What's included in The Gunpowder Plot History at Home resource and why is it useful?

KS1 The Gunpowder Plot History at Home is a one-page activity sheet to send home to parents and carers at the start of the topic. It includes what children will be learning, great conversation starters, ideas to try at home, famous figures to explore and places to find out more, covering why the Gunpowder Plot happened, who was involved and why we still remember it on Bonfire Night.

What's on the sheet?

Learning: why the plot happened and who was involved, how the plotters planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament, what life was like in London in 1605 and why we remember it on Bonfire Night.

Conversation starters: questions such as "Why do we still celebrate Bonfire Night today?" and "Do you think the plotters were right to feel angry at the king?"

Ideas to try at home: a timeline challenge, a Bonfire Night safety poster, comparing London in 1605 with today and talking about peaceful protest.

Famous figures: Guy Fawkes, Robert Catesby, King James I and Anne Vaux, with dates and a line on each.

Books and websites: The Gunpowder Plot by Gillian Clements, BBC Bitesize and the Historic Royal Palaces website.

How do our History at Home resources work?

Our History at Home resources sit alongside our history scheme. Send them home to parents and carers at the start of each topic to promote learning at home without it being a taxing homework-style resource. They also help parents build their own knowledge of the topic, so they can connect with what their child is learning in school.

Teach the full unit with our six Gunpowder Plot lessons.