Introduction

The Web site for this quest focuses on child labor laws that were passed in Great Britain during the reign of Queen Victoria. This time period, between 1837 and 1901, is often referred to as the Victorian Era. Before Queen Victoria’s reign, children as young as five years old worked in factories and sold newspapers. Business owners liked to hire children because they could force children to do more work for less money than adult workers. Some adults, however, thought this was unfair. They argued that many of these children were forced to work by their parents to bring in extra money for their family. They believed all children deserved an education. In this Web quest, you will read about children’s lives in Victorian Britain and decide if you think the children’s treatment was fair or unfair.

Destination Title

BBC: Children in Victorian Britain (http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/victorians/standard/)

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Directions

Click on the link above. In the middle of the page you will see three boxes that say “Work,” “Play,” and “School.” Click on the word “Learning” under the “Work” box. Next, click on the projector in the middle of the screen. Read about child workers in Victorian Britain. Click on “Next” at the bottom of each picture to go to the next page. After the slideshow, click on the link that says “Go to the work learning area.” Next click on the musical instrument to listen to children’s work experiences. After learning about child labor in Victorian Britain, go back to the home page and click on the word “Learning” under the “School” box. Click on the projector again. Follow the same steps you followed for “Work.” Do the same routine for “Play.” Return to the home page and click on “Game” under each category to test your knowledge.

1.	Once you have finished exploring this Web site, write a paragraph responding to what you have learned. How was life in Victorian Britain fair and unfair? How was life different for children in the Victorian Era similar to or different from your own life?