The Plague - Why did it die out?
Short reading on why the Great Plague of London faded after 1665, drawing on Samuel Pepys and changes in hygiene, water supplies, shipping routes and living conditions, followed by two open-ended questions.

- Grades
- Grades 1–4, Elementary
- Pages
- 1
- File type
- Preparation
- Print ready
- Subject
- Social Studies, History, History: British
- Topic
- plague, died
- Resource types
- Worksheets & Printables, Worksheets
- Preparation
- Print ready
About this resource
What's inside this resource
The Plague - Why Did It Die Out? is an informative social studies resource that looks at the history of the Plague, the devastating disease that killed millions in Europe in the 1300s. This 1-page worksheet begins by summarizing why the Plague eventually died out after years of outbreaks. Two open-ended assessment questions then allow students to analyze the text and share their understanding. Useful as a whole class or small group activity, this engaging resource can facilitate rich discussion about pivotal moments in British history. The printable handout is fully editable for flexibility. Educators can modify questions or add their own to meet instructional needs. Simple yet thought-provoking, The Plague resource provides a glimpse into the past while building essential comprehension skills.
In the classroom
Teaching tips & learning objectives
Learning objectives
- Identify what Samuel Pepys suggests reduced plague deaths
- Explain which factor best accounts for the end of the plague, using the passage
Teaching tips
- The second question asks for the student's own judgment, so it could anchor a short class discussion comparing the factors.
Skills covered
- Cause and effect in history — students weigh the factors in the passage and choose the strongest explanation
- Reading a primary source quote — students pull Pepys' view from the quotation
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