Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can recall the reasons for the Spanish Armada and explain how it was defeated.
Key learning points
- English privateers had been raiding Spanish ships in the Atlantic and stealing their gold.
- England supported Dutch Protestant rebels in the Netherlands against the Spanish.
- The Spanish King, Philip II, wished to make England Catholic.
- The Spanish Armada in 1588 was a Spanish attempt to invade England.
- Elizabeth I used the victory over the Spanish in propaganda.
Keywords
Alliance - an alliance is a connection or friendship between different countries
Privateer - a privateer is a person or armed ship allowed by a government to attack and steal from other ships at sea
Fleet - a fleet is a group of ships sailing together
Navy - the navy is the branch of the armed forces which operates at sea
Spanish Armada - the Spanish Armada was a large group of warships
Common misconception
The English navy destroyed the Spanish Armada.
Most of the ships lost from the Spanish Armada were sunk in storms after the battle against the English navy.
Teacher tip
Encourage students to give more than one example of each of the three factors in order to strengthen their argument.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How old was Mary, Queen of Scots when she became queen of Scotland?
Q2.What religion did Mary, Queen of Scots follow?
Q3.Why did many Catholics think that Mary was legally the rightful ruler of England?
Q4.How did the Scottish lords react to Mary's marriage to Lord Bothwell?
Q5.What was the name of the plot to assassinate Elizabeth that definitely involved Mary, Queen of Scots?
Q6.Why was Mary considered a 'figurehead' for Catholic rebels in England?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was England's relationship like with Spain when Elizabeth became queen in 1558?
Q2.Why did Philip II ask Elizabeth to arrest Francis Drake?
Q3.Fill in the missing word: the name given to Dutch ships that were allowed safe harbour in English ports during the Dutch Rebellion was Sea ..........
Q4.Which of the following was true about the Duke of Medina Sidonia, leader of the Spanish Armada?
Q5.What new tactics did the English navy use to fight the Spanish Armada?
Q6.Which event sunk a large part of the Spanish Armada?
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 history lesson on: Elizabeth I and the Spanish Armada, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 history lessons from the Elizabeth I: why has Elizabeth been represented so differently? unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.