Year 2 - History
The Great Exhibition
Queen Victoria: how did Britain change during her lifetime?
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 teaches students about life in Britain from 1837-1901. They learn about key events like Victoria's accession, the railways, and the Great Exhibition. The unit explores how her reign defines the period, technological advances, and connections within Britain and globally.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe what the Great Exhibition was and why it was significant.
Key Notes
- Many people in Victorian Britain were proud of new inventions that were introduced at that time.
- Prince Albert was one of these people; in 1851, he organised the Great Exhibition to celebrate new modern inventions.
- The Crystal Palace, a huge steel and glass building, was built for the exhibition.
- Albert invited inventors from all over Britain and the world to show off their inventions.
- More than six million people, roughly a third of Britain's population, visited the exhibition.
Vocabulary To Learn
- invention: an invention is something new that has never been created before
- modern: something to do with the present or current time is described as modern
- exhibition: an exhibition is a public show of art, crafts, products, or skills
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may think that the Crystal Palace is still standing or that it can be seen or visited today.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Summarise this historical learning in two key ideas.
Many people in Victorian Britain were proud of new inventions that were introduced at that time. Prince Albert was one of these people; in 1851, he organised the Great Exhibition to celebrate new modern inventions.
2. Define this history term and explain why it matters in this topic. 'invention'
an invention is something new that has never been created before.
3. Correct this common history misconception using evidence language.
Mistake: Pupils may think that the Crystal Palace is still standing or that it can be seen or visited today. Correction: The Crystal Palace was a temporary structure built for the exhibition. It was relocated and rebuilt in another part of London but was later destroyed by fire. The surrounding area was then named Crystal Palace to show how important the structure was.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Alice Kinloch and the Victorian British Empire Study Guide
- Britain at the time of Victoria's death Study Guide
- Factories in Britain during Victorian times Study Guide
- Victoria, Empress of India Study Guide
- Victoria, Scotland and John Brown Study Guide
- Victoria's 'melancholy' childhood Study Guide
- Victoria's accession to the throne Study Guide
- Victoria's children Study Guide
- Victoria's proposal and marriage to Albert Study Guide
- Victorian childhood Study Guide
- Victorian society Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 2 History guide library.