Question 1

How does the structure of this homework support Year 8 students in evaluating the significance of Henry VIII's wives within the English Reformation?

Accepted Answer

The Act of Succession (1544) research challenge provides a focus for homework that addresses the common difficulty of connecting Henry’s marital history to long-term Tudor legal frameworks. Pupils engage with the interpretative nature of history by moving from low-stakes retrieval to high-order evaluation. Disciplinary DNA in History requires students to weigh evidence, which is facilitated here through a structured PEEL paragraph activity. By scaffolding the transition from substantive facts to disciplinary arguments, use of the worksheet reduces the intrinsic load often associated with complex causal analysis. Such a home learning task is specifically calibrated for Year 8, ensuring that pupils find the worksheet accessible while maintaining academic rigour. Using a categorisation table allows students to build a robust schema of the Reformation, preparing them for more advanced historical enquiries into royal supremacy and religious change.

Question 2

Does this homework satisfy the National Curriculum requirements for Key Stage 3 History regarding the development of Church, state, and society in Tudor England?

Accepted Answer

The Success Criteria checklist confirms that homework for this topic aligns with the Key Stage 3 statutory requirement to study the nature of the English Reformation. Pupils develop substantive knowledge by identifying the roles of the six wives, while the analysis of the Act of Supremacy builds disciplinary knowledge regarding the shift in Papal authority. Pupils find that such an independent learning task ensures they meet assessment objectives centered on cause and consequence. Because a clear model for historical justification exists within the worksheet, it serves as a high-quality resource for formative utility in the classroom. Integration of the worksheet supports the curriculum goal of understanding how personal motivations drove constitutional change. By focusing on the 'Great Matter', pupils gain a deep conceptual understanding of the Tudor dynasty's impact on British political structures.

Question 3

How is this homework engineered to help Year 8 pupils master the complex relationship between Henry’s succession crisis and the wider English Reformation?

Accepted Answer

The PEEL paragraph prompt ensures that homework directly tackles the misconception that Henry’s marriages were merely personal scandals rather than political necessities. History requires a balance of narrative and analysis, and pupils benefit as such a home activity provides the necessary scaffolded exposure to move toward metacognitive regulation of their own arguments. Year 8 students often struggle with the intrinsic load of the Reformation's theological shifts; therefore, the task focuses on the tangible fates of the wives to anchor abstract concepts like royal supremacy. Inclusion of the worksheet uses a categorisation table to promote schema construction, ensuring that every student can access the curriculum regardless of prior attainment. By integrating Tier 3 domain-specific vocabulary such as 'annulment' and 'legitimacy', pupils use the worksheet to build the procedural fluency required for academic writing.

Wife	Fate	Key Significance
C. of Aragon	Divorced	The catalyst for the Break with Rome and the Reformation.
Anne Boleyn	Beheaded	Mother of Elizabeth I; symbol of the break from Catholic influence.
Jane Seymour	Died	Provided the 'jewel' of the crown: the male heir, Edward VI.
A. of Cleves	Divorced	A failed political alliance with German Protestant princes.
C. Howard	Beheaded	Represented the influence and downfall of the Catholic Howard family.
Catherine Parr	Survived	Acted as a stabilising force; nursed Henry and reconciled his children.

Year 8 History Homework: Henry VIII Wives

About this Resource Type

Home Learning: Henry VIII and the Great Matter of Succession

The Purpose

Instructions

Success Criteria (Checklist)

Challenge / Extension (Optional)

⚠ TEACHER’S GUIDANCE & MARK SCHEME (DO NOT PRINT FOR STUDENTS)

Teacher’s Post-Task Briefing 🎓

1. Model Answers / Expected Outcomes

2. Common Misconceptions to Flag 🚩

3. Classroom Discussion Starters (The 'Journey') 💡

Pedagogical Rationale for Henry VIII Wives - Homework

Frequently Asked Questions

Liked this resource? Create a personalised one in seconds.