining they are a child living during part of Elizabeth II’s reign (e.g., at a royal event).
• KS1 learners may research or bring in an object connected to Queen Elizabeth II or modern Britain to share next lesson.

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Notes for Teacher

• Use Rosenshine’s principles by:
  • Beginning with a brief review to activate prior knowledge.
  • Presenting key information in small steps with visuals.
  • Modelling timeline placement and letter writing.
  • Allowing students to verbalise and explain their thinking through paired talk.
  • Circulating to scaffold learning for SEN pupils and those less confident.
• Encourage the ‘whole child’ approach by valuing all forms of communication (drawing, speaking, writing) and nurturing curiosity about history’s relevance today.
• Given the mixed ages and abilities, flexible grouping is key—EYFS supported by Year 1 or 2 peers, reinforcing social and emotional skills alongside history learning.

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This lesson will help young learners appreciate how Queen Elizabeth II shaped modern Britain and encourage personal connections with history through language, creativity, and critical thinking.