KS2 > Geography

Kings and Queens > Whitehall and Downing Street

LESSON
PLAN
1

Overall Aims:

  • Use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied.

Geographical Skills and Field Work

Comparing satellite images and ordinance survey maps to look at the development of Whitehall and Downing Street.

  1. Compare the extensive layout of Whitehall Palace (see map below) at its peak in 1680 to today’s street plan and satellite images. Can you find Downing Street, the home of the British Prime Minister since about 1732 by merging a modern street map and the map of 1680. Downing Street is not named but can be found near The Street.



    2. Attribution Photo Sergeant Tom Robinson RLC/MOD


  2. The overlay on the satellite image shows how large the area of the Palace was. You can tell by looking at the scale in the bottom left of the image. Why does the edge of the River Thames not line up with the current bank? Find out what is there now?


  3. Can you find Horse Guards on the 1860 map
  4. The Banqueting House is the only surviving building from Whitehall Palace. There is a black dot on the 1680 map. Find out what happened to Charles I here in 1649? Use an Ordnance Survey map to give the OS grid reference for the Banqueting House so someone can find its precise location.



    5. Horse Guards Parade. Attribution: Photo: Marco Verch

Download Resources

  1. geography1.pdf