The Six Wives of King Henry VIII

Divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived. For some of us, that's all we know about the six women who shared their lives (however briefly) with King Henry VIII of England. In this class, we'll focus more on the backstories and possible motivations of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr. What were their lives like before meeting the king? Why did they agree to marry such a notorious man? How did they face their ends?

In an interactive Nearpod lesson, learners will focus on each of Henry's six wives in turn. We will cover their early lives, marriages, and deaths. Learners will be introduced to several different historical theories about many of the wives and led to draw their own conclusions about the women's motivations. Learners will utilize polls, virtual field trips, and quiz games to enhance their understanding of this period of history.

Learners will not need any background knowledge for this lesson, as it is a general overview of the period. Learners will need access to a second device, such as a phone or tablet, to utilize the Nearpod slideshow during class.