The Six Wives of Henry VIII: A Historical Journey

The Six Wives of Henry VIII: A Historical Journey

Learning Objective

Explore the lives and fates of Henry VIII's six wives and understand the impact of their marriages on English history.

What do you already know about Henry VIII's wives?

Introduction to Henry VIII

Henry VIII was the King of England from 1509 to 1547. He is well-known for his six marriages and the impact they had on the English Reformation.

Catherine of Aragon

Catherine of Aragon was Henry's first wife. Their marriage ended in divorce, leading to significant changes in the English church.

Interactive Element: Discussion

In pairs, discuss the reasons behind the annulment of Henry's marriage to Catherine of Aragon.

Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn was Henry's second wife. Her marriage to Henry led to the English Reformation and the creation of the Church of England.

Interactive Element: Timeline Activity

Create a timeline of events related to Henry VIII's marriage to Anne Boleyn and the subsequent events that unfolded.

Jane Seymour

Jane Seymour was Henry's third wife. She gave birth to his long-awaited male heir, Edward VI, but tragically died shortly after.

Interactive Element: Role-Playing

Students will take on the roles of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour to reenact key moments from their marriage.

Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr

Explore the marriages of Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr, and the impact of these unions on English history.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.