Slate mining in Victorian times

Slate mining teachers notes (26 KB)
Slate mining Resources 1 (47 KB)
Slate mining Resources 2 (28 KB)
More information on download times and Resource Viewers

Download Resources 1 and 2 as well as the teachers' notes. Resources 1 gives you the paragraphs for the children to cut up. Resources 2 has the frame which they stick the paragraphs on (enlarge this to A3), plus a sample to show you what the end result should be.

Two classes of mixed Year 5/6 children were taught this lesson about a Victorian slate mine early in the summer term. In the autumn term both classes had studied the Victorians. In June, the Year 6 children in each class were to visit the Slate Caverns in Llechwedd Slate Mines as part of a school field trip.


The account below describes the lesson taught by me to one of the classes. A colleague taught the other class, but did not have time to complete the final activity (episode 4).

The lesson linked closely to National Literacy Strategy requirements, dealing with two specific genres: autobiography and non-chronological report.

by Paul Brown, Shropshire

Editor's note: The teaching described could be adapted and used with a range of texts, with or without a site visit looming!