Last week, year 5 had a Victorian day which many children enjoyed. Although some children faced some minor punishments like the dunce cap, a few had to face the terror of the cane. The day started off with us standing in a precisely straight line outside the school building. Next we walked (still in the lines) to our classroom. Then, we were given traditional Victorian names (mine was Gilbert) and once we got them, we entered the classroom and we had to practise writing our names with slate. While we were doing our writing, the atmosphere was tense as we waited for the next child to get another either dreadful or minor punishment and hoping it wasn’t us.
After that, we made our way to the hall and sat in silence. Sometimes I wanted to laugh but I just couldn’t or else I would be most likely severely punished. No child could be heard. If we spoke, we would be punished. Then we got split up with girls on one side and boys on the other. Our PE coach strictly led a drill lesson where the boys were turned into soldiers but the girls had to do everything in a lady-like manner. Then, we had to sing the national anthem (for Queen Victoria) and another song before we got to go out for break time. At break time, we played some traditional Victorian games like stick and hoop, skipping, hide and seek, tag or marbles.
Next, we went into our classrooms again and did some handwriting with ink using a Victorian style pen. We had different things to write but two of them were ‘the proof of the pudding is in the eating’ and ‘children must be seen and not heard’. Lots of the pots of ink fell over when we were writing when we stood up to show respect to the adults. Then we had to draw apples which we had to describe and label as juicy, bright and nice.
After lunch, the day wasn’t as strict. You still had to stand up when an adult entered the room though. Instead of doing things which Victorian children would do, we made Victorian themed Christmas cards which we would give to someone who was really precious in our life.
I thought that the day was enjoyable but it was very strict. I had to wear the dunce cap because the ink splodged when I was doing the writing and I got a picture with it on. Lots of children had face paint for soot or dirt on their face including me. Overall the day was very fun and I think lots of children and teachers will agree.
By Nathan 5G
First things first, I strolled into the hall with a sight of four rows of children. The atmosphere was extremely tense as we were given Victorian name tags. We sat. No noise. No sound. Facing forwards, until the other behaving class came in. Then, as if there wasn’t a second to spare, we sang ‘God Save the Queen’. Not the best (as we didn’t know that version) so we were all told to do it again and again until it was pitch perfect. The PE teacher (called Sargeant), told us we might have to go into war, and as you looked into his eyes it actually looked as if he really meant it. We went into line and marched to him and back. Every now and then, somebody was naughty and had to do five press ups. While the girls were standing still, the boys were running to cones, marching to the wall and at the end everyone (well the boys anyway) was out of breath and tired. By the time we were done, it was break!
At break time, everyone was absolutely fine with playing only these games: skipping, It, marbles, hula hoops, hoop and stick, and creating hopscotch on the floor with chalk.
Afterwards, we went up to our classroom where it was dingy and dark and we had to write these boring lines: ‘Children should be seen but not heard,’ in copperplate writing over and over, till about 30 minutes ended. Then we did shapes about apples and we had to draw the picture exactly the same as the one on the board and say words like: Apples are nice, apples are hard, apples are juicy. We also had to label the picture. Next, we started writing on chalkboards and all of the words we wrote were meant to be really hard, though it wasn’t really, except for one word that really got me stuck. After 3 hours of pain, it was done! We all cheered and had a great time as the morning was over!
After a scrumptious lunch, I found myself coming back to class and started making miraculous, stunning Christmas wreaths that baffled our teacher. Whilst everybody in our class was making wreaths, Miss Dunn put on all the Oliver songs and Mrs Townsend was dancing to ‘umpapa umpapa’ and everybody had a great time. Every one of the wreaths was unique and astonishing. Some were more leafy, some were more pine like, and some were more decorative. Most people did ones that were half white string and half green, though some people had ones that were half white and other colours like blue and brown.
Everybody in our class had a really great day. It was probably the best day of the year so far because of the excitement of living through what a Victorian child would have gone through every day. However, being an actual Victorian child would be very tough so I am very glad that I am not one of them!
By Harrison, 5D
