We did some observational drawings of the Victorian Fairy Garden lent to us by a parent.

Life was much harder for some children at the end of the 19th Century, especially if they were poor. Lots of children had to go out to work and earn extra money to help feed their families. Many of the jobs they had to do were very dangerous. Some young boys had to work as chimney sweeps or go underground to dig for coal and, if you were a bit older, you might work as a mudlark. Some boys even had to follow behind and shovel up the horse droppings – all the boys are VERY glad they don’t have to do that now! Girls used to work as scullery maids, in factories making clothes, or selling matches on the streets, even in freezing cold weather. They wouldn’t have very much to eat either – just a piece of bread and dripping if they were lucky.

We have also been learning about what life was like at school. We went to the Ragged School Museum and sat in the old Victorian classroom. In those days, girls and boys had to sit in rows and weren’t allowed to sit together like we do. The teachers were very strict would carry out a nail inspection at the beginning of the day to make sure that the children didn’t have dirty finger nails. If you misbehaved, or you didn’t know the answer to something, the teacher would cane you! We are so happy we go to school in the 21st Century.