This History video supports teachers in introducing Key stage 2 pupils to Tudor portraits as primary sources, showing how monarchs like Henry VII and Henry VIII used imagery to project power and authority.
year: Year 6
Teacher video: Tudor inventories
This History video supports teachers in introducing Key Stage 2 pupils to using wills and inventories as primary sources for understanding Tudor life, showing how inventories provide insights into wealth, occupation and daily life between 1500 and 1750.
Teacher video: Testing the reliability of evidence
This History video supports teachers in introducing Key stage 2 pupils to source reliability, showing how to assess origin, purpose, audience and accuracy using a portrait of Elizabeth I to model the process.
Unit overview: What was life like in Tudor England?
This History video supports teachers in introducing Key stage 2 pupils to Tudor England, exploring the monarchy’s power, society’s organisation, and the significance of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.
Pupil video: John Blanke
This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow History scheme of work. It introduces John Blanke, a trumpeter at the royal courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII, and the first known person of African descent in British history with both written records and a portrait. John worked as a musician at important royal events, including funerals, coronations, and jousting tournaments, and was paid a daily wage for his service.
Unit overview: What was the Sikh Empire
A History video supporting teachers to explore the Sikh Empire, its significance, and how to guide pupils in historical enquiry and interpretation.
Pupil video: What does historically significant mean?
This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow History scheme of work. It helps pupils explore the idea of historical significance by listening to two historians, Rebecca and Rosa, as they explain what makes a person or event important in history. They discuss how historians ask questions, look for evidence, and decide what stories are worth telling. Pupils will learn that anyone can be historically significant – from famous leaders to everyday people – depending on the questions being asked. Examples include King Charles and George Floyd, whose lives and actions have had lasting impact. Pupils are encouraged to think critically, ask questions, and use criteria like the “Five Rs” to decide what matters in history.
Pupil video: Global trade
A History video exploring how global trade, including the Silk Road, connected people and cultures and shaped cities like Lahore.
Pupil video: Building a fair and equal society
This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow History scheme of work. It explores how Sikh teachings and leadership helped people stand up against unfair treatment during the time of the Mughal Empire and the founding of the Sikh Empire. Pupils learn how some Mughal rulers tried to force others to change their religion, leading to a difficult time for many communities. Sikh Gurus like Guru Arjan Dev Ji and Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji bravely stood up for the right to choose your own beliefs, even when it meant sacrificing their lives.
The video continues by introducing Guru Gobind Singh Ji and the formation of the Khalsa in 1699. Pupils discover how the Khalsa was created to protect people, stand against injustice and follow the teachings of the Gurus. Later, Maharaja Ranjit Singh led the Sikh Empire using these values. He created a peaceful kingdom where everyone could live freely and follow their own beliefs. His leadership showed how the Sikh values of fairness, courage, and compassion helped create a more equal and respectful society.
