Which English King Had Six Wives? (Lesson Plan)

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Lesson Plan - Which English King Had Six Wives?

Elective Home Education (EHE) gives families the freedom to shape learning around each child’s interests, pace, and preferred style. Our lesson plans are built to support that freedom, offering a flexible structure with ideas you can use, adapt, or build upon. This plan includes reading, creative tasks, discussion prompts, and extension suggestions—perfect for exploring the topic deeply or just skimming the surface, depending on what works best on the day.

Think of these lesson plans as a starting point, not a set of strict rules. One of the best parts of home education is following your child’s curiosity wherever it leads. If a question sparks interest or a new angle appears, go with it! These plans are here to inspire, not limit, so feel free to skip, add, or change sections to suit your learner’s needs.

This lesson plan is designed to go with our Info Zone Topic on Which English King Had Six Wives?

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Which English King Had Six Wives?
Overview	This home education lesson introduces learners to King Henry VIII, the famous Tudor monarch with six wives. It explores his reign, the reasons for his multiple marriages, the fate of each queen, and how his decisions changed English history. Suitable for learners aged 8–16.
Learning Objectives	- Identify all six wives of Henry VIII and their fates - Understand why Henry VIII wanted a male heir - Explain how Henry's marriages led to the creation of the Church of England - Reflect on the long-term effects of Henry’s rule on English society
Estimated Time	60–75 minutes
Starter Activity	Ask: “Why might a king want to get married more than once?” Show a picture of King Henry VIII and his wives (try the family tree). Guess what happened to each wife using the rhyme “Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.”
Read and Learn	Read the article Which English King Had Six Wives? either aloud or silently. Discuss the following questions: Why did Henry VIII want a son so badly? What made each of Henry’s wives unique? What were the consequences of breaking away from the Catholic Church? Who do you think was Henry’s most important wife? Why?
Activities	Comprehension Questions: Who was Henry VIII’s first wife and why did their marriage end? Which wife gave birth to Elizabeth I? What new church did Henry create? How did Jane Seymour make Henry happy? What was Catherine Parr’s role in Henry’s final years? Timeline Activity: Create a timeline of Henry’s six marriages using the rhyme. Include the year of each marriage and key events during that time.
Deeper Thinking	Big Question: “Was Henry VIII a good king for England?” Learners can debate or write about the good and bad things Henry did. Encourage listing both sides of the argument and coming to their own conclusion.
Creative Projects	- Design your own royal Tudor portrait, featuring Henry and his six wives - Write a fictional diary entry from the viewpoint of one of Henry’s wives - Create a “Tudor Tinder” style profile card for each queen with their traits, fate, and fun facts!
Review & Reflect	Ask the learner: Which part of the story surprised you the most? What would you have done if you were king or queen? Do you think any of the wives were treated unfairly?
Extensions & Homework	- Research the reign of Elizabeth I and how she led differently to her father - Compare Henry VIII to another famous monarch like Queen Victoria or Richard III - Watch a child-friendly documentary or animation about the Tudors and summarise what you learned

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