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Industrial Revolution Web Quest - Child Laborers
Introduction:
Life was difficult for people during the Industrial Revolution. Long days and demanding physical labor often lasted from
before sunrise until well after sunset. To make matters worse, many of the workers were child laborers. They often
worked sixteen hours a day or more just to earn enough money to keep their families from starving. Worker safety was
not a priority, and there was no disability insurance or retirement.
In this Web quest you will focus specifically on the role of children as laborers (in England, other parts of Europe, or the
United States) and discover the answer to the following questions:
What was daily life like for child laborers living during the Industrial Revolution?
What reforms needed to be made in order to change the situation?
The Task:
I. Children’s Roles During the Industrial Revolution
You will research the role of a specific type of child
laborer—factory/mill worker, miner, seafood
worker/farmhand, or newsboy. You will analyze a series of
web sites containing information on the various types of
jobs children worked during this time. You must carefully
research your role, investigating how and where they lived,
the hardships they faced, the cultures they developed, and
their overall role in their societies. You must also
investigate reform efforts (new laws and policies) designed
to make life better for these child workers.
II. Child Labor Today
Your second task is to investigate the state of child labor
today. Where is child labor still happening in the world?
What laws govern this practice in those countries? What
about in the United States? What similar struggles and hardships do child laborers face now compared to the Industrial
Revolution period? There are more than seventy countries where child labor (some by force) is used today.
The Process:
1. Join a team. Each person in the group should have already been assigned a role. Your choices are:
factory/textile worker, miner, seafood worker/farm hand or newsboy.
2. Each person will spend time gathering information for their assigned role. When you begin your research, make
sure you take notes on all the information you will find on the Internet. Make sure you write down the URL of
all Web sites used. Note: You may gather information from other sources as well, but please cite all work!
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3. Once all of your group members have completed their
research you will meet to discuss your findings. You
will have questions to fill out on the Group Project
Sheet.
4. Note the different due dates for each portion of the
project. Working sections include:
a. Role Representation Worksheet: These sheets
are to be filled out by each individual. Also
included the sources for your information.
b. Group Worksheet: This is a group portion of
the project. Meet your group on Tuesday to
complete. Anyone who does not meet or
participate will not get credit!
c. Current Analysis Worksheet: Questions that will be provided to you at the end of the project. These
are also individual.
Poster/Letter
Choose (A) or (B) and complete, focusing on your role. Letters must be typed if you choose to write a letter.
(A) Create a poster to persuade the public to your point of view regarding child labor conditions or defending the
conditions which make it necessary for children to work. Poster should display an emotional appeal and a
definite point of view.
(B) Write a letter to the editor of the London Daily Telegraph aimed at persuading readers to take some form of
action regarding changing child labor conditions or defending the conditions which make it necessary for
children to work. Letter should display an emotional involvement in the issue and a definite point of view
Presentation
You will choose and sign up for a country that you would like to investigate. Once your choice has been approved you
will research the role of child labor in your country. You will (along with your teammates) prepare and present a Google
Slide presentation that meets the following requirements. Each person is responsible for their own slides, including
cover slide.
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Provide a general background on the history of your country. Be sure to focus on the country’s economic,
political, and social background.
Explain why child labor has persisted in this country. (Connections to the country’s economy, politics and
societal values – past and present)
List the industries in your country that utilize child labor.
Describe the treatment of child laborers
o Are they paid? If so, how much?
o What are their expectations/working conditions?
o Do they have any rights? If so, what are they?
o Are there any laws governing child labor in this country?
Explain what steps, if any, are being taken to limit or eradicate child labor in this country. (Laws, groups,
advocates, etc.)
Include pictures and/or video clips that correspond to child labor in your country
All sources must be cited in MLA format
Name:
Date:
Grading
Assignment
Role Worksheet
Group Worksheet
Current Analysis Worksheet
Poster or Letter
Presentation
Total
Pts
10
5
10
25
50
100 pts
Due
End of class, Tuesday 5/3
End of class, Tuesday, 5/3
End of class, Wednesday, 5/4
Friday, 5/6
Monday, 5/9
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Name:
Date:
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Industrial Revolution Web Quest - Group Worksheet
Team Members
Factory Worker: ______________________________________________________________________
Miner: ______________________________________________________________________________
Seafood/Farm Hand: __________________________________________________________________
Newsboy: ___________________________________________________________________________
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------In your group’s opinion, what Industrial Revolution child endured the most hardships?
Why did your group choose this occupation?
Describe some of the dangers of this profession.
