Lesson Plan - Why Did Henry VIII Start His Own Church?
The lesson plan for Why Did Henry VIII Start His Own Church? is designed to help home-educating families explore one of the most important turning points in English history. This structured plan focuses on the dramatic moment when King Henry VIII broke away from the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church to form the Church of England. It covers the personal, political, and religious reasons behind Henry’s decision, including his desire for a male heir, the Pope’s refusal to annul his marriage, and the creation of the Act of Supremacy.
The lesson includes clear learning objectives, thought-provoking discussion questions, creative writing prompts, and deeper thinking tasks. It encourages learners to think critically about power, religion, and the long-lasting impact of one monarch’s choices.
Whether your child enjoys drawing, writing, debating, or researching, there’s something here for everyone. Parents can use the plan flexibly — as a single focused session, or as part of a larger study of the Tudors or religious change in British history. You don’t need to be an expert to guide this lesson. Everything is explained in simple terms to help you support your learner confidently.
This resource has been carefully designed for Elective Home Education families. It’s printable, adaptable, and suitable for learners aged 8 to 16, with ideas to stretch curious minds and spark discussion.
This topic is part of our Info Zone collection. You can read the full topic, once logged in, here: Why Did Henry VIII Start His Own Church?
You’ll also find a full Lesson Plan and a handy Parent Q & A sheet, for this topic, ready to use..
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Lesson Plan Why Did Henry VIII Start His Own Church? |
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| Overview | This lesson explores why Henry VIII started his own church, breaking from the Catholic Church to form the Church of England. Learners will investigate Henry’s motivations, the political and religious consequences, and how this decision changed British history. Ideal for ages 8–16. |
| Learning Objectives |
- Understand why Henry VIII wanted to start his own church - Explore the roles of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, and the Pope - Learn about the Act of Supremacy and its long-term impact - Think critically about the link between personal decisions and national change |
| Estimated Time | 45–90 minutes (can be extended or shortened depending on interest and depth) |
| Starter Activity |
Ask: “Should a king be allowed to do anything he wants?” Discuss together, then introduce Henry VIII’s dilemma about his marriage. Look at a picture of Henry VIII and describe his appearance. What kind of person do you think he was? |
| Read and Learn |
Read the Info Zone article: Why Did Henry VIII Start His Own Church? Discuss the following together:
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| Activities |
Comprehension Questions:
Creative Writing: Write a letter from Henry VIII to the Pope, politely asking for a divorce. Then write a reply from the Pope saying why he won’t allow it. Timeline Challenge:
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| Deeper Thinking |
Big Question: “Was Henry VIII’s decision more about love, power, or religion?” Talk together. Can you think of other examples in history where personal decisions led to national changes? |
| Creative Projects |
- Draw Henry VIII with thought bubbles showing what he wanted and what was stopping him - Design a “Church of England” poster explaining what it is and how it started - Make a comic strip showing Henry’s story: the marriage problem, the Pope’s refusal, and the formation of his own church |
| Review & Reflect |
Ask the learner:
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| Extensions & Homework |
- Watch a documentary clip about the Tudors or Henry VIII - Research one of Henry’s wives and present what happened to her - Find out what Queen Elizabeth I did about religion later on |