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VICTORIANS AT WORK

Truth to Teach (Source)

Genesis 2:15 ‘The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to
work it and take care of it.’

 Work is a good thing and is ordained by God.

 To learn about the changing working conditions of people in the Victorian age.

 To learn about social reformers who persevered to change working conditions.

Way to Work (Means)

1. Review the previous lessons.

2. Ask the children whether they think work is good or not. Work is often viewed
negatively but God has ordained that we work. Read the above verse. Remind
the children of God working for six days then having the seventh as a rest

day. We too should have a Sabbath day.

3. Talk about the jobs which the children’s parents do nowadays then talk about
work done in the Victorian age.

Britain had become the leading industrial country in the world during Queen
Victoria’s reign. It was an age of factories and machines. Towns like
Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham grew into major industrial centres. Iron-

making was one of the country’s great industries.

Brunel built ships, bridges and railway lines powered by steam. Many worked
in cotton mills, others down mines, others in agriculture. Transport was

developing with new inventions. Canals were being built to transport goods too.

4. Work in the Victorian age was often boring, dangerous and poorly paid. In the
mid-nineteenth century few lower class people could read or write so the
better educated got the office jobs. Lower classes also went into service, ie

as servants in large homes.

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