Learning activities

Starter activities

• Show Source 1, the photographic portrait of Queen Victoria, on the whiteboard.
  
  
• Issue children, in pairs, a copy with enough room around it on the page for labelling, or make a copy available on their computer in PowerPoint.
  Ask them to label everything they can see in the photograph and to write one word to sum up their first impression of Queen Victoria (5 minutes max).
  
  
• Consolidate with the whole class on the whiteboard. You should end up listing all her clothing and accessories and the other props.
  
  
• Back in pairs ask children to focus on Queen Victoria. What pose is she sitting in, and what expression is on her face? Suggest children physically try to copy these (3 minutes maximum).
  
  
• Consolidate on the board.
  
  
• Conclude by asking children to choose one word to sum up their impression of Queen Victoria now.

Main activities

Main activity Ma (links to Plenary Pa and Pb)

• Show Source 2, the painting of Queen Victoria, Prince Albert, and five of their children, on the whiteboard, or distribute printed copies.
  
  
• Ask children to decide who looks like the most important figure in the family group and why they have made their choice.
  
  
• Children in small groups then use the question sheet to identify different features seen in the portrait and decide why these have been put in by the painter.
  
  
• Consolidate with whole class.
  
  

Main activity Mb (links to Plenary Pc)

• Show source 3 on the whiteboard, or make a copy available on their computer, or distribute printed copies.
  
  
• Children in small groups discuss the purpose of this picture, and use the question sheet to identify different features seen in the picture and why they have been used.

Plenary activities

Plenary activity Pa (links to Starter, and Ma)

Ask the class to list what they need to look for in a photographic or painted portrait of an individual or group, in order to be able to learn as much as possible about the people shown.

Plenary activity Pb (links to Starter, and Ma)

Ask a group of children to model the family painting assuming the poses of each individual. This would be a good place to emphasise that the painter would make sketches so the family would not have to hold the same poses for hours.

Plenary activity Pc (links to Mb)

Compare Source 3 the soap advertisement to modern-day advertisements.

Or, compare the purpose of Sources 1 and 3.