Why did the fire spread so quickly and burn for so long? - Teacher notes

In an engaging lesson about the Great Fire of London, children are initially presented with 15 captivating facts about the historical event. These facts serve as a springboard for the students to create thought-provoking questions to challenge their peers. The interactive element of the lesson is further enhanced through participation in the 'Great Chase Game', which provides a dynamic learning experience. Subsequently, the children are directed to watch educational videos and explore an online game multiple times to deepen their understanding of the fire's rapid spread.

After absorbing the content from the provided internet resources, the pupils engage in a discussion to explore the reasons behind the fire's swift propagation and contemplate what measures could have been implemented to prevent such rapid spread. The conversation then extends to a comparison with the fire at Grenfell Tower, prompting students to consider differences in how the two fires behaved. To bring the lesson to life, the teacher conducts a practical demonstration by attempting to set fire to various materials including paper, wood, stone, and plastic. Observing the combustion properties of these materials, the students discuss why the houses in London during the time of the Great Fire were so susceptible to catching fire. This hands-on experiment and the subsequent discussion aim to help students grasp the lessons learned from this historical event and understand the factors that contributed to the fire's duration and intensity.