1. Children in factories
Punishments

2. This works well as an individual or class / smart board activity
This works well as an individual or class / smart board activity. Click on the icons where relevant to ensure the PowerPoint navigates using the correct path.
Free PDF worksheet to support this activity here ….

3. Task 1 – warm up

4. Why were children used as workers in factories
Why were children used as workers in factories ? Choose by clicking on the correct answer. ?
They were small and could get into small spaces
They did more work than adults
They worked for free

7. An adult male worker was paid about 15 shillings ( 75 pence each week ) – how much were children paid ? ?
100 Shillings
50 Shillings
5 Shillings
3 Shillings

9. Yes – only 3 shilling per week. Quick brain gym
Yes – only 3 shilling per week! Quick brain gym! If a man earned 15 shillings and this was 75 pence per week How many pence per week did children make ?

10. An adult male worker was paid about 15 shillings per week and a child 3 shillings – how much did women earn ? ?
20 Shillings
15 Shillings
7 Shillings
5 Shillings

12. Yes – only 7 shillings per week. Less than half the wages of men
Yes – only 7 shillings per week. Less than half the wages of men. What does this tell us about society at that time?

13. What percentage of factory workers were children in 1750?
80 %
45 %
15 %
5 %

15. Yes – 15 % Does this surprise you?

16. Given full pay ( 15 shillings )
When a child worker in a factory became an adult – they were often ? ?
Given full pay ( 15 shillings )
Told to leave ( fired )
Given a small pay rise

18. Yes Why were they fired ?

19. Which one is incorrect ? ?
Overseer – the name given to the ‘bosses’ of the children
Orphan – a child who does not have any parents
Wages – money for work
Master – another name given to the ‘bosses’ of the children
Fine – a punishment ( taking money out of wages )
Quota – an amount ( of work )
Beaten – hit or kicked
None of them – they are all correct

22. Task 2 - Empathy
imagine you are the owner of a cotton mill ( Factory ) . You want to run a mill that is very productive and makes lots of money
your cheapest source of labour is children
The problem ( as you know ) is that children are very lazy and irresponsible - You are going to create a list of punishments that your overseers will use to keep the child workers ‘motivated’ and productive

23. Clue / Idea?
‘crime’ 1
It has been a long day in the factory and one small child is getting sleepy. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

24. ‘crime ’ 2
Clue / idea ?
A young boy is not concentrating and not getting enough work done. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

25. ‘crime ’ 3
Clue / idea?
one of the older girls in the factory was seen talking to one of the boys in the factory Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour.

26. ‘crime’ 4
Clue / idea?
one of the smaller boys is seen sitting down next to one of the machines. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

27. ‘crime ’ 5
a girl accidently knocks over a food can she has put next to her machine. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour.

28. ‘crime ’ 6
work begins at 5am – a child arrives a 515am. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

29. ‘crime ’ 7
work begins at 5am – a child oversleeps and is still not in the factory by 6am . Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

30. ‘crime ’ 8
An older girl is over heard telling other children she is going to run away and they should so the same. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

31. ‘crime ’ 9
A small girls stops her machine because she feels sick and dizzy. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

32. Clue
‘crime ’ 10
A boy sometimes whistles while doing his work. Design a suitable punishment for this behaviour

33. task 3 - matching
You will look at really what happened to the children who committed thEse crimes Note – fines and beatings were common punishments and used for a wide range of ‘crimes’

34. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted crime – if you are using the supporting worksheet and the punishment to match the crime 1 : The sleepy child 2 : Boy not getting enough work done 3: The girl who talked to ‘lads’ 4 : The boy who sat down on the job 5 : The girl who knocked over the can 6 : fifteen minutes late 7 : Over –slept 8 : The runways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money) taken away

36. “When I was seven years old I went to work at Mr Marshall’s factory at Shrewsbury. If a child became sleepy, the overlooker touches the child on the shoulder and says “come here”. In the corner of the room there is an iron cistern filled with water. He takes the boy by the legs and dips him in the cistern, and then sends him back to work.” Jonathan Downe interviewed in June 1832.

37. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted crime : Boy not getting enough work done 3: The girl who talked to ‘lads’ 4 : The boy who sat down on the job 5 : The girl who knocked over the can 6 : fifteen minutes late 7 : Over –slept 8 : The runways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money) taken away

39. One common punishment for being late or not working up to quota would be to be "weighted." An overseer would tie a heavy weight to worker's neck, and have them walk up and down the factory aisles so the other children could see them and "take example." This could last up to an hour. Weighting could lead to serious injuries in the back and/or neck.

40. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted crime : The girl who talked to ‘lads’ 4 : The boy who sat down on the job 5 : The girl who knocked over the can 6 : fifteen minutes late 7 : Over –slept 8 : The runaways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money) taken away

42. " There was a carving knife which he took and grasping her hair he cut if off close to the head. They were in the habit of cutting off the hair of all who were caught speaking to any of the lads. This head shaving was a dreadful punishment. We were more afraid of it than of any other, for girls are proud of their hair."  An interview in 1849 with an unknown woman who worked in a cotton factory as a child.

43. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted crime : The boy who sat down on the job 5 : The girl who knocked over the can 6 : fifteen minutes late 7 : Over –slept 8 : The runaways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money) taken away

45. " Other punishments included, hanging them from the roof high above the machines in baskets – this was done to frighten them and set an example to the other children”.

46. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted : The girl who knocked over the can 6 : fifteen minutes late 7 : Over –slept 8 : The runaways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money) taken away

48. " There was another girl called Mary……she knocked her food can to the floor. The master, Mr. Newton, kicked her and caused her to wear away till she died.”

49. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted : fifteen minutes late 7 : Over –slept 8 : The runaways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money ) taken away

51. “I have seen my master, Luke Taylor, with a horse whip standing outside the mill when the children have come too late………he lashed them all the way to the mill.” John Fairbrother, an overlooker, interviewed in 1819.

52. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted : Overslept 8 : The runaways 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money ) taken away

54. ‘Boys were sometimes dragged naked from their beds and sent to the factories only holding their clothes, to be put on there. This was to make sure the boys would not be late, even by a few minutes’.

55. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted : The runaway Girl / s 9: The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money ) taken away

57. “ Irons were used as with felons in gaols / prisons, and these were often fastened on young women, in the most indecent manner, by keeping them nearly in a state of nudity, in the depth of winter, for several days together."

58. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted : The sick girl who stopped her machine 10 : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money ) taken away

60. "There was a young woman, Sarah Goodling, who was poorly ( sick ) and so she stopped her machine. James Birch, the overlooker knocked her to the floor. She got up as well as she could. He knocked her down again. Then she was carried to the apprentice house. Her bed-fellow found her dead in bead ”.

61. What actually happened?
Hair cut shaved / cut short
Crime List – click on the solution to match the highlighted : The boy who talked and whistled without asking
Beaten to death
Held upside down and put into cold water
Heavy weights tied around the neck
Hung from the roof in a basket
Made to wear iron chains
Made to walk
to the mill naked
Whipped + Fined
Wages ( money ) taken away

63. " Factory workers were expected to go to work on time and to do their part regularly and well. If they failed to follow the rules, they would be fined. Here is a list of fines :
• Any worker found dirty at his work – 1 shilling • Washing himself – 1 shilling – for wasting time • Leaving his oil can out of its place – 6 shillings – inefficient • Spinning with gas light too long – 2 shillings – for wasting valuable gas • Heard whistling – 1 shilling • Being five minutes late – 2 shillings • Being sick and not finding a replacement – 6 shillings – this penalty pays for the cost of wasted steam that went unused because of the worker’s absence.”

64. Now relax and watch video clip to consolidate your knowledge !