Guess Who’s Coming to
Dinner
A Victorian Dinner Party
Introduction
The Victorian Era (18371901) in Western Europe
was a time of explosive
thinking, learning and
creativity. The greatest
figures of this period
were known for pushing
forward to an era of new
ideas and creativity.
Task
You will be throwing a virtual dinner party
with some of the most notable figures of
the Victorian Era. A good party requires a
variety of interesting guests, a well
planned menu, and a host or hostess who
is interested in his or her guests. In order
to prepare your party you will research
potential guests, menus, and create
questions in case conversation lags.
Procedure


Create a guest list of six Victorian Era people
plus yourself
Research the six historical figures (maximum
of two per category)


Categories: Politicians, Scientists,
Doctors/Medical researchers, Philosophers,
Writers/Artists, Religious figures
Write at least four questions for each guest
and provide historically accurate answers for
them.
Procedure, cont.


Create a seating chart and plan a
historically accurate menu.
Create a power point or a poster which
shows your guests, the seating
arrangement, why you chose each guest,
and what questions you would ask each
one.
Checklist






Six historical figures
Four higher level discussion questions for
each figure
Answers to questions for the figures
Menu
Rationale for each guest choice
Power point or poster (see examples)
Rubric
CATEGORY
4
3
2
1
Graphics Relevance
All graphics are related
to the topic and make it
easier to understand. All
borrowed graphics have
a source citation.
All graphics are related
to the topic and most
make it easier to
understand. All
borrowed graphics have
a source citation.
All graphics relate to the
topic. Most borrowed
graphics have a source
citation.
Graphics do not relate to
the topic OR several
borrowed graphics do
not have a source
citation.
Required
Elements
The poster or power
point includes all
required elements as
well as additional
information.
All required elements
are included on the
poster or power point
All but 1 of the required
elements are included
on the poster or power
point
Several required
elements were missing.
Questions
The questions asked for
each guest were
thoughtful and relevant.
The answers given for
the guests were
complete and reflected a
high level of
understanding of the
figure's beliefs and
ideas.
Most of the questions
asked for each guest
were thoughtful and
relevant. The answers
given for the guests
were complete and
reflected some basic
understanding of the
figure's beliefs and
ideas.
The questions asked for
each guest were not
very thoughtful or
relevant. The answers
given for the guests
were incomplete and
reflected only a basic
understanding of the
figure's beliefs and
ideas.
The questions were
neither thoughtful nor
relevant. The answers
given reflected little
understanding of the
figure's beliefs and
ideas.
Rationale for
guests
The reasons given for
each guest choice
demonstrates thorough
research, personal
preference, and careful
thought.
The reasons given for
each guest choice
demonstrates some
research, personal
preference, and some
thought.
The reasons given for
each guest choice
demonstrates
inadequate research
and ineffective thought.
The reasons given for
each guest choice
demonstrates minimal
research and minimal
thought.
Menu
Menu demonstrates
thorough research on
Victorian food customs
Menu demonstrates
adequate research on
Victorian food customs
Menu demonstrates little
research on Victorian
food customs
Menu demonstrates no
research on Victorian
food customs