Fighting cholera in London in the 19th century
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate the significance of John Snow’s work for the fight against cholera in 19th century London.
Key learning points
- Many people in Britain died in cholera epidemics.
- John Snow identified that contaminated water spread cholera.
- Snow's findings were generally not accepted by officials.
- The Great Stink led to a new sewage system being built in London.
- There were no cholera epidemics in London once its new sewage system was built.
Keywords
Epidemic - when a large number of people get the same disease over the same period of time
Contaminated - something that has become dirty or harmful to people’s health
Cesspit - a large underground hole that is used for collecting human waste
Common misconception
London's new sewage system was built in response to John Snow's findings and recommendations.
Snow's work was generally overlooked by officials. Instead, London's new sewers were built in response to the Great Stink of 1858.
Teacher tip
Ask pupils to discuss whether improved knowledge or governmnet action is more important for fighting diseases. Pupils might consider examples such as John Snow and cholera, vaccinations and Pasteur's Germ Theory.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What word means 'relating to preventing disease by removing dirt and waste'?
Q2.Which explanation for disease encouraged the use of pavilion plans in hospital designs?
Q3.What did hospitalism refer to?
Q4.Which statement is correct?
Q5.Write the missing number. Nearly nurses trained at the Nightingale School for Nursing between 1860 and 1903.
Q6.Starting with the earliest, sort the following individuals into chronological order based on when they lived.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Write the missing word. An is when a large number of people get the same disease over the same period of time.
Q2.Who proved that contaminated water can spread cholera?
Q3.How many people died in the cholera outbreak of 1848-49?
Q4.Which medical explanation for cholera's spread did John Snow disprove?
Q5.When was London's new sewage system fully constructed?
Q6.What prompted the construction of a new sewer system for London at the end of the 1850s?
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Fighting cholera in London in the 19th century, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 history lesson on: Fighting cholera in London in the 19th century, 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 4 history lessons from the Medicine in Britain, c1250–present unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.