The Industrial Revolution and Canals

We haven't previously studied canals, narrowboats or their purpose in Britain's rapidly advancing industry of the 1800s. So our study of the Georgians and the beginning of the Industrial Revolution seemed a good time to introduce this part of our industrial heritage to the kiddies.

We started with a morning making books about canals. These were mainly pictures we cut and re-used to give the children a visual idea of canal and narrowboat culture. We looked at narrowboat equipment and moorings, locks, ropes, bridges and wildlife. 

The Boy benefited hugely from this work, realising he could spell a lot of the things he was sticking into his book. It became a vocabulary book and his proud face at the end of our morning was a sight for any home schooling Mama to behold!

This morning we visited Cosgrove Lock in Milton Keynes. It was awesome and the children were thrilled to see the boats and the locks. We were lucky enough to see the lock working and I am so pleased that the kiddies now have a real idea of the engineering behind them.

We visited the Iron Trunk Aqueduct which is a stunning example of Georgian engineering and architecture.

I love these munchkins.

We even spotted some alpacas.

A narrowboat passing through the lock.

The external water gushed into the lock and levelled it up to allow the boat to pass through the gates.

The first gates were closed and the second gates were opened to allow the water to gush into the next part of the canal, lowering the boat and allowing it to pass through the second gates. Amazing.

We had rosy cheeks and positive comments all the way home!

Napoleon, Nelson and Wellington, and The Industrial Revolution

The children summarised their work so far with pictures for our timeline. It's getting packed!

We read about the Napoleonic Wars, the Battle of Trafalgar where Nelson died, and the Battle of Waterloo, which saw the Duke of Wellington triumph and Napoleon exiled to the Island of St Helena.

The Boy made the Island of St. Helena (please appreciate how he dressed himself this morning. Love!)

Monkey Girl made Nelson's Column.

The Industrial Revolution began during the Georgian era, primarily in Britain. We spent a morning reading, discussing, watching videos and completing online activities about the Industrial Revolution.

The Boy made a smashing factory.

 Monkey Girl made a tiny factory scene, complete with two figures trading textiles.

Panda Girl made brick-making chimneys like the factories that used to stand in our local area.

There were a huge number of factors as to why Britain was the centre of the Industrial Revolution. A main reason was coal. Coal was burnt to make steam to power machines which were used to pump water out of the coal mines. More coal was therefore available, keeping it cheap and thus the ideal fuel for bigger and better machines.

The Railways became a huge network of trade routes.

80% of the population once lived in the countryside. As factories grew and towns were built to house the workers, the population in the country dropped to a staggering 1%.

James Cook's Pacific Travels During the Reign of George III

We covered the idea of the first penal colony in Australia but mostly talked about the preceding years and Captain Cook's travels throughout the Pacific Ocean. He landed in Botany Bay, was shipwrecked on the Great Barrier Reef, fixed his ship, returned to Britain and sailed back to Australia the following year. 

Aboriginal Dreamtime and sand art (with salt)

Australian territories  

Australia is in the Commonwealth

Australian books from our beloved aunty in Australia

Answering questions on Australasia and Cook's Pacific travels.

The north of Australia contains rainforests. The Boy made a lovely rainforest display.

The French Revolution

The American Revolution inspired the French people to take action against the monarchy, like the colonists had against the British King

Taxes were low for the clergy and noblemen, and high for the French working class. A famine caused outrage and people started to take action.

King Louis XVI was a young, weak king and he was sole ruler of France. The people rebelled.

The Age of Enlightenment meant attitudes were changing about democracy and political ideals.

A symbolic stance against the authority of the king was the storming of the Bastille. It was the beginning of the end of the French monarchy.

 The kiddies made the Bastille prison. There were only seven prisoners held captive at the time but it was the symbolism behind it which caused an advisor to King Louis to inform him that, "it is not a revolt. It is a revolution."

Croissants