Year 1 - History
Life aboard the SS Great Britain
John Cabot and Brunel
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit on explorers and seafaring gives students a clear sense of change over time, highlighting technological, economic, and cultural shifts. It covers the sea's role in trade and exploration and explores material culture, craftsmanship, and the influence of seafaring on language and art.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what life was like on board the SS Great Britain.
Key Notes
- The SS Great Britain was an iron-hulled steamship and was the world's largest ship at the time.
- Her role was to carry passengers across the Atlantic, and then to carry passengers to Australia.
- The passengers were divided into first-class and steerage; first-class paid more and had more luxurious cabins.
- Fresh food was taken but would be eaten at the start of the journey.
- First-class passengers had four meals with a huge choice; steerage passengers had to make do with simpler food.
Vocabulary To Learn
- iron-hulled: an iron-hulled boat has its hull made of iron, rather than wood or some other material
- cabin: a cabin is a room in a ship
- steerage: steerage tickets were the cheapest tickets on the ship and did not include a cabin to sleep in
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that in the past ships only carried sailors, captains or other people working on the ship.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
The SS Great Britain was an iron-hulled steamship and was the world's largest ship at the time. Her role was to carry passengers across the Atlantic, and then to carry passengers to Australia.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'iron-hulled'
an iron-hulled boat has its hull made of iron, rather than wood or some other material.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may think that in the past ships only carried sailors, captains or other people working on the ship. Correction: About 200 years ago, people began to travel through choice. People that travel on ships but do not work on them are called passengers.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Brunel's race to cross the Atlantic Study Guide
- Chinese innovation in seafaring Study Guide
- Early explorers and their boats Study Guide
- From sail to steam power Study Guide
- How Polynesian explorers travelled and navigated Study Guide
- John Cabot's journeys across the Atlantic Study Guide
- Seafaring 550 years ago Study Guide
- Seafaring in the early Mediterranean world Study Guide
- The incredible voyages of Zheng He Study Guide
- The Vikings and their longboats Study Guide
- Viking navigation and expansion Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 1 History guide library.