Great Fire of London - Unit Assessment

The Great Fire of London is a significant historical event that Year 2 students are assessed on to gauge their understanding of its impact on the city's history. The unit assessment consists of multiple-choice questions that test the students' knowledge of key facts about the fire. For instance, they are asked to identify the year the fire occurred, with the correct answer being 1666. They must also know where the fire started, which was on Pudding Lane, and the name of the diarist who provided valuable insights into life during that time, Samuel Pepys.

Further questions explore the practical aspects of the fire, such as the river Thames being the source of water used to fight the flames and the reasons for the rapid spread of the fire, including the close proximity of wooden houses and the dry, windy conditions. The duration of the fire, the bakery owner's name where it began, and the preceding event, the great plague, are also queried. Additionally, students reflect on the improvements made in London following the fire, such as the construction of homes that were not too close together. The assessment encourages critical thinking by asking students to identify reliable sources of evidence about the Great Fire, such as the diary of Samuel Pepys and contemporary newspapers, distinguishing them from unreliable sources like photographs which did not exist at the time or internet information from 1666.