History

Snapshot 1900

Key stage 3, History

snapshot_1900

Pupils will investigate a variety of primary source material to find our about middle class life in 1900 London. Through handling artefacts and inventories dating form 1850 they will deduce the occupations, leisure pursuits, education, income and expenditure and domestic arrangements of a middle class family, in the context of the 1900 period room. In addition, pupils will learn about the decorative styles and new domestic technologies emerging at the turn of the Century.

Pupils will have the opportunity to work in small groups, interpret artefacts and present their findings.

Optional creative activity:

Inspired by William Morris fabric samples from the handling collection, pupils will used simple block printing techniques to create their own nature-inspired motifs, fabric swatches and repeat patterns on calico.

Curriculum links:

History KS3, QCA unit 12 ‘Snapshot 1900 what was British middle class life like’
The unit builds upon history unit 11 ‘industrial changes’ and compliments unit 14 ‘the British Empire’. It can also be linked with unit 9c art and design ‘personal places, public spaces’ and unit 9 ‘shopping – past, present and future’ in the geography scheme of work.

Secondary Special

Choosing the Chintz: Decorating the Home, from 1850 to the present

choosing_the_chintz

Cover of catalogue for Till and Kennedy Ltd, 1930-39

This special session accompanies Choosing the Chintz - a major exhibition of artefacts and photographs documenting the role of men and women in furnishing the home. This is a unique and limited opportunity to study primary source material from 1850 to the present day.

In this session pupils will:

Investigate how people decorated their homes in the past
Discuss how people choose to decorate today
Investigate a variety of decorative objects and source material from the Nineteenth Century
Design a simple printing block for wallpaper and create a print

Curriculum links

It can also be linked with unit 9c art and design, 'personal places, public spaces', and unit 9 'shopping - past, present and future' in the geography scheme of work.