Year 5 enjoyed a visit to the Black Country Living Museum as part of their topic on Victorians.
In groups, girls investigated the lives of several characters which gave them the opportunity to explore the canal-side village and experience a drift mine. Within all the exhibits children were encouraged to interact with the characters they met and ask questions.
They visited shops such as Emile Doo’s Chemist and the General Store (no plastic wrapping for the food!). The lack of space was apparent whilst visiting the small cottages and ‘back to back’ two room homes. During the Victorian school lesson everyone had an ‘eye-opening’ experience….even adults on trip felt trepidation under the school masters eye. Girls also came face to face with the reality of mining in the Victorian era; dark, cramped and dusty with the risk of explosion was a daily challenge for many Black Country folk.
