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The Workhouse…

In English this morning, we continued reading Street Child by Berlie Doherty to develop our understanding of life in Victorian Britain for the poor. The chapters we read were all about the workhouse…and it does not sound like a very nice place!

The main character, Jim, faces a dilemma. Does he stay at the workhouse or does he try to escape? To help us understand what Jim was facing, we created a conscience alley of thoughts for and against staying.

This will all help our future work in creating a balanced argument about life in a Victorian workhouse!

Class 9 – what have you learnt about the workhouse so far?


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  1. Ella

    They ate broth, meat and cheese which to me doesn’t sound that bad for a workhouse.

  2. Alex

    It was a fun lesson and I really enjoyed continuing the book (street child) because it had interesting story to chapter 4&5!

  3. Joseph

    I definitely wouldn’t want to go to the workhouse if I was a Victorian!

  4. Dan

    I really enjoyed this activity and it was very fun 😀

  5. Sophie

    I really enjoye the mini debate for and against staying in the workhouse. It was really fun!

  6. Jake

    The work house sounds like a dread-full place!

  7. Zuzanna

    I enjoyed sharing ideas for Jim to run away from the workhouse

  8. helen

    I learnt that they had to sleep in cardboard boxes and that they had to shower in icey water

  9. harry

    im really enjoying reading the book cant wait for more

  10. Onett

    It’s scary that eventually everybody will steal the little you have (before you come to the workhouse) until you don’t have anything!