This engaging history topic bundle combines our popular History Timeline Notebook with hands-on activities, creative projects, and interactive learning experiences to bring this pivotal moment in British history to life for Year 1 and Year 2 children.
Included Resources +
This pack includes eight activity sheets with accompanying lesson plans and a History Timeline Notebook bringing the Great Fire of London to life through hands-on history, creative writing, art, and cross-curricular investigation.
• History Timeline Notebook — interactive notebook to record and sequence key events of 1666
• Fire of London Timeline — visual timeline helping children understand the chronology of events
• Wooden House Collage — hands-on craft activity exploring Tudor architecture
• Write a Diary Entry — creative writing from the perspective of someone experiencing the fire
• Maps of London — geography skills exploring how the fire spread across the city
• Drawing with Charcoal — art activity exploring fire and destruction through charcoal techniques
• London's Burning Nursery Rhyme — music and literacy connection to the historical event
• Firefighting Equipment — compare historical and modern firefighting methods
Key Details +
• Year Group: KS1 — Year 1 & Year 2 (ages 5–7)
• Key Stage: KS1
• Subject: History
• Resource Type: Activity Sheets + Lesson Plans + History Timeline Notebook
• Format: Instant PDF Download
• Number of Activities: 8
Curriculum Alignment +
Aligned to the KS1 History National Curriculum. Covers events beyond living memory that are significant nationally and globally — the Great Fire of London 1666. Develops chronological understanding and sequencing skills, knowledge of significant historical events and their impact, and historical enquiry through comparison of past and present. Cross-curricular links to English (diary writing), Geography (maps and spread of fire), Art & Design (charcoal drawing, collage), and Music (London's Burning).
Teaching Tips +
Write a Diary Entry works best after the Timeline and Maps activities — children need the chronological context before they can write convincingly from a first-person perspective. Drawing with Charcoal is a highlight activity for Great Fire of London Day events — the medium itself reinforces the theme powerfully. London's Burning Nursery Rhyme makes an excellent daily warm-up song throughout the unit, building familiarity before exploring its historical origins. The History Timeline Notebook works best as a running record built up across the whole unit rather than completed in a single session.
