Study Guides

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read a mixture of contemporary and nineteenth-century non-fiction texts that explore a common theme of childhood. They first read and compare the texts, before then writing and delivering a speech as part of a debate on Victorian working class children.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to read summarise different attitudes towards child labour in the Victorian era.

Key Notes

• Attitudes towards child labour were less strict in the Victorian era.
• There are more laws today than in Victorian Britain to protect children from unsafe working conditions.
• Young boys from lower social classes were expected to do dangerous jobs in the Victorian era.
• Comparative conjunctions are useful for connecting sentences to previous ideas.
• Comparisons are useful when comparing differences between authors' attitudes or ideas.

Vocabulary To Learn

• Labour: work, particularly physical work, can be referred to as labour.
• Compel: if you force or oblige someone to do something, you compel them to do it.
• Chimney sweep: a chimney sweep was someone who would clean the channel above a fireplace, which takes smoke out of buildings.
• Callous: callous people have a cruel disregard for others.
• Mercenary: a mercenary is primarily concerned with making money at the expense of ethics.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

• Comparisons are either clear similarities or clear differences.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

More Lessons In This Unit

• Delivering speeches about supporting Victorian working class children Study Guide
• Developing active listening skills Study Guide
• Education for poor Victorian children Study Guide
• Exploring youth justice in the Victorian era Study Guide
• Preparing a speech about supporting Victorian working class children Study Guide
• Writing a persuasive speech about supporting Victorian children Study Guide
• Writing speeches about supporting Victorian working class children Study Guide