Year 2 pupils from Minerva Primary Academy visited the SS Great Britain as part of their historians’ unit about the impact of the Victorian era on our lives today.
Pupils took part in workshops, enjoyed dressing up and had a guided tour of the ship. They developed their knowledge of the Victorian era and the ship’s creator Isambard Kingdom Brunel. They also discovered that there were very different conditions for rich and poor people on the ship. Pupils saw where passengers slept, where they kept their food, and they even saw a talking toilet.
What’s more, they were surprised to discover that there were cows, pigs, horses and chickens on the ship, which were used for food, and that they were very smelly! Pupils are now very excited to learn about other significant people as part of their upcoming history unit.
Slaney Mitchell and Laura McGuinness, Year 2 teachers, said, “Year 2 had a fantastic experience on their recent trip to the SS Great Britain. The interactive nature of the ship meant that the living conditions could be experienced first-hand.
“Pupils particularly enjoyed dressing in Victorian clothes to take part in a mock launching of the ship. We gathered lots of knowledge about travel, trade, and industry to help us understand how Victorian inventions impact on our lives today.
“Thank you so much to all the staff and volunteers who made this an unforgettable experience for the pupils.”