Curriculum links by theme
The Victorians
Curriculum links
Key Stage 2
History
- A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066 – Victorian Ideals.
- A local history study: A study of an aspect of history or a site dating from a period beyond 1066 that is significant in the locality.
Key Stage 3
History
- Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901.
- Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world 1901 to the present day.
- A local history study.
Suggested research questions
Key Stage 2
- What beliefs and traditions were important to the Victorians?
- Who worked during Victorian times? How did this change throughout the era?
- Which jobs were viewed to be higher class during the Victorian era? Has that changed over time?
- What shapes were common on Victorian coffin furniture? Why do you think this is?
Key Stage 3
- What beliefs and traditions were important to the Victorians? How are they similar or different to your own?
- How did Victorians view social classes? Has our view on social classes or ‘placing oneself above one’s station’ changed over time?
- Why do you think that there are so few records from the Victorian era at Newman Brothers?
- How did the Coffin Furniture Trade in Birmingham get drawn into organised crime and strike action in the late 1800s?
- What symbols were common during the Victorian era? What symbols are popular now? Are there any that are the same?
Suggested Activities
- Write a portal story about a child finding themselves in Victorian England.
- Create an updated catalogue for Newman Brothers, what shapes and images would you include?
- Write a poem describing a Victorian Funeral. What would you see, hear, feel, smell?
- Write a non-chronological report about an aspect of Victorian life; funerals, social classes or work conditions.
Links & Downloadable Resources
Victorian Life
http://www.coffinworks.org/objects/victorian-breastplate/
Coffin Furniture during the Victorian Era
http://www.coffinworks.org/objects/newman-brothers-trade-catalogues/
Newman Brothers during the Victorian era
Organised crime and strike action in Victorian Birmingham
http://www.coffinworks.org/letters-lies-and-crossing-the-picket-line/
Symbols of the Victorian era
Film Resources
The Victorian funeral
Victorian mourning
Victorian product catalogue
Further curriculum links
