‘The Chimney Sweeper’: a protest against child labour
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain why and how William Blake took a stand against child labour.
Key learning points
- The Industrial Revolution created great wealth and great poverty.
- Young children were used to sweep the chimneys of houses in the growing cities.
- Poet William Blake used his writing to took a stand against the exploitation of child workers.
- His poem ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ uses the language of religion and the language of social issues to take a stand.
Keywords
Influence - to affect or change how someone or something develops, behaves, or think
Awareness - knowing that something exists
Harsh - cruel, unkind, or unpleasant in a way that seems unfair
Widespread - existing or happening in many places and/or among many people
Exploitation - the use of something in order to get an advantage from it
Common misconception
Students often think that serious topics need serious text types such as articles or speeches.
Encourage students to consider why a writer might choose to use a poem to write about a serious topic and take a stand.
Teacher tip
This version of 'The Chimney Sweeper' is from Blake's 'Songs of Innocence'. You could extend the learning by reading the corresponding 'The Chimney Sweeper' from 'Songs of Experience' and compare it with 'The Chimney Sweeper' from 'Songs of Innocence'.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of 'The Chimney Sweeper' by William Blake which is available in the additional materials.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was the primary religion of Great Britain in the 18th century?
Q2.Which of the following are the conventions of a poem?
Q3.Which of the following are types of text?
Q4.If we say someone is innocent, we mean they are...
Q5.Which of the following is the best definition of a social issue?
Q6.Which of the following is the best description of fantasy literature?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the words on the left with their synonyms on the right.
severe
everywhere
impactful
take advantage of
Q2.Which word beginning with A refers to a new law passed by Parliament
Q3.The economic and technical changes in the UK in the 18th and 19th century is known as the...
Q4.Which of the following is not true of William Blake?
Q5.How did the fact that Blake lived in London affect his writing?
Q6.What might be the best interpretation of the quotation "wash in a river"?
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: ‘The Chimney Sweeper’: a protest against child labour, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: ‘The Chimney Sweeper’: a protest against child labour, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Taking a stand unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.