What does Samuel Pepys reveal about Restoration England?

Last updated: 15/11/2023
Contributor: Teachit Author
What does Samuel Pepys reveal about Restoration England? enquiry
Main Subject
Key stage
Exam board
Category
British studies: Restoration England
Resource type
Student activity
Concepts and methods
Framing enquiries

An introduction to the Restoration period that could be used with more able KS3 students, or with KS4 students studying AQA’s Restoration England unit. It could be a good as a homework before starting the unit, as an activity to develop a strong sense of period and chronological understanding or as a springboard for class discussion of key substantive concepts like ‘commonwealth’.

Students answer questions about a primary source – a picture of Samuel Pepys from the National Portrait Gallery – and use their responses to answer the enquiry question of the title. They then carry out internet research to learn more about Pepys' life and what it reveals about the historical period more generally.

An extract from the resource:

Key question

Possible answers

Reason for thinking this

Who might be in this portrait?

Someone rich

Someone poor

Someone important

 

What do you think is important to them?

Fashion

Reputation

Music and theatre

 

When do you think this painting is from?

C15th

C16th

C17th

 

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