Great Fire of London Order: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 2

Great Fire of London Order is a free printable history worksheet for Year 2 (ages 6 to 7). Children read six events from the Great Fire of London in 1666 and put them in the right order. It builds sequencing and early chronology, and it uses words such as first, next and then. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, a stretch idea and the answers.

It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.

What is on the sheet

Children read six short events about the Great Fire of London. The events are mixed up on the page, so children must decide which happened first, which came next and which came last. The sheet has steps to put in order and lines for writing. It works best when children say each event aloud, think about what must come before it, and explain their choices.

• The fire burns for several days.
• People start to rebuild London.
• A fire starts in a baker's shop on Pudding Lane.
• A tall Monument is built to remember the fire.
• The flames spread between wooden houses.
• The fire is brought under control.

Why teach the Great Fire of London in Year 2?

This topic is about fire, so keep the talk and play pretend only. Real fire, matches and candles are for adults to handle. Children should never play with them. If you act out the events, use paper or cloth for flames and keep all real flames away.

Did you know?

• The Great Fire of London happened in 1666, a very long time ago.
• Many houses in London then were made of wood and stood close together.
• A man called Samuel Pepys wrote a diary and described what he saw at the time.
• There were no modern fire engines. People used buckets of water and simple tools.
• Historians use diaries, pictures and old records to find out about events that nobody alive can remember.

Skills and curriculum link

• Sequencing events
• Chronology
• Using time words
• History vocabulary
• Reading carefully
• Explaining a choice

Ideas to help children sequence events

• Time wordsSay first, next, then and last out loud. Ask your child to use one of these words each time they explain where an event belongs.
• Before and afterFor each event, ask what must have happened before it. Then ask what could only happen after it.
• Tell it as a storyOnce the events are in order, ask your child to tell the whole story in their own words, from the start to the end.
• Cause and effectTalk about how one event led to another. Ask why something happened, not only when. This helps the order make sense.

Key words

• EventSomething that happens. The Great Fire of London was a big event.
• OrderThe way things are lined up, one after another.
• SequenceA set of events or things placed in the order they happen.
• Beyond living memoryToo long ago for anyone alive to remember it.
• RebuildTo build something again after it has been damaged.
• MonumentA tall building or statue made to help people remember something.

How to use it

1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
2. Read each event aloud. Explain that the houses were made of wood and stood close together.
3. Work through the activity together the first time. Talk about each choice and ask your child why they chose it.
4. Check against the notes and answers on page 2. If an event is in the wrong place, ask what clue might help.
5. Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.

Help, stretch and game ideas

Mistakes to watch for

Talk about it

• Why do you think it is good to know the order of events?
• What time words can you use to tell this story?
• How do you think people felt when they saw the fire?
• Why might wooden houses close together be a problem?
• What would you want to ask someone who was there?
• How could we find out about something that happened a long time ago?

Take it off the page

Who it is for

Where this fits in history learning

Before this sheet, children in Year 1 learn to talk about the past and put familiar events in order, such as their own day or week. They use words such as before, after, then and now. This sheet builds on that with an event from long ago.

After it, children can look at other significant events and people from the past, make simple timelines and begin to ask questions about how we know. They can also compare what life was like then with life now.

Questions parents and teachers ask

What age is Great Fire of London Order for?

It is written for Year 2, ages 6 to 7, in Key Stage 1. Younger children can try it with help, and older children can use the stretch idea on page 2.

What will children practise?

Children practise sequencing and chronology. They put six events from the Great Fire of London in order, and they use time words such as first, next and then. They also meet some simple history vocabulary.

Do children need to know the story first?

No. Read each event aloud and talk about it together. It helps to explain that the houses were made of wood and stood close together. A picture book beforehand can also help.

What if my child finds it hard?

Cut the events out and move them into order on the table. Moving pieces is easier than writing. Start with the first and last events, then fill in the middle together.

Is it free?

Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers, sisters or a later revision session.

Can teachers use it in class?

Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 has support, stretch and answers.

Do I need to print in colour?

No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children only need a pencil to complete it.