What's the story?
About this learning resource
Format: Image
Will your students be able to piece together the story behind these intriguing historic artefacts?
Activity Description
Students will start off by looking in detail at a very small section of an historic object. Educators will prompt them to think carefully, look for clues and ask questions. Slowly more of the object is revealed as the students piece together the story.
This simple activity can be used as a lesson warm-up or plenary. It can relate to various topics such as History, Art & Design and Working Scientifically.
Activity time
5 - 10 minutes
How to use this resource
- Open the image full screen and zoom in as far as you can on the middle of the image. For an extra challenge get the students to close their eyes whilst you pick a starting point.
- Spend time looking closely at this small section of the image. Ask your students these three questions:
What can you see?
What does it make you think of?
What do you want to know? - Zoom out slightly to reveal more of the image and ask the three questions again:
What can you see now?
What does it make you think of?
What do you want to know? - Repeat zooming out and discussing the three questions until the full image is revealed.
- Use the 'What's the Story' and 'Bonus question' sections to deepen your investigation.
Resource Information
Key Stage
- KS1 (age 5-7)
- KS2 (age 7-11)
- KS3 (age 11-14)
- KS4 (age 15-16)
- KS5 (age 16+)
- Home Educators
- SEND
Subjects
- History
- Science
- English
- Art & Design
Topic
- Tudors
Type
- For the classroom
Palace
- Tower of London
Lady Jane is known as the Nine Days Queen. She inherited the crown from her cousin Edward VI. She arrived at the Tower of London to prepare for her coronation, but within a fortnight she was back as a prisoner of her Catholic cousin, Mary I who had claimed the throne as rightfully hers.
Lady Jane and her husband were both eventually found guilty of high treason and executed in February 1554. She was 17 years old at the time.
This image is from 'The Tower of London' a historical romance by William Harrison Ainsworth published in 1840. It shows 'Jane meeting the body of her husband on her way to the scaffold'.
1. Lady Jane Grey
2. The body of Lord Guildford Dudley (Lady Jane Grey's husband)
3. The people watching from the roof and windows
4. The object at Lady Jane's Feet
5. The axe, execution block and straw
1. How might Lady Jane Grey be feeling at this moment?
2. What different expressions can you see on people’s faces? Try zooming in on them.
3. What do the people’s clothing tell you about their lives? Look for familiar symbols.
4. This is an illustration from a novel published almost 300 years after Lady Jane was executed. What might that tell you about the accuracy of this illustration?
History - Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims.
English - Asking relevant questions to extend understanding and knowledge.
Science – Using observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.
Use observation skills to examine historic artefacts
Reflect on the different stories and perspectives that historic artefacts can tell
Find out more
Do you want to learn more about Lady Jane Grey? Then check out our histories and stories page all about the 'Nine Days Queen'.
find out more
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The Tower of London was used as a prison, palace and fortress. One infamous prisoner was Guy Fawkes. Find out more about his role in the Gunpowder Plot and its impact on history.
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