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
- English
- Science
- Art & Design
Topic
- Victorians
Type
- For the classroom
Palace
- Historic Royal Palaces
Victoria was born in 1819 in the dining room at Kensington Palace. When Victoria was 18, at 06:00 on 20th June 1837, she was woken at Kensington Palace to be told visitors had arrived with important news.
‘I got out of bed and went into my sitting-room (only in my dressing-gown), and alone, and saw them. Lord Conyngham (the Lord Chamberlain) then acquainted me that my poor Uncle, the King, was no more, and had expired at 12 minutes p.2 this morning, and consequently that I am Queen.’
This illustration shows Victoria later that day, at her first Privy Council at Kensington Palace.
Some 97 councilors, Cabinet ministers and officials arrived at Kensington Palace and crowded into the Red Saloon for their first meeting with the new queen. Queen Victoria is shown standing with her uncle, the Duke of Sussex.
1. Queen Victoria and her uncle, The Duke of Sussex
2. There are various different objects around the room. Try zooming in on them and working out what they are
1. What different expressions can you see on people’s faces? Try zooming in on them.
2. How do you think young Queen Victoria might have been feeling at this moment?
3. There are two chairs in this image. What makes them different from each other? What might this tell you?
4. Queen Victoria was quite short (5ft 1in) but The Duke of Wellington described her as: ‘she not only filled her chair, she filled the room.’ What do you think he meant by this?
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 the young queen? Then check out our histories and stories page all about Queen Victoria.
Learn more about Queen Victoria
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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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