Resources for Schools
The Tudor Chamber Books project team have created a range of resources for schools which can be used as exercises in the classroom or as self-guided study tasks. The resources are suitable for Key Stages 2 – 5 (pupils aged 10-18) to develop skills in historical research while exploring the key themes found within the Chamber Books. To find out more please click on the relevant link in the menu bar.
We would welcome feedback on these resources from teachers, please get in touch via email at contact@tudorchamberbooks.org
Online School Resources: Key Stages 2 & 3
These self-guided task sheets have been designed for students in Years 6 – 8 (aged 10-13) to develop their understanding of important themes in the Chamber Books and the reigns of the first two Tudor monarchs.
Who were the Tudors?
Where did the King live?
How do you read Tudor handwriting?
What did the King do in his spare time?
What was royal family life like?
Which palace was Henry VIII’s favourite?
What happened when the old King died?
How much did it cost to go to war?
Answer Sheets & Teacher Notes
Online School Resources: Key Stages 4 & 5
These self-guided research tasks have been designed for Key Stage 4 and 5 students (aged 14-18) to develop their historical research skills focusing on using databases, basic palaeography, historiography and synthesising primary source evidence.
We recommend that the introductory PowerPoint and the Simple Guide to Tudor Money is viewed before starting any of the research tasks.
- Task 1 is focused on historiography and acts as an introduction to the views of key historians on Henry VII’s reign.
- Tasks 2, 3 and 4 focus on using the Tudor Chamber Books database to investigate Henry’s spending. These can be done sequentially or as stand-alone research tasks.
- Task 5 is an additional exercise which brings together the research that students have done and allows them the opportunity to develop their own argument drawing on the historiography and primary source investigations they have carried out.
We have developed PowerPoints with audio recordings to assist students with terminology and context for tasks 2, 3 and 4 and there is a Glossary and Helpful Hints sheet available. Each of the PowerPoints with audio files are 1 to 2 minutes in length in total, please watch them in the ‘slideshow’ view.
Introduction to the Tudor Chamber Books
Glossary and Helpful Hints
Investigation 1: Historians on the importance of money in the reign of Henry VII
Investigation 2: Henry VII’s spending on ‘bling!’ (and other material things)
Investigation 3: Henry VII’s use of ‘feudal’ dues and wardships
Investigation 4: Henry VII’s spending on security and the case of Perkin Warbeck
Investigation 5: What role did money play in securing the reign of Henry VII?
Palaeography
This is a standalone task, looking at how to read the original chamber books. There is an introduction (split into 3 parts, about 5 minutes each), followed by a practice task. Please view the powerpoints in ‘slideshow’ view for the audio to run automatically.
Practice Task: A page from the Chamber Books (1505). Answer: here
