New
New
Year 1

1936 - a momentous year for Elizabeth

I can explain why 1936 was such an important year for Elizabeth.

New
New
Year 1

1936 - a momentous year for Elizabeth

I can explain why 1936 was such an important year for Elizabeth.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. In 1936 Elizabeth was 10 years old and her uncle was king: Edward VIII.
  2. Because Edward was king, his children, if he was to have any, would become the next king or queen after him.
  3. Elizabeth and her family led a quiet family life, spending time at their country house in Windsor Great Park.
  4. In 1936, Edward VIII abdicated, shocking Elizabeth and her family.
  5. Elizabeth's father was now the king, George VI, and Elizabeth would now become queen when he died.

Common misconception

Pupils may assume that Elizabeth was always going to be an heir.

The abdication had to happen in order for Elizabeth to be an heir.

Keywords

  • Heir - an heir is a person who will be the next king or queen

  • Abdicate - to abdicate is to give up the throne and title of king or queen

As the lesson delves into more complex relations, use visuals to help map out the family tree. You could also create your own visual and physical timeline, encouraging pupils to order chronologically and introduce language of sequence.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
How is an uncle related to you?
A sister of your mother or father
Correct answer: A brother of your mother or father
The mother of your mother or father
Q2.
What is a throne?
Correct answer: A special chair sat on by the king or queen
A special bed slept on by the king or queen
A special house that the king or queen live in
Q3.
Who is allowed to sit on the throne?
A prince or princess
A duke or duchess
Correct answer: A king or queen
Q4.
Order these events that happen in a normal day.
Correct Answer:Firstly,you go to school

you go to school

Correct Answer:Next,you return home

you return home

Correct Answer:Lastly,you wake up in the morning

you wake up in the morning

Q5.
Where do kings and queens usually live?
A country house
Correct answer: A palace
A cave
Q6.
Elizabeth had one sister. Was Elizabeth older or younger than her sister?
Correct answer: Older
Younger

6 Questions

Q1.
What is an heir?
An heir is someone who will be the next prince or princess.
Correct answer: An heir is someone who will be the next king or queen.
An heir is someone who will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury.
Q2.
What does the word 'abdicate' mean?
Correct answer: to give up being king or queen
to give up being a prince or princess
to become king or queen
Q3.
Where did Elizabeth live when her uncle was the king?
Correct answer: Windsor Great Park
Buckingham Palace
Hyde Park
Q4.
How did Elizabeth and her family feel when Edward VIII abdicated the throne?
Happy and excited
Correct answer: Shocked and surprised
Silly and giggly
Q5.
After Edward VIII abdicated the throne, who became King of the United Kingdom?
Charles III - Elizabeth's son
Correct answer: George VI - Elizabeth's father
Elizabeth II
Q6.
Put these events into the order that they happened.
1 - Elizabeth's grandparents died.
2 - Edward VIII became King of the United Kingdom.
3 - When Elizabeth was 10 years old, Edward VIII abdicated the throne.
4 - Elizabeth's father - George VI - became King of the United Kingdom.

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