Schools Then, Schools Now

Project overview

Children will learn about the history of their own school, before finding out what schools were like in Victorian times. They will study artefacts from Victorian schools to find out what they were used for and what they can tell us about the past. Children will ‘meet’ Samuel Wilderspin, the creator of infant school education, and experience what it was like to learn in a Victorian classroom. At the end of the project, they will compare schools in Victorian times with schools today.

It is built upon our four-stage primary focused pedagogyEngage, Develop, Innovate, Express – to get your children curious about the project ahead, develop and then use new skills and knowledge, before finally allowing them to express their thoughts, ideas and reflections on what they have learnt.

*This project is part of the Cornerstones History Curriculum and not sold separately.

What’s included

Schools Then, Schools Now is a comprehensive History project that boasts an array of essentials including:

  • 6

    Lesson activities

  • 29

    Resources

  • Knowledge Organiser

Project scope

Schools Then, Schools Now provides a structured approach to History, outlining key subjects and topics including:

Subject

  • History

Topics

  • School life in the Victorian era

  • Victorian artefacts

  • Samuel Wilderspin

  • Changes through time

  • What the three Rs are (Reading, wRiting, and aRithmetic)

  • Classroom punishments in the Victorian era

  • Victorian playground games

  • Victorian era

Looking for a full History curriculum?

If you’re looking for inspiring lessons and resources across the whole History curriculum, then the Cornerstones History Curriculum offers everything you need for single or multi-year groups, with a collection of projects designed by subject experts to support teachers and subject leaders at every level of subject knowledge.