The Lady with the Lamp

Curriculum Links

Subject: History
Key Stage: 1
Year Group: 2
National Curriculum Link:

• Significant Individuals in History: Understanding the impact of Florence Nightingale on nursing and hospitals.
• Changes Beyond Living Memory: Exploring how healthcare improved due to her work.

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Lesson Objective

By the end of this 20-minute practical lesson, students will:

• Understand who Florence Nightingale was and why she was significant.
• Experience a hands-on, immersive activity that demonstrates how she improved hospitals.
• Engage in an interactive role-play to bring history to life.

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Lesson Structure (20 Minutes)

1. Introduction – Who Was Florence Nightingale? (5 minutes)

• Gather students on the carpet or in a circle.
• Teacher, dressed in a simple shawl/scarf (optional), dramatically whispers: "The soldiers are suffering… but I will fix this!"
• Display an image of Florence Nightingale on a large screen or printed (without her name). Ask: “Who do you think this person is?”
• Give hints: "She helped people. She worked with soldiers. She used a lamp."
• Reveal her name and explain briefly: "She was a nurse who changed hospitals from dirty, unsafe places into clean, healthy ones."
• Explain that today's lesson is hands-on—they will act like Florence Nightingale and help improve a messy hospital!

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2. Role-Play: Transforming the Hospital (10 minutes)

Set Up (Before Lesson Start):

• Scatter paper towels, toy bandages, bowls of (clean) water, and fake cloth "rags" in one area of the classroom.
• Dim the lights slightly to create an old-fashioned hospital feeling.

Activity:

1. "Welcome to the Year 1854 Hospital!" – Explain that when Florence Nightingale arrived, hospitals were very dirty and soldiers were getting sick.
2. Split students into small groups (approx. 5 per group).
3. Assign roles: Some students are "sick soldiers," others are "nurses."
4. Challenge: The "nurses" must quickly make the ‘hospital’ better—clean up the messy area, ‘wash’ bandages, and help the soldiers 'feel better'.
5. Use a real lantern or a small flashlight to represent Florence’s famous lamp. Pick one student to be "Florence Nightingale" and lead the 'nurses' through the hospital.

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3. Wrap-Up Discussion & Quick Reflection (5 minutes)

• Turn the classroom lights back to normal.
• Gather students together and ask:
  • “What did you notice about the hospital before and after?”
  • “How do you think Florence Nightingale felt when she helped soldiers?”
  • “Why do we still remember her today?”
• Emphasise: "Because of Florence Nightingale, hospitals today are clean, safe places."

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe students' engagement in the role-play—do they understand the importance of cleaning and caring?
• Listen to their responses in the discussion—are they making connections to why Florence was important?

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Resources Needed

✅ Printed or displayed image of Florence Nightingale
✅ Toy bandages or strips of fabric
✅ Small bowls of clean water
✅ Paper towels or cloths to clean
✅ Small flashlight or lantern
✅ Shawl/scarf (optional costume for teacher)

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Extension/Next Lesson Ideas

• Sensory Activity: Smelling ‘old hospital’ herbs (e.g., lavender, rosemary—things Florence Nightingale used).
• Comparing Hospitals: Show pictures of hospitals then vs. now, discussing differences.
• Letter from Florence: Teacher reads a ‘pretend’ letter from Florence about her experiences.

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Teacher’s WOW Factor

This lesson offers immersive learning, where students act like history-makers, rather than just listening. It brings Florence Nightingale to life, engaging young minds through touch, sight, role-play, and discussion. A memorable experience for Year 2 that makes history feel real! 🚀