History · Year 2 · The Great Fire of London · Autumn Term

The Monument to the Great Fire

Discovering the purpose and design of the Monument, a lasting reminder of the Great Fire of London.

• National Curriculum Attainment Targets
• KS1: History - Events beyond living memory
• KS1: History - Historical interpretations

About This Topic

The Monument to the Great Fire of London is a 61-metre stone column designed by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke, completed in 1677. It stands near Pudding Lane, where the fire started in 1666, and features a golden flaming orb at the top to symbolise the disaster. Year 2 students learn its purpose: to honour the 13,000 homes and 87 churches lost, serving as a permanent reminder of the event's impact on the city.

This topic aligns with KS1 History standards on events beyond living memory and historical interpretations. Students explore how the Monument preserves stories through its inscriptions and design, prompting discussions on why we commemorate big events. They connect it to the Great Fire unit by considering physical evidence of history and its role in shaping modern London.

Active learning benefits this topic greatly. When students build models from straws and clay or sketch designs collaboratively, they grasp commemoration tangibly. Group debates on 'what to remember' build historical thinking skills, while handling replicas makes the Monument's scale and symbolism accessible and memorable for young learners.

Key Questions

1. What is the Monument to the Great Fire and why was it built?
2. How does the Monument help us remember the Great Fire of London?
3. Why do you think it is important to remember big events from history?

Learning Objectives

• Identify the primary purpose for the Monument's construction based on historical context.
• Explain how the Monument's design elements, such as its height and flame motif, symbolize the Great Fire of London.
• Compare the Monument to other historical landmarks as a method of commemoration.
• Classify the Monument as a primary or secondary source for understanding the Great Fire of London.

Before You Start

The Great Fire of London: Causes and Spread

Why: Students need to understand the basic events of the Great Fire before learning about its commemoration.

Materials and Their Properties

Why: Understanding basic building materials helps students appreciate the construction of the Monument.

Key Vocabulary

Monument	A statue or building erected to commemorate a famous person or event. In this case, it remembers the Great Fire of London.
Commemoration	The act of remembering and showing respect for someone or something, often through ceremonies or monuments.
Symbolism	The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. The Monument uses its height and flame to symbolize the fire's impact.
Inscription	Words written or engraved on something, like a monument or a book. The Monument has inscriptions detailing the fire.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The Monument was built during the Great Fire.

What to Teach Instead

It was constructed over ten years later to commemorate the event. Model-building activities let students sequence events on timelines, clarifying chronology through hands-on placement of fire and Monument stages.

Common Misconception

The Monument is just a tall tower with no special meaning.

What to Teach Instead

Its design elements like the flaming orb symbolise the fire's destruction. Group sketching and labelling sessions reveal purpose, as peers critique and refine ideas during sharing.

Common Misconception

Only bad events get monuments.

What to Teach Instead

Monuments remember significant changes, good or bad. Debates in circles help students compare with other examples, building nuanced views through active discussion.

Active Learning Ideas

Model Building: Mini-Monuments

Provide straws, clay, and foil for groups to construct scaled-down versions of the Monument. First, review photos and discuss key features like the column and orb. Groups label parts and present their models, explaining design choices.

45 min·Small Groups

Design Drawing: Monument Blueprints

Students draw the Monument from reference images, labelling the base, stairs, and orb. Add thought bubbles for 'why it remembers the fire'. Share drawings in pairs to compare details and purposes.

30 min·Individual

Circle Share: Why Remember?

Sit in a circle with Monument images. Pose key questions: 'What happened? Why build this?'. Students share ideas using sentence stems, then vote on the most important reason to remember.

20 min·Whole Class

Map Hunt: Monument Location

Print simple 1666 London maps. Pairs mark Pudding Lane and the Monument, drawing a fire path. Discuss how location helps memory, then plot on a modern map overlay.

25 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• City of London Corporation historians use the Monument and other historical records to plan conservation efforts and educational tours, ensuring London's heritage is preserved for future generations.
• Tour guides in London utilize the Monument to tell the story of the Great Fire to visitors from around the world, connecting them to a significant historical event through a physical landmark.

Assessment Ideas

Exit Ticket

Provide students with a picture of the Monument. Ask them to write two sentences: one explaining why it was built and one describing a feature that helps us remember the Great Fire.

Discussion Prompt

Ask students: 'If you were building a monument today to remember an important event, what would it look like and why? What would it help people remember?' Facilitate a brief class discussion.

Quick Check

Show students images of different types of monuments (e.g., a statue, a plaque, a memorial garden). Ask them to point to or name the Monument to the Great Fire and explain how it is similar to or different from the other examples.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Monument to the Great Fire of London?

The Monument is a tall stone column built in 1677 by Christopher Wren and Robert Hooke. Located near where the 1666 fire began, it features 311 steps to a viewing platform and a gilded orb representing flames. It commemorates the fire's destruction of over 13,000 houses, helping us visualise the scale today.

Why was the Monument built?

It was erected to mark the fire's starting point and honour the rebuilding effort. The structure stands as a warning against future disasters and a tribute to lives affected. Inscriptions originally blamed foreign plotters, later removed, showing how history evolves.

How does the Monument help us remember the Great Fire?

As a physical landmark, it prompts questions about the past whenever visited. Its design encodes the story: height matches fire distance travelled, orb evokes flames. This tangible link aids Year 2 learners in connecting abstract events to real places.

How can active learning help teach the Monument?

Hands-on model-making with everyday materials lets students replicate design features, debating 'what symbolises fire best?'. Pair mapping links it to the fire's path, while whole-class shares build interpretation skills. These approaches make history interactive, boosting retention and empathy for 1666 Londoners through creation and discussion.