Great Fire of London Timeline Ordering

Year 2 HistoryThe Great Fire of London3 pages

About this worksheet

In this Year 2 history sort, the Museum of London has dropped its timeline cards. Pupils place 14 short clues about the Great Fire of London into three columns: Before the Fire Spread, During the Great Fire and After the Fire Ended. The clues range from Thomas Farriner's oven and a hot, dry summer to Pepys burying his cheese and the Monument being built. Page 2 asks for the trickiest clue and one new fact for each period. A teacher note on the answer page explains why Bakery fire starts can go in either of the first two columns. The worksheet follows the England National Curriculum for KS1 history.

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Great Fire of London Timeline Ordering: The Great Fire of London - page 1

Great Fire of London Timeline Ordering: The Great Fire of London - page 2

Great Fire of London Timeline Ordering: The Great Fire of London - page 3

Curriculum objectives covered

Events beyond living memory

“Events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally [for example, the Great Fire of London, the first aeroplane flight or events commemorated through festivals or anniversaries]”

The whole sheet is about the Great Fire of London, which this statement names. All 14 clues come from the fire itself or from the rebuilding of London after it.

What's inside this worksheet

The Great Fire of London: Before, During and After

Pupils copy each clue from the word bank, such as Leather buckets used, Tents in the fields and Wider streets planned, into the right column of a three-part table.

Think Like a Historian

Pupils explain which clue was hardest to place, then write one new fact or event of their own for Before, During and After.

Answers

The full table, with 4 clues before, 6 during and 4 after. A note covers the boundary items, and sample additions include Christopher Wren's new St Paul's Cathedral.

How teachers use it

Human timeline

Give 14 pupils one clue each and ask them to stand in three groups at the front. The rest of the class moves anyone in the wrong group.

Pepys's diary

Read the diary entry where Samuel Pepys buries his parmesan cheese before pupils meet that clue. It sticks once they hear his own words.

Vote on the edge

Write Bakery fire starts on the board and take a class vote on Before or During. The answer key accepts both if pupils give a reason.

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