Cops and robbers - What do you know about Henry VIII

The 'Cops and Robbers' activity is an engaging educational exercise designed to encourage collaborative learning among pupils. In this activity, a group of four students is formed, and each member is given two minutes to jot down everything they can recall about Henry VIII on one side of a chart. This initial phase allows pupils to independently access their own knowledge about the Tudor king, who is a significant figure in British history.

Following the individual recall, each pupil gets a one-minute opportunity to review the information recorded by their peers. During this time, they are on the lookout for any new or additional facts that they hadn't noted themselves. This 'stolen knowledge' is then added to a separate section of the chart, enabling students to learn from each other and collectively expand their understanding of Henry VIII. The activity is not only a fun way to share information but also incentivises learning by awarding two points for each new piece of information recorded. The entire activity is designed to last approximately 15 minutes, making it a quick and interactive way to reinforce historical knowledge in a classroom setting.