History at key stages 1 and 2 (Year 5/6)

Unit 11: What was it like for children living in Victorian Britain?
Section 4: What was it like going to school at the end of the nineteenth century?

Objectives

Children should learn:

to compare modern and Victorian schooling
to communicate through drama their understanding of the nature of school life in Victorian times

Activities

Outcomes

Children:

Show the children pictures of school life at the end of the nineteenth century and discuss how school appears different from today, eg uniforms, architecture and interiors of classrooms.

Referring to the time line, talk briefly about the 1870 Education Act, and how schooling was not free until 1891. Use sources to illustrate aspects of school life at this time, eg extracts from stories, school logbooks, inspection reports.

Ask the children to produce a conversation between two children, one established in school and the other a new arrival who had been working in a factory, mill or mine for years. Select children to present their work to the class.

Lead a discussion on the differences in the views of school and work and why the children in the nineteenth century would have interpreted school life differently.

identify distinctive features of a Victorian school
produce a dialogue that contains appropriate historical detail
suggest there are different interpretations of school and work

Points to note

This activity would be enhanced by a visit to one of the many reconstructions of Victorian classrooms in museums etc.

The classroom furniture could be rearranged and a Victorian lesson/school day recreated.

Museum loan services can sometimes provide artefacts from Victorian schoolrooms, including desks, books and slates.

Sections in this unit

<< previous section

next section >>

This unit is divided into sections. Each section contains a sequence of activities with related objectives and outcomes. You can view this unit by moving through the sections or print/download the whole unit.


	1. Who were the Victorians and when did they live?
	2. What was life like for a poor child in the 1840s?
	3. Who helped to improve the lives of Victorian children?
	4. What was it like going to school at the end of the nineteenth century?
	5. How did different Victorian children use their spare time?
	6. How did life change for children living in Victorian Britain?