Below each group member should list something unique (not shared by someone else) they found interesting about this
job:
Factory Worker __________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Miner __________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Seafood/Farm Hand __________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
Newsboy __________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Date:
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Industrial Revolution Web Quest – Role Representation Worksheet
_______________________________________________________________________
My Role (job)
What I learned about child Laborers who did my job during the Industrial Revolution:
Who are they?
Where did they live?
How did they dress?
What did they do at work?
Some good things about this job:
Some bad things about this job:
List some things that needed to be done in order to change the situation for your laborer:
Additional Information
Sources:
1.
2.
3.
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Industrial Revolution Web Quest - Current Analysis Worksheet
Directions: This part MUST be done individually and should not match other group members’ answers. Please note:
answers of “I don’t know” are unacceptable. You must think hard and answer all parts of this task for credit.
Research:
 Unicef (United Nations Children’s Fund): http://www.unicef.org/protection/index.html
 Free the Children:
http://www.freethechildren.com/getinvolved/youth/issues/index.php?type=childlabour&gclid=COSSwev0t6w
CFQYBQAode1EfIQ
 Site on modern slavery (including slavery of children): http://freedomcenter.org
 Documents on various issues affecting children (including labor):
http://mediavoicesforchildren.org/?page_id=881
 Source on ending child labor in weaving industries in Asia:
http://goodweave.org/index.php?pid=9300&gclid=CI_h_fv0t6wCFYbrKgodinIXIw
 International Labour Organization: http://www.ilo.org/global/topics/child-labour/lang--en/index.htm#a2
** Again, there are many other resources out there, including those available through our library database and
http://www.google.co.uk. For information on goods produced by child labor go to:
http://mediavoicesforchildren.org/?p=9679
Please answer the following questions on a separate sheet (typed):
1. Many parts of the world still use child laborers today. What items do you think may have been made by children
in your home?
2. Why do you think children are still working around the world today? Explain.
3. Do you think child labor is right or wrong? Why? Explain.
4. What can you do to help children working as child laborers today?
5. What would be the possible impact (negative and positive) would there be if we eliminated child labor around
the world?
Positive –
Negative –
Name:
Date:
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You have been assigned the role of a Factory Worker. While researching this role, consider the following:
What was life like for child laborers in this profession during the Industrial Revolution?
How and where did they live? What hardships did they face? What are some of the experiences they had?
How did they dress, look, act, etc.?
Download the Role Research Sheet at the bottom of the page or on the Process page in order to record your
findings!
Use these internet links to research your role:
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Factory Workers
The History Place
Daily Life
Child Labor in Factories
Children During the Industrial Revolution
Effects on Child Factory Workers
Life of a Child Worker
Child Labor in U.S. History
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Date:
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You have been assigned the role of a Miner. While researching this role, consider the following: What was life
like for child laborers in this profession during the Industrial Revolution?
How and where did they live? What hardships did they face? What are some of the experiences they had?
How did they dress, look, act, etc.?
Download the Role Research Sheet at the bottom of the page or on the Process page in order to record your
findings!
Use these internet links to research your role:
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The History Place
Children During the Industrial Revolution
The National Archives
Work Area - Mines
“Coal Mining" article
Child Labor in U.S. History
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Date:
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You have been assigned the role of a Seafood Worker/ Farm Hand. While researching this role, consider the
following: What was life like for child laborers in this profession during the Industrial Revolution?
How and where did they live? What hardships did they face? What are some of the experiences they had?
How did they dress, look, act, etc.?
Download the Role Research Sheet at the bottom of the page or on the Process page in order to record
your findings!
Use these internet links to research your role:
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The History Place
Children During the Industrial Revolution
United States Child Labor
Types of Jobs
Child Labor in U.S. History
Oyster Shucker
Name:
Date:
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You have been assigned the role of a Newsboy. While researching this role, consider the following: What was
life like for child laborers in this profession during the Industrial Revolution?
How and where did they live? What hardships did they face? What are some of the experiences they had?
How did they dress, look, act, etc.?
Download the Role Research Sheet at the bottom of the page or on the Process page in order to record your
findings!
Use these internet links to research your role:
 The History Place
 Children During the Industrial Revolution
 American Newsboys
 The Newsboy Strike
 Newsboys in St. Louis
 Newsboys Strike for Better Terms
 Plan to Down Newsboys
 Child Labor in U.S. History
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Date:
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Child Labor Web Quest Teams
Team A
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Country
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team B
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team C
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team D
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team E
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team F
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team G
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Team H
Factory/Textile Worker:
Farmhand/Seafood Worker:
Miner:
Newsboy:
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
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