Made to Last

• The Shoemaker's Workshop pupil zone interactive

Learning Objectives:

• To develop understanding of how changes in work during Victorian times impacted on the lives of people
• To use creative writing techniques to explore issues and roles

 Activities:

1. Look at The Northampton Shoemaker together. Ask the pupils to explain what they can see.
2. Now look at the Sewing Machine Poster. Explain that the onlooker/customer in the previous image is about to show the poster to the shoemaker and his wife. Read the poster together, encourage pupils to find the meaning of more difficult words.
3. Ask pupils to write speech or thought bubbles on the image expressing what they think the characters might feel about the announcement. 
4. Pupils can then use these ideas to write a short script for the scene.

Learning Objectives

• To investigate the ways in which the local area and work changed during the Victorian era
• To use dramatic techniques and conventions to explore feelings

Activities:

1. On a whiteboard, look at Manfield's Shoe Factory, Northampton, annotating the image, ask pupils what they can see and how it might feel to work there.
2. Ask pupils to recreate the sounds of the sewing machines, orally or by tapping. Ask them to make their sounds altogether. Ask them to imagine working for 8/9 hours a day 6 days a week with that noise, how would they feel? 
3. Compare the factory scene to The Northampton Shoemaker in his workshop at home. Ask pupils to write a list of the similarities and differences then say which they would prefer and why.

Learning Objectives:

• To develop understanding of the impact that changes in work had on the lives of people living during Victorian times
• To develop skills in persuasive writing

Activities:

1. Read the Shoe Factory Rules together. Explain that the rules were drawn up by manufacturers, particularly those who were tired of workers protesting about the working conditions. Ask the pupils to highlight the rules which appear strict.
2. Divide the class into 2 groups. Group 1 are workers who are planning a strike, they could make protest boards which express their feelings about the strict working conditions or a petition to persuade manufacturers to improve them. Group 2 are the manufacturers, they could make advertising posters persuading shoemakers to work in their factory.

• Training Boys in an Institution

 Learning Objectives:

• To find out what life was like for children living during the Victorian times

Activities:

1. During circle time look at Training boys in an institution. Discuss what is happening in the illustration. Ask pupils to think about why the boys might be unhappy and whether they would like to be in their shoes.
2. Read/watch extracts from Oliver to find out more about what life was like as a poor orphan child.
3. Ask pupils to write speech or thought bubbles for some of the boys then ask individuals to be "hot-seated" in role.
4. They could use the picture to write short plays for performance.

 Learning Objectives:

• To use the four number operations to solve real numerical problems
• To use calculators to find percentages
• To develop knowledge of the impact that changes in work had on the lives of people living in Victorian Britain

Extension Activity: Ask pupils to complete the attached worksheet,  examining census information between 1851 and 1871, to investigate what impact the introduction of machines had on the shoemaking industry in Northampton.

 Made to Last: Census Maths Challenge (1056 kb)