| abacus |
 |
This was a wooden frame with beads on it. It was used to help children with counting sums. |
| agricultural gang |
This was a group of workers in the countryside, doing jobs like weeding, sowing seeds, and harvesting crops. Often these gangs would include young children. |
| barrel organ |
A musical instrument which was taken round the streets. It played music when the handle was turned. Often the owners of barrel organs had monkeys with them. |
| bathing machine |
A changing room on wheels which was taken by a horse into the sea. The Victorians could then undress inside the room, and go straight into the water without being seen. |
| boarding school |
This is a school where children would be sent away from home to be taught. They would live at the school, only returning home during the holidays. These were secondary schools for rich children. Most boarding schools in Victorian times were for boys. |
| dame |
An elderly woman. |
| dame school |
A school run by one woman. Children would be taught basic reading and writing. |
| factory commission |
This was a group of men in authority who found out about the working conditions of children. |
| globe |
This was a map of the word drawn on a sphere. In Victorian times, the British Empire was shown in one colour. This would have been used for geography lessons. |
| governess |
This was a woman who taught rich girls and young boys their lessons at home. |
| hopscotch |
A hopping game played in the street or playground. |
| nanny |
The person who cared for rich young children in their nursery at home. |
| nursery |
A room or several rooms where rich children would play and sleep. |
| piecer |
A child who worked in a mill joining pieces of thread together. |
| Punch and Judy show |
This is a puppet show which featured the characters Mr Punch and his wife Judy. These shows were found at the seaside in Victorian times. |
| ragged school |
This type of school was set up by well meaning people, like Dr Barnardo, to teach poor children. |
| school board |
The group of people who were responsible for the running of their local school after 1870. |
| slates |
These were pieces of slate (like a flat stone),which were sometimes set inside a wooden frame. These were used for practising writing. A special slate pencil was used with them. At the end of the lesson the slates were wiped clean with an old cloth. |
| workshop school |
A type of school which was supposed to teach children a trade as well as giving them a basic education. Often these schools were just using children as cheap labour. |
