Title: Liverpool Suffragettes
Current Content:

Overview

This 6-lesson unit (each lesson approx. 45 minutes) explores Liverpool’s pivotal role in the suffragette movement, enabling Year 4 students to develop their historical enquiry skills and contextual understanding, aligned with the National Curriculum for England (History Key Stage 2). The lessons combine creative, analytical, and discussion-based approaches designed for active learning and engagement.

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National Curriculum Links

• Pupils should continue to develop a chronologically secure knowledge and understanding of British, local and world history
• Pupils should note connections, contrasts and trends over time
• Pupils should develop the appropriate use of historical terms
• Pupils should understand how our knowledge of the past is constructed from a range of sources
• Pupils should regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance

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Lesson 1: How Was Liverpool Involved in the Suffragette Movement?

Learning Objectives

• Understand Liverpool’s role and significance in the suffragette movement (NC: place events chronologically on a timeline)
• Recognise key events and locations in Liverpool connected to the campaign for women’s voting rights

Key Activities

• Storytelling & Discussion: Introduce the suffragette movement with a focus on Liverpool’s involvement through a narrative featuring local events and characters.
• Timeline Creation: Students create a class timeline marking important suffragette events nationally and in Liverpool.
• Map Exploration: Locate key Liverpool sites related to suffragette activities on a large map.

Discussion Points

• Why was Liverpool important to the suffragette movement?
• What kinds of activities did suffragettes organise in Liverpool?
• How might local people have reacted to these events?

Assessment Ideas

• Informal questioning to check understanding of Liverpool’s role.
• Evaluate timeline and map accuracy with peer feedback.

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Lesson 2: Who Was Bessie Braddock?

Learning Objectives

• Identify who Bessie Braddock was and her contribution to Liverpool and women’s rights (NC: make simple connections between events and people)
• Use sources to find out information about a historical figure (NC: identify and describe different sources)

Key Activities

• Biography Card: Introduce Bessie Braddock with an illustrated biography card and key facts.
• Source Investigation: Examine letters, photographs, and newspaper excerpts related to Bessie Braddock.
• Role Play: In pairs, prepare and present a short profile of Bessie Braddock, imagining her life and work.

Discussion Points

• What qualities made Bessie Braddock a strong leader?
• How do historians learn about people like Bessie Braddock?
• Why is she important to Liverpool’s history?

Assessment Ideas

• Checklist to assess group presentations on accuracy and use of sources.
• Written reflection: “Why is Bessie Braddock important to Liverpool and women’s rights?”

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Lesson 3: How Did the Lives of Women Change in Liverpool?

Learning Objectives

• Describe how women’s lives in Liverpool changed as a result of the suffragette movement (NC: describe how some of these events have shaped life today)
• Understand the social and political impact of gaining the vote

Key Activities

• Picture and Source Analysis: Compare images and accounts of women’s lives before and after gaining the vote.
• Diary Entry: Write a diary entry from the perspective of a Liverpool woman experiencing these changes.
• Class Discussion: Explore how voting rights affected women’s roles at home, work, and in the community.

Discussion Points

• What changed for women in Liverpool after they gained the vote?
• How might these changes have affected families and communities?
• What challenges did women still face?

Assessment Ideas

• Mark diary entries for historical empathy and factual understanding.
• Teacher observation of participation in discussion.

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Lesson 4: Methods and Campaigns of Liverpool Suffragettes

Learning Objectives

• Describe different tactics used by Liverpool suffragettes and understand peaceful vs. radical protest methods (NC: understand characteristic features of the past, including ideas and attitudes)
• Evaluate the effectiveness of different campaign methods

Key Activities

• Picture Analysis: Examine images and posters of peaceful marches and militant protests in Liverpool.
• Class Debate: Discuss the pros and cons of different protest methods used by suffragettes.
• Creative Task: Design a placard for a peaceful Liverpool suffragette march.

Discussion Points

• What methods helped the suffragettes get their message across?
• Why might some have chosen more radical actions?
• How should people protest to support a cause today?

Assessment Ideas

• Annotated placards explaining symbols and slogans.
• Teacher notes on quality of debate participation.

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Lesson 5: Change and Consequences of Liverpool’s Campaign

Learning Objectives

• Explain the significance of Liverpool’s suffragette campaign and its impact on women gaining the vote (NC: identify and describe causes and consequences of events)
• Understand how local actions contributed to national change

Key Activities

• Cause and Effect Chart: Complete a chart showing causes (e.g., protests, campaigns) and effects (e.g., Representation of the People Act 1918).
• Storyboard Creation: In groups, create a storyboard illustrating key events from Liverpool’s campaign to women winning the vote.
• Reflective Discussion: Discuss lessons learned from the suffragette movement.

Discussion Points

• What were the main causes and effects of Liverpool’s suffragette campaign?
• How did Liverpool’s actions help change British society?
• Why is it important to remember Liverpool’s role?

Assessment Ideas

• Evaluