The Great Fire of London Wordsearch Challenge
Learning Objective: To consolidate and reinforce key vocabulary related to the Great Fire of London.
About this resource
This engaging wordsearch challenge is designed for Year 4 KS2 pupils to consolidate and reinforce key vocabulary associated with the Great Fire of London. It provides a fun and interactive way for children to practise spelling and recognise important terms from this historical event, directly supporting English curriculum objectives for vocabulary development. Perfect for a starter activity, plenary, or independent learning task during a history topic.
| S | N | Z | M | C | R | M | F | I | R | E | Y | C | V |
| N | A | D | J | O | S | T | P | A | U | L | S | X | P |
| F | K | M | E | X | N | P | R | Z | P | R | X | T | Z |
| J | G | I | U | S | U | U | K | O | C | C | M | H | P |
| C | F | B | N | E | T | Z | M | M | U | R | T | A | U |
| L | L | M | C | G | L | R | G | E | R | I | Z | M | D |
| O | A | B | A | J | C | P | U | M | N | J | H | E | D |
| N | M | A | T | R | J | H | E | C | J | T | D | S | I |
| D | E | K | H | C | P | O | A | P | T | Q | M | U | N |
| O | S | E | E | X | V | L | N | R | Y | I | O | V | G |
| N | O | R | D | H | F | G | U | K | L | S | O | K | L |
| E | G | Y | R | P | X | E | B | M | O | E | X | N | A |
| P | F | W | A | E | S | C | A | P | E | K | S | A | N |
| G | N | N | L | L | C | R | E | B | U | I | L | D | E |
Find these words
Words to Find
15-20 minutesFind the following words hidden in the puzzle. Words can be found horizontally, vertically, or diagonally.
Word List
N/APuddingLane Bakery Fire London SamuelPepys KingCharles StPauls Cathedral Rebuild Monument Thames Flames Destruction Escape
Teacher Instructions for Use
5 minutes prepThis wordsearch is designed for Year 4 pupils studying the Great Fire of London as part of their Key Stage 2 History curriculum. It serves as an excellent starter activity to recap prior learning, a plenary to consolidate new vocabulary, or a fun homework task.
Preparation: Print copies of the wordsearch for each pupil. You might choose to have them work individually or in pairs.
Activity: Explain the task to the pupils. Encourage them to tick off each word from the list as they find it in the grid. Remind them that words can be hidden in all directions (horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards, and backwards).
Discussion: After completing the wordsearch, lead a brief discussion on the words found. Ask pupils if they can recall the significance of each word in relation to the Great Fire of London. This helps to deepen their understanding beyond just word recognition.
Extension Activity: Define and Describe
10-15 minutesOnce pupils have found all the words, challenge them to choose five of the words and write a short sentence or definition for each, explaining its connection to the Great Fire of London. For example, 'Pudding Lane was the street where the fire started in a bakery.' This encourages deeper engagement with the vocabulary and historical context.
Differentiation
SEN Support
Provide a pre-highlighted list of words for pupils to trace over before finding them in the grid. Pair pupils with a supportive peer. Allow access to visual aids or a word mat with definitions if available.
EAL Support
Pre-teach key vocabulary using flashcards or images. Allow pupils to use a bilingual dictionary. Encourage them to work with a partner who can support their understanding of the words.
Gifted & Talented
Challenge pupils to find additional words related to the Great Fire of London that are not on the list (e.g., 'firebreak', 'diarist', 'rat'). Ask them to create their own wordsearch using more complex vocabulary or a larger grid.
Key Vocabulary
Assessment Criteria
- Pupils can correctly identify and locate key vocabulary related to the Great Fire of London.
- Pupils can articulate the meaning or significance of selected vocabulary words in context.
- Pupils demonstrate an understanding of the historical events through vocabulary recognition.