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History KS1: The Gunpowder Plot

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > KS1 History > The Gunpowder Plot

1. Why did The Gunpowder Plot happen? - 2. What happened during The Plot?
3. What happened after The Plot? - Slideshow: famous people - Teacher's Notes (pdf)

Three short animations exploring The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 - why it happened, the main events of the Plot, and the consequences for Guy Fawkes and the other plotters.

1: Why did The Gunpowder Plot happen?
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1: Why did The Gunpowder Plot happen?

The story begins in the present on Bonfire Night before going back in time to explain the circumstances that led to the Plot and introduce the key people involved.

2: What happened during The Gunpowder Plot?
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2: What happened during The Gunpowder Plot?

We learn how the plotters planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament. The story progresses to the night of 4 / 5 November and Guy Fawkes’ arrest.

3: What happened after The Gunpowder Plot?
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3: What happened after The Gunpowder Plot?

We learn what happened to Guy Fawkes, how the names of the other plotters were discovered and how the events of 1605 led to modern-day celebrations.

The Gunpowder Plot

In this series of three animations pupils find out about The Gunpowder Plot from an animated rat called Maureen.

In each episode Maureen recounts the stories passed down through her family, from generation to generation. Her ancestors are all-seeing, all-hearing and have all-areas-access to the dirtiest, darkest corners of history.

Discover the circumstances that led to The Gunpowder Plot, what happened when Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes and the other plotters tried to execute their plan - and the consequences of their actions, right through to modern day Bonfire Night celebrations.

Resources

Teachers' notes
document

Teachers' notes

Download / print the notes including illustrations, poetry templates and worksheets (pdf)

Shadow puppet templates
document

Shadow puppet templates

Download / print templates for shadow puppets of Robert Catesby, Guy Fawkes, Maureen and James I (pdf)

The Tower of London illustration
document

The Tower of London illustration

Download / print an illustration of The Tower of London to colour in and label (pdf)

Songs

Consolidate pupils' learning about The Gunpowder Plot with these three catchy songs from our Music pages.

1. Shadows in the night

1. Shadows in the night

A hushed, conspiratorial song about the plotters.

2. Hundreds of years ago

2. Hundreds of years ago

A song about the main events of the The Gunpowder Plot.

3. Remember, remember

3. Remember, remember

A song incorporating the words of the famous rhyme 'Remember, remember'.

Links

Who was Guy Fawkes? - BBC Bitesize
Guy Fawkes - Gunpowder Plotter - BBC Bitesize
The Gunpowder Plot - Parliament UK
Parliament receives a tip-off - Parliament UK

See also...

The Great Fire of London
collection

The Great Fire of London

Three short animations covering the events and conditions that led to The Great Fire of London, what happened when the citizens, Lord Mayor and King tried to put it out – and the consequences of their actions.

Castles and Knights
collection

Castles and Knights

A series of six animations exploring the topic 'Castles and Knights' with additional photos, illustrations and worksheets.

BBC Teach > Primary Resources > KS1 History > The Gunpowder Plot

1. Why did The Gunpowder Plot happen? - 2. What happened during The Plot?
3. What happened after The Plot? - Slideshow: famous people - Teacher's Notes (pdf)