Era of Victoria

Unit: Queens of England: A Journey

Lesson 3 of 5
Duration: 60 minutes
Class: Reception (EYFS) and KS1 mixed group (10 students)
Location: Selside C of E Primary School
Subject: History

National Curriculum Links

Key Stage 1 - History

Pupils should be taught to:
- Know about events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally (NC KS1 History Programme of Study)
- Learn about the lives of significant individuals in the past (Queen Victoria as an important historical figure)
- Understand changes within living memory and significant historical events (Victorian era, British Empire expansion)

EYFS Development Matters – Understanding the World

Past and Present: Talk about the lives of people around them and significant people in history in simple terms
Communication and Language: Use relevant vocabulary to talk about past and present events

Learning Objectives (I can statements)

I can recall facts about Queen Victoria’s life and reign.
I can describe one major change that happened during Queen Victoria’s era.
I can sort true and false statements about Queen Victoria.

Success Criteria

I can say one important thing Queen Victoria did or what life was like during her time.
I can confidently decide if a statement about Queen Victoria’s reign is true or false with support.
(KS1) I can write a sentence about Victorian life using sentence frames provided.

Resources

Large picture timeline (including Queen Victoria’s reign dates)
Simple factsheets/pictures about Queen Victoria and Victorian Britain
‘Truth Detector’ cards with true/false statements (e.g. "Queen Victoria became queen at age 18", "The British Empire shrank during her reign")
Whiteboards and markers or printed sheets for KS1 sentence writing
Poster-making materials: paper, crayons, markers, Victorian images
Sentence frames for SEN/mixed ability support (e.g. "Queen Victoria was ______.", "During her time, people ______.")

Lesson Structure

1. Welcome and Connect (5 minutes)

Briefly recap previous lessons on Queens of England to anchor knowledge.
Show a picture of Queen Victoria; ask children what they know or think about her. (Engage EYFS and KS1 orally with simple questions)

2. Story Introduction: Queen Victoria’s Life (10 minutes)

Share a child-friendly story about Queen Victoria’s life: her early years, becoming queen at 18, and time on the throne.
Highlight key Victorian era changes linked to children’s experience, e.g., invention of trains, children going to school, or Queen Victoria as a symbol of the empire expanding.
Use a large timeline visual to place Queen Victoria in history.

3. Interactive Whole-Class Activity: ‘Truth Detector’ Game (15 minutes)

Explain the activity: The class will listen to statements about Queen Victoria and decide if they are true or false using “Truth” and “False” signs or cards.
Read each statement aloud; invite a volunteer or pairs (mixed EYFS and KS1) to hold up the correct sign.
Discuss why the answer is right or wrong, reinforcing facts and correcting misconceptions.

4. Guided Group Work: Sentence Frames and Poster Creation (20 minutes)

EYFS: Provide picture cards and simple sentence frames to express one fact learned. Adults support writing or oral expression.
KS1: Using sentence frames (e.g., “Queen Victoria was important because…”, “During her reign, people...” ) write 1-2 sentences about Victorian life or Queen Victoria.
All children work on a visual poster highlighting one aspect of Victorian life (e.g., transport, clothing, school, British Empire).
Use multi-sensory materials for poster making to engage all learners, including SEN.

5. Sharing and Reflection (7 minutes)

Each child or pair presents their poster or sentence to the class, practising speaking and listening skills.
Teacher reiterates key facts about Queen Victoria’s era, praising all efforts.

6. Plenary and Success Check (3 minutes)

Ask children to share one thing they remember about Queen Victoria or Victorian life.
Refer back success criteria; use thumbs up/down or emojis to self-assess understanding.

Differentiation Strategies

SEN / Low Ability: Use sentence frames, visuals, adult support, and oral responses rather than writing. Frequent positive reinforcement to build confidence.
EYFS children: Focus on listening, talking, and creative poster work with adult scaffolding.
KS1 mixed ability: Allow more advanced learners to write extended sentences or include an extra fact on their poster.
Use peer support with mixed ages to encourage social learning and collaboration.

Extension Activity (For Advanced Learners)

Research and include a fact about Queen Victoria’s impact on children or the British Empire’s global reach, then share with the class.
Design a small Victorian-style souvenir (drawing, small craft) to add to their poster as a “mini museum” exhibit.

Assessment

Ongoing formative assessment through observation during ‘Truth Detector’ game and guided sentence tasks.
Evaluate understanding by listening to children’s presentations and their ability to explain one major change from Victoria’s era.
Use self-assessment thumbs or emoji feedback in plenary to gauge confidence levels.

Reflection for Next Lesson

Plan to deepen understanding of Victorian inventions impacting daily life.
Consider using more outdoor or practical activities like role-play Victorian school or a simple artifact handling session.
Continue differentiated supports especially for writing tasks to enhance confidence and independence.

Notes for Teacher

Encourage curiosity through questioning ("Why do you think Queen Victoria was important?" "How do you think children’s lives changed?")
Link to local history where possible (e.g., Victorian buildings in Kendal) to make learning relevant.
Use Rosenshine’s principles: start with clear objectives, provide scaffolding (sentence frames), check for understanding, and give cumulative review next lessons.

This lesson plan balances historical facts introduction with interactive and creative elements tailored to mixed ages and abilities in a nurturing, small rural school setting. It aligns explicitly with the National Curriculum and supports development of both knowledge and skills in History for Reception and KS1.

Teaching Instructions