I would like the children to conduct a bit of research into the lives of miners and their families in the early 20th century, which will link into Thursday's trip to Rhondda Heritage and the research we did into a 1911 census of Trehafod.
Use the following website for research to help you complete part 1 (copy and paste the link:
Staffordshire multimedia archives:
http://www.staffspasttrack.org.uk/exhibit/coal/miners%20lives/workingcondition.htm
I showed the children the following website earlier today, although it is based in Staffordshire it has strong links to the lives of the miners in the early 20th century, use the housing, pit boys, leisure tabs.
Part 1) I would like you to compare living conditions of a mining family in the early 20th century to your own life today. You could make a similarities and differences chart or present the differences any way you.
Then answer these questions giving your reasons.
Would you have liked to have been a pit boy / girl?
Would you have liked to experience living in 1911?
Part 2) Use research of your own to try and find the following facts. Try and include some evidence to back up your answer
How many miners were working in Wales in 1911?
Roughly how many different mines were in operation around 1911?
Part 3) As we discussed when we looked at Senghenydd there have been hundreds of severe mining disasters that have claimed the lives of miners. There are two famous memorials at Senghenydd - one has been there a long time and a second was opened int 2013 to mark the centenary of the disaster.
Can you find the names of 2 other mining memorial sites in South Wales and write a brief description of where the memorial is placed and what the site or sculpture is like, as we will be completing an activity about the importance of memorials next week.
If you could complete the research in your learning logs and return them to share in class on Monday 9th November.
Diolch,
Mr Ball
