English National Curriculum - History

Where do Kings and Queens live?

Mission Objectives

Name a castle or palace as a place where a King or Queen lives

Describe some features of a castle or palace

Compare a castle or a palace in the past with today

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Rocket Words Quiz

Rocket Words Quiz

See if you know all the meanings of the rocket words

Assessment Quiz

Assessment Quiz

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Word Search Game

Word Search Game

Find all the rocket words in the grid

Lesson Resources

Lesson Plan

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Keywords

Words and meanings to learn

castle

a big, strong building built a long time ago for a king, queen, or noble to live in and defend themselves

palace

a very big, grand home where a King, Queen, or other royal person lives

safe

not being in danger

tower

a tall part of a castle or a building

wall

the strong, upright parts that make up the sides of a building

This lesson has been written by

Sarah Mintey MBE

Sarah is a former headteacher and charity CEO who founded Developing Experts in October 2015 with the goal to create a fit-for-purpose curriculum for schools. The company has created a science curriculum for children ages 4-16 which is delivered through sequenced lessons mapped against the National Curriculum in biology, chemistry, and physics. Developing Expert's innovative approach to learning has already been road-tested and voted 'best EdTech product in Europe', winning Tech Nation’s Rising Stars earlier in 2019 and a place on Google for Startups Immersion program 2020. In 2022 Developing Experts won the BETT Awards for Best Classroom Resource - Teaching Aid. Sarah is a 'LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leader' 2022. In October 2022 Developing Experts joined Tech Nation's Upscale 8.0 programme.

Sarah is delighted to be working with over 6500 UK schools and clients such as the Royal Horticulture Society, Network Rail, Rolls Royce, BEIS, National Nuclear Labs, Anglian Water and the Ministry of Defence.

Sarah was awarded an MBE for her services to tech and education in 2020. 

Emma Wilding

Emma is an experienced primary teacher with over twelve years of classroom experience and a strong background in curriculum leadership. She has led history within schools and contributed to curriculum development across academy trusts, supporting the design of coherent, knowledge-rich programmes that enable pupils to build understanding over time.

Emma has a particular passion for writing high-quality curricula that are carefully sequenced, engaging, and rooted in strong subject knowledge. She is committed to creating lessons that are lively, meaningful, and accessible, helping children to grasp complex ideas through clear explanations and purposeful activities that support long-term learning.

Through her curriculum leadership, Emma has supported schools in preparing for successful Ofsted inspections, ensuring that subjects are well structured and effectively implemented. She is dedicated to designing learning experiences that spark curiosity and help pupils make meaningful connections between the past, the present, and the wider world.

Clare Faulkner

Clare is an experienced primary teacher with extensive experience across the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. She has a strong background in curriculum design and development, contributing to programmes across EYFS, Key Stage 1, and Key Stage 2, ensuring they are engaging, inclusive, and pedagogically effective.

Before joining Developing Experts, Clare served as a QA Inspector for a childcare agency, rigorously applying the Ofsted inspection framework to evaluate and enhance educational provision. She also brings insight into school governance, supporting strategic decision-making and understanding the operational and pedagogical challenges faced by schools.

Clare is committed to delivering high-quality, evidence-informed learning experiences that inspire curiosity and foster academic and personal growth. She maintains a deep knowledge of current educational research, teaching strategies, and best practices to continually enhance teaching and learning outcomes.

Matthew Willsher

Matthew is an experienced and qualified educator, with a background in both classroom and outdoor settings. He is passionate about making learning engaging for all involved and creates content which enhances children’s experiences in education and those delivering it. With a strong belief in the value of education, Matthew recognises the importance of enabling children and adults to access any curriculum content with ease, regardless of their backgrounds. In his spare time, Matthew loves being with family and friends; additionally, he has a keen interest in the performing arts and volunteers time as a voice-over artist.

Required Resources

Resources: Construction materials, pencils (optional, colouring pencils)

Research tool: Images of castles and palaces, past and present, have been provided to inspire the children’s constructions.

Core Handout (2): (Optional) The handout provides space for the children to draw their castle or palace.

Challenge Handout (4): The handout provides scaffolded sentence starters and a word bank to support the children in writing a comparison between castles and palaces in the past and now.

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