Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Hall of Changemakers: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Hall of Changemakers is a free printable history worksheet for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Children fill the gallery frames, write museum labels, then nominate one person for a statue and say why. Page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help ideas, a stretch task 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. It is two A4 pages. Give page 1 to the child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children work like museum curators. They draw people in gallery frames, including Walter Tull and Mary Seacole. They write a short museum label that gives a name and one job. They think like a historian by naming a place where facts could be checked. Then they choose one person to nominate for a statue and give a reason. There are lines for writing and boxes for drawing or notes.
- Frame 1: Draw Walter Tull
- Frame 2: Draw Mary Seacole
- Museum label for Frame 1: write his name and one job he did.
- Name one place a historian could look to check the facts.
What makes a good museum label
Keep it short
A label is read by someone standing in front of a picture or object. Aim for a few clear lines, not a whole page.
Say who and what
Start with the person's name. Then add one clear fact about what they did, written in your own words.
Stick to what you know
Write facts the fact bank supports. Keep opinions for the statue choice, where you can give your reasons.
Why look at changemakers in history?
A changemaker is a person whose actions made life different for other people. Looking at their lives helps children see that history is made by real people who made choices. Walter Tull and Mary Seacole are two people many British children learn about. Children can compare how each is remembered and think about why their stories still matter today.
Historians do not only collect facts. They ask questions, look for evidence and decide how far a source can be trusted. They also ask why some people are remembered with statues and displays. This sheet lets children try those habits in a small way. They write like a museum, ask a historical question and defend a choice.
Did you know?
- Museum labels are short so visitors can read them quickly while they look at the display.
- Historians start with questions about the past, then look for evidence to help answer them.
- A statue is one way a town or country can show it wants people to remember someone.
- Historians try to compare more than one source, because one source may leave things out.
Skills and curriculum link
- Writing museum labels
- Asking historical questions
- Giving reasons
- Using a fact bank
- Thinking about sources
Ideas for talking about history
- Ask good questionsA historical question starts with words like who, why, how or what changed. Ask your child to think of one question they would like to ask a person from the past.
- Check where facts come fromHistorians want to know where information came from. Ask, "How do we know this is true?" Let your child suggest ways to find out.
- Give reasonsA choice is stronger with a because. Encourage your child to give at least one reason for the person they pick, then listen to a different view.
- Respect different choicesSeveral people can deserve to be remembered. There is no single right pick for the statue, so focus on how well the reason is explained.
Key words
- ChangemakerA person whose actions changed things for other people.
- Museum labelA short piece of writing that tells visitors about a person or object on display.
- HistorianA person who studies the past and tries to understand what happened and why.
- SourceSomething that gives information about the past, such as a book, a letter or a photograph.
- EvidenceInformation that helps show whether something is true.
- NominateTo suggest someone for an honour or a choice.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for the child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the fact bank together. Talk about anything that is new or unclear before drawing starts.
- Let the child draw in the frames, then write each museum label in their own words.
- Ask them to choose one person for the statue and give a reason. Then check the work against the notes on page 2.
- Come back to it another day. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Give a sentence starter for each label, such as This is ... He or she was a ... Read the fact bank aloud together and let the child point to the fact they want to use. Do one label together, then let them try the next on their own.
To stretch confident children
Research another Black British pioneer and write a third museum label. Then explain why a historian should trust your source. Say where the information came from and whether you found the same fact in more than one place.
Make it a game
Display the finished frames as a class or family gallery. Each visitor gets a counter and places it by the person they would choose for the statue. They must give one reason before they vote. Count the counters at the end.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA label copies a long chunk from the fact bank.
Try thisAsk the child to pick one fact and say it in their own words. A good label is short, so cover the fact bank and write from memory.
Watch forThe statue choice has a name but no reason.
Try thisAsk, "Why that person?" Then say the word because and let the child finish the sentence.
Watch forAn opinion is written as a fact on a label.
Try thisExplain that labels give facts and the statue choice is where opinions go. Ask, "Could a historian check this?"
Talk about it
- What does a changemaker do that other people might not?
- Why do you think museums use short labels?
- What question would you ask Walter Tull or Mary Seacole if you could meet them?
- How can we tell if a source is trustworthy?
- Who would you put a statue up for, and why?
- Is there someone in your own town or family who has changed things for others?
Take it off the page
Family changemakers
Ask a grown-up about someone in your family or community who made a difference. Draw a frame and write a short label for them.
Local statue hunt
Look for a statue, plaque or memorial on a walk or in a book. Talk about who it remembers and why someone chose them.
Home museum
Pick three objects at home. Write a short label for each one and set them out as a tiny museum for visitors.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit with your child for the first label, then let them lead. Ask them to explain their statue choice aloud. Short bursts work well, and you can split the sheet over two sittings.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary in a history topic, as an early finisher task or as a table activity. The frames make a good display. Page 2 has support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with library books or a visit to a local museum. Children of different ages can each write a label for the same person and compare. It can be printed again for revision later.
Where this fits in history learning
Before this sheet, children benefit from hearing stories about people from the past and learning that history is built from evidence. They may have met the idea of a timeline and talked about why we remember some people.
After it, children can write longer biographies, compare how two people are remembered and weigh up sources. In Key Stage 2 history, this supports the strands on asking historical questions and understanding how we know about the past.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Hall of Changemakers for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger children may enjoy it with a lot of help, and older ones can use the stretch idea on page 2.
- What will children practise?
Children practise writing short museum labels, asking historical questions and giving reasons for a choice in history. They also use a fact bank and think about where facts come from.
- How do I use it?
Read the fact bank together. Children draw, then write labels in their own words before choosing a person for the statue. Check the work against the notes and answers on page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Offer a sentence starter for each label, such as This is ... He or she was a ... Read the fact bank aloud and do the first label together before letting the child try alone.
- 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.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and the finished frames make a good display.
- How long does it take?
It depends on the child. There is no set time. Some children will want to finish in one go, while others do better with a short sitting for drawing and another for writing and the statue choice.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.