Year 1 History: Victorian Toys

In their History lessons, Year 1 have been studying toys from the past. The children had a Victorian visitor: the toy-factory owner Mrs Pollock. She taught our pupils about the difficulties faced by poor children in Victorian times through a range of activities. Mrs Pollock explained the jobs the children would have to do when they were employed in a factory.

Wearing straw boaters and flat caps, Year 1 used drama and traditional songs to act out various jobs before they played with Victorian toys. When Mrs Pollock left, they made old peg dolls and paper dolls just like the ones children played with 100 years ago.

Year 1 gained a rich understanding of old toys and an appreciation of the challenges faced by children in Victorian times.