Key Stage 3 & 4 Learning Resources
From images and transcripts of 19th century texts to links to objects and background information, the SS Great Britain Trust’s Collection can support your students’ learning and understanding of life in the Victorian era. We’ve put together a small selection here but why not use Collection Stories to find more.
Launch of the SS Great Britain
Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain was launched in Bristol Harbour on 19 July 1843. Details about this historic day were recorded in print and on canvas.
Source: 19th Century Newspaper Article
Read extracts from an article about the launch published in The Bristol Mirror on 22 July 1843.
Collection Story: The Launch of the SS Great Britain
Discover more about the ship’s launch and use Joseph Walter’s painting of the launch as a creative writing prompt.
Background on the Bristol Mirror Article
This provides further information and historical context on the article in The Bristol Mirror.
Collection Story: The SS Great Britain
Discover more about the ship and its construction in Bristol.
Experiences of Migration
From 1853 to 1876 the SS Great Britain carried thousands of people to and from Australia, many of whom were emigrating in the hope of finding a new and better quality of life.
Migrating to Australia
Background information on migration to Australia in the 1850s.
Source: SS Great Britain leaving Liverpool
Use this image from The Illustrated London News in 1852 as a creative writing prompt.
Source: 19th Century Newspaper Article
Read an article from The Illustrated London News about the SS Great Britain leaving Liverpool in August 1852.
Source: 19th Century Passenger Diaries
Read extracts from diaries and letters written by a range of different people who travelled on the SS Great Britain and discover what life on board was like for them.
Source: 19th Century Letter
This letter complaining about life on board the SS Great Britain was published in a newspaper, the St Helena Advocate, in 1852.
Collection Story: St Helena Advocate
Discover more about the St Helena Advocate, a newspaper written by passengers of the SS Great Britain.
Collection Story: SS Great Britain travelling to Australia
Discover more about the ship’s eventful first journey to Australia in 1852.
Collection Story: “The Goat of the Sea” Poem
Read a poem written by a disgruntled passenger and find out more about some of the problems faced by people on the ship.
Collection Story: Rachel Henning’s Diary
Learn about one woman’s journey and discover the role the SS Great Britain played in the colonisation of Australia.
Activity: Write a Diary Entry
Use this creative writing prompt to write a diary entry as though you are a passenger on the SS Great Britain.
