Lesson Plan - Children of the Fog: Daily Life in Victorian London
This lesson plan is all about the real lives of children in Victorian London — not the fun adventure stories, but the hard truth about poverty, workhouses, child labour, and daily struggles. It’s designed to help you explain what life was like for working-class children during the 1800s, especially in the fog-filled streets of a growing industrial city. The plan uses discussion and creative tasks to help children understand how unfair and dangerous life could be back then, while encouraging empathy and critical thinking.
I’ve kept everything simple and easy to follow, even if you’re not confident with history. You’ll find clear instructions, guiding questions, and ideas for deeper learning. It’s suitable for a wide age range (8–16), so you can pick the activities that work best for your child. There’s no need to memorise facts — just read together, ask questions, and talk about what life was really like. If your child enjoys storytelling or drawing, there are some great projects included too.
This topic is part of our Info Zone collection. You can read the full topic, once logged in, here: Children of the Fog: Daily Life in Victorian London
You’ll also find a full Lesson Plan and a handy Parent Q & A sheet, for this topic, ready to use..
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Lesson Plan Children of the Fog – Daily Life in Victorian London |
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| Overview | This lesson introduces the real experiences of children in Victorian London — from child labour and poor housing to workhouses and survival on the streets. Learners will explore the human cost of industrial progress and consider how society treated its most vulnerable members. |
| Learning Objectives |
- Understand the daily life of working-class children during the Victorian era - Describe the conditions in factories, workhouses, and slums - Reflect on how these experiences shaped laws and education - Explore how poverty affected children's health and chances in life |
| Estimated Time | 60–90 minutes (flexible depending on tasks selected) |
| Starter Activity |
Ask: "What do you think life was like for children 150 years ago?" Look at an image of a Victorian child worker (from the article). How do they look? What might they be thinking? Discuss: Would you trade places with them for one day? |
| Read and Learn |
Read the topic page: Children of the Fog – Daily Life in Victorian London Then discuss:
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| Activities |
Comprehension Questions:
Look up the phrase "pea-souper fog" and explain what caused it. Comparison Task: List 3 ways your life is different from a Victorian child’s. |
| Deeper Thinking |
Big Question: “Was Victorian society fair to children?” List arguments for and against. Try to think about what people believed at the time vs. what we know now. Optional: Link to discussions about child poverty today. |
| Creative Projects |
- Write a diary entry from the point of view of a chimney sweep or flower seller - Create a comic strip about a day in the life of a workhouse child - Draw a street scene in Victorian London, including fog, children, and signs of poverty - Create a “then and now” poster comparing Victorian life with your own |
| Review & Reflect |
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| Extensions & Homework |
- Research the life of Charles Dickens and how he wrote about child poverty - Watch a documentary or dramatisation set in Victorian London - Make a fact file about jobs children did and the risks they faced - Learn about the charities that campaigned for better children’s rights |