New
New
Year 2

The half-sisters Elizabeth and Mary

I can describe the relationship between Elizabeth and her half-sister Mary.

New
New
Year 2

The half-sisters Elizabeth and Mary

I can describe the relationship between Elizabeth and her half-sister Mary.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. At the age of 21, a young woman called Elizabeth found herself imprisoned in the Tower of London.
  2. She had been accused of plotting to take the throne by her older half-sister Mary, who was queen.
  3. It was very likely that Mary might order her to be executed, so Elizabeth wrote her a letter saying she was innocent.
  4. Although Mary refused to see Elizabeth, she eventually freed her and Elizabeth's life was spared.
  5. Soon after, Mary died and Elizabeth became Queen of England.

Common misconception

Pupils may think Elizabeth had a right to the throne when her father Henry VIII died.

At this time, the heir to the throne was the first-born son of the King rather than the first-born child.

Keywords

  • Executed - executed means someone being killed as a legal punishment

  • Plotting - plotting means to secretly make plans to carry out an illegal or harmful action

  • Tower of London - the Tower of London is a building used to defend the King or Queen

Create a timeline to track the different kings and queens at this time.
Teacher tip

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of upsetting content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime

Supervision

Adult supervision required

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.
Who was Mansa Musa?
the ruler of the Roman Empire
Correct answer: the ruler of the Mali Empire
the ruler of the British Empire
Q2.
How long did Mansa Musa rule for?
two years
12 years
Correct answer: 25 years
50 years
Q3.
As a Muslim, Mansa Musa went on a...
Correct Answer: pilgrimage
Q4.
Mansa Musa was very...
weak
Correct answer: wealthy
cruel
Q5.
Why did scholars visit the Mali Empire?
to trade
Correct answer: to learn
to eat
Q6.
How did Mansa Musa develop the Mali Empire?
Correct answer: He promoted learning.
Correct answer: He spread Islam.
He made it poor.
Correct answer: He made it wealthy.

6 Questions

Q1.
When was Elizabeth born?
1933
Correct answer: 1533
1733
Q2.
When Henry VIII died, Elizabeth was in line for the throne.
first
second
Correct answer: third
fourth
Q3.
Who ruled England when Henry VIII died?
Correct answer: Edward
Mary
Elizabeth
Q4.
Edward executed Thomas Seymour.
Correct answer: true
false
Q5.
Order these events starting with the earliest.
1 - Elizabeth's half-sister Mary became Queen.
2 - Mary put Elizabeth in prison.
3 - Elizabeth was kept in the Tower of London.
4 - Elizabeth wrote a letter to Queen Mary saying that she was innocent.
5 - Mary freed Elizabeth.
Q6.
Elizabeth became Queen of England when Mary died.
Correct answer: true
false

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