The Homeschool Almanac

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Story · for reading together

Bonfire Night and the Gunpowder Plot

In 1605, some men in England were very angry with the King, James I. They did not just want to shout at him. They planned to blow up the whole HOUSE OF PARLIAMENT while the King was inside it.

They rolled 36 big barrels of gunpowder into a cellar right under Parliament. One of the plotters, called Guy Fawkes, was the man who stayed to light the fuse.

But someone sent a warning letter. Just before midnight on 4 November, the King's men crept down into the cellar with lanterns — and there was Guy Fawkes, with a slow match in his hand. The plot failed. The next year, people lit bonfires all over England to remember, and we still do. More than four hundred years later.

Retell the story

In three pictures

Three pictures: the barrels rolling into the cellar, the King's men creeping in with a lantern, and a great big bonfire the next year.

1.Barrels in the cellar
2.The lantern
3.The bonfire

Answer key: 36 barrels.

Number & measure

Counting the hours

There were 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar under Parliament.

  1. a)36 is a big number. Say it slowly. Now count in tens up to 30 and then say ‘6 more’: 10, 20, 30, and 6 more.
  2. b)If Guy Fawkes has 6 barrels in one corner and 4 barrels in another corner, how many barrels is that? 6 + 4 = ?
  3. c)The plot was on 5 November. What number month is November? Count on your fingers from January.
  4. d)Draw 5 candles. Blow one out. How many still burning?

Answer key: b) 10 c) 11 d) 4

Draw the inside

Your drawing

Draw an old lantern like the King's men carried, sliced open. A candle inside. Little glass windows. A handle on top. A base underneath to catch the drips.

drawn by me

Labels

  • · handle
  • · top vent
  • · glass window
  • · candle
  • · base