Lessons, worksheets and units of work for teaching the Industrial Revolution to budding historians
The 18th and 19th centuries saw an Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom. This period witnessed groundbreaking shifts in manufacturing, transport and communication, with inventions such as the spinning jenny, the steam engine and the power loom reshaping how goods were produced across Britain. This boom in industry, technology and productivity changed the face of the British landscape and transformed the centuries‑old social order with the rise of a wealthy new middle class. As a consequence of these changes and the rapid scale of industrialisation in towns and cities, there became a greater need for social reform as poor health and sanitary conditions were exposed.
From living conditions in fast‑growing industrial towns to the development of new machines and factories, the Industrial Revolution is an immersive topic that offers rich opportunities for enquiry‑based learning and for local study. The topic encourages students to explore the human impact of industrialisation, examining child labour, public health, the changing nature of work for ordinary people and how society today has been shaped by the innovative and rapid changes made throughout this period in history. The period also opens up fantastic opportunities for cross‑curricular links with geography (urbanisation and population change) and English (Dickens and Victorian literature such as A Christmas Carol).
Whether you're diving into the game‑changing inventions that powered this era or focusing on the poor conditions many factory workers endured, we've drawn together a selection of lessons, activities and supporting materials to help you bring the Industrial Revolution to life for your KS3 historians. These resources support you from introductory causes to more detailed case studies, offering the flexibility to tailor the topic to your students' needs.
Explore hand‑picked resources on related topics such as the British Empire and slavery, as well as other secondary history themes here.
