Elizabeth I's reign and legacy: a four-minute film

Overview

Explore what Westminster Abbey, the burial place of Elizabeth I, can tell us about her reign and legacy. Presented by a Westminster Abbey Learning Officer, this short film explores the symbolism of Elizabeth I's tomb and considers her burial site in relation to Mary I and Mary, Queens of Scots, considering their contentious relationships and religious differences. Students will get a deeper understanding of how to examine burial sites as a primary source and what they can tell us about the priorities of the monarchs who designed them.  

This film is ideal as a starter or consolidation activity in a wider lesson about Elizabeth I's life and legacy. Download the accompanying teachers' notes document, which includes a full transcript.