Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
Format: Video
These resources are are designed to support Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, and Key Stage 4 students learn about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.
Discover stories, artifacts and locations connected to the event, as well as classroom activities.
The resources include:
- dramatised video of the story of the Gunpowder Plot
- classroom quiz
- image bank
- resource pack
- background notes and articles.
Resource Information
Key Stage
- Home Educators
- KS2 (age 7-11)
- KS3 (age 11-14)
- KS4 (age 15-16)
- KS5 (age 16+)
Subjects
- English
- History
Topic
- Crime & Punishment
- Stuarts
Type
- Biographies & Fact sheets
- Games & Quizzes
- Videos
- Images
Palace
- Tower of London
The Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes | Classroom video
A five-minute video telling the story of the Gunpowder Plot. This video contains dramatised sequences and narration suitable for students. Not recommended for KS1.
Classroom Quiz
Play along on an interactive whiteboard or tablet. Or use the plain text questions and answers.
These questions consolidate key facts from the Gunpowder Plot video.
- What was Guy Fawkes’ role in the gunpowder plot?
- What was the name of the mastermind behind the plan?
- What was the name of the King who the plot attempted to blow up?
- How many barrels of gunpowder were hidden in the vault?
- On which date do people celebrate ‘Bonfire Night’?
- Guy Fawkes' role in the Gunpowder Plot was gunpowder expert. He would light the fuse.
- The Gunpowder Plot was the idea of Robert Catesby.
- The King at the time of the Gunpowder Plot was James I of England, VI of Scotland.
- 36 barrels of gunpowder were hidden in the vault under the Houses of Parliament.
- Bonfire Night is celebrated on the 5th November each year.
Image Bank
A selection of images from the Tower of London relating to the Gunpowder Plot. These images can be saved individually or the set can be downloaded as a PowerPoint file.
This graffiti was made by one of the plotters, Ambrose Rookwood.
Rookwood was imprisoned in the Tower before being taken to Westminster in January 1606 to be hanged, drawn and quartered for his involvement in the Gunpowder Plot. During his imprisonment, he carved his name into the wall of the Martin Tower, where it can still be seen today.
The King's House, looking South West across Tower Green, with The Shard beyond. The King's House is one of the few timber-framed domestic buildings that has survived the Great Fire of 1666, and in time it has become associated with infamous prisoners kept at the Tower.
Inside the Council Chamber, King’s House at the Tower of London. This is the location of Guy Fawkes’ interrogation.
Guy Fawkes signature before and after he was questioned about his part in the Gunpowder Plot.
This monument is in the Council Chamber of the King’s House at the Tower of London. It was created to commemorate the defeat of the Gunpowder Plot (created 1608). The Latin texts praise the King and his family, extoll the virtues of the Privy Councillors who foiled the Plot and condemn the wickedness of the plotters, whose names are listed.
However, the monument also had another, more sinister, purpose. The Council Chamber was designed as a room in which to interrogate prisoners and the monument acted as a warning that uncooperative prisoners could suffer the same grisly fate as the Gunpowder Plotters.
Close up of the Gunpowder Plot monument, showing the plotters’ names.
This is a carved stone portrait of King James the VI and I (1566-1625). It is located in the King’s House at the Tower of London. It shows King James VI and I in half relief wearing a wide brimmed hat with an ostrich feather and the Three Brothers jewel.
The date of the carving is not recorded, but it is possible it was created around the same time as a large marble monument that commemorated the defeat of the Gunpowder Plot (created 1608).
The illustration shows: Thomas Bates (1567-1606), Robert Catesby (1573-1605), Guy Fawkes (1570-1606), Thomas Percy (1560-1605), Robert Winter (1568-1606), Thomas Winter (1572-1606), Christopher Wright (1570?-1605) and John Wright (1568?-1605)
From 'Old and New London: A Narrative of its History, its People and its Places', Vol II by Walter Thornbury, 1872-8.
Image Bank PowerPoint
A PowerPoint file containing the images. Please see the 'Notes' on each slide for background information.
Guy Fawkes Activity Ideas | Resource Download
This teacher's resource provides contextual background on monarchy, religion and society in Britain at the time of the Gunpowder Plot; and ideas for extending learning in the classroom.
Background information and deeper study
Resources to support advance students with deeper study or to provide background information to teachers.
Extra reading
An article about Guy Fawkes and the events that took place at the Tower of London.
Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder PlotFacts and figures
An article from the Houses of Parliament providing facts and figures about the Gunpowder Plot.
Gunpowder Plot facts and figures on Houses of ParliamentHear from the experts
A 25 minute podcast with curator Alden Gregory that takes you behind-the-scenes into the King’s House at the Tower of London. This is the location where Guy Fawkes was interrogated.
Listen to the podcast on LibsynGuy Fawkes' Lantern
See Guy Fawkes' lantern and discover more about this object on Teaching History with 100 Objects.
See Guy Fawkes' Lantern on Teaching History with 100 ObjectsThey shall receive a terrible blow this parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts them.
The Monteagle Letter
I wish to blow the Scottish King and all of his Scottish lords back to Scotland
Guy Fawkes declares in front of the King
The nature of the disease required so sharp a remedy.
Robert Catesby
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