The Secret Life of Victorian Kids: How Children Survived Queen Victoria's Reign
The lesson plan for The Secret Life of Victorian Kids: How Children Survived Queen Victoria’s Reign is a flexible, engaging resource for families using Elective Home Education. It explores the fascinating, and often difficult, lives of children during the Victorian period—when child labour, strict schooling, and social divides shaped the daily experience of millions of young people.
This plan helps parents guide learners through the realities of childhood in Queen Victoria’s Britain. It includes clear objectives, discussion prompts, creative activities, comprehension tasks, and ideas for deeper reflection. Whether your child enjoys storytelling, research, or drawing, there’s something here to suit different learning styles.
You can use this plan as a single session or spread it out over a longer project on British history. It encourages curiosity and critical thinking while offering structure and support for parents. The topic builds understanding of history, empathy for others, and knowledge about the roots of today’s rights and education systems.
This topic is part of our Info Zone collection. You can read the full topic, once logged in, here: The Secret Life of Victorian Kids: How Children Survived Queen Victoria’s Reign
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 The Secret Life of Victorian Kids: How Children Survived Queen Victoria's Reign | |
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| Overview | This home education lesson explores the real lives of Victorian children in history. From strict schools and tough jobs to playtime and family life, learners will gain a clear understanding of how children lived during Queen Victoria's reign. |
| Learning Objectives |
- Understand how class and background affected Victorian childhood - Explore child labour, education, and daily life in the 1800s - Develop empathy and critical thinking through creative tasks |
| Estimated Time | 60–90 minutes |
| Starter Activity |
Ask: "What do you think your life would be like if you lived 150 years ago?" Show a picture of a Victorian child worker (chimney sweep, factory worker, or street seller). What do you notice about their clothes, expression, and surroundings? |
| Read and Learn |
Read the full topic: The Secret Life of Victorian Kids. Then explore these discussion questions:
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| Activities | Comprehension Questions:
Creative Writing: Write a diary entry as a Victorian child. Choose one of these roles: chimney sweep, rich girl with a governess, street seller, or factory worker. Describe your day from morning to night. Roleplay: Pretend you are interviewing a Victorian child. Take turns asking and answering questions about their life, work, family, and hopes for the future. |
| Deeper Thinking | Big Question: "Should children ever be expected to work to help their families?" Discuss with your learner. You might consider historical context, fairness, and modern-day child rights. |
| Creative Projects |
- Design a “Victorian Toy Catalogue” with hand-drawn illustrations and descriptions - Draw a street scene showing the difference between rich and poor children - Create a storyboard showing a day in the life of a Victorian child from a chosen background (rich or poor) |
| Review & Reflect | Ask your learner:
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| Extensions & Homework |
- Research the story of a real Victorian child (e.g., Charles Dickens’s childhood) - Watch a short film or documentary on Victorian life for children - Compare life for Victorian kids with your own: food, clothing, chores, and education |
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