The Industrial Revolution

In fourth grade we have been investigating the Industrial Revolution. Throughout the unit we focused on determining whether or not industrialization made life better for everyone. We explored the way people lived before and after industrialization, including the types of jobs people had. We had our own simulated assembly line and explored products that were made this way. As we learned more and more about this time period, one thing really stuck out to students-child labor. Students could not believe that kids their age and younger had to go to work in a dangerous factory instead of going to school. Students were even more outraged when they discovered that child labor is still a problem in other countries. 

So we decided to do some digging into places where child labor still exists. Students explored articles that detailed the child labor issue in Ghana, Afghanistan, and India. Students took sketch-notes on their article individually and then got into groups based on the country they explored. Each group created a sketch-note poster and presented their information to their classmates.

This week we will be answering the question “Now what?” and working on a call to action. We will be brainstorming what to do now that we have all this information about the Industrial Revolution and child labor. I can’t wait to see what the students come up with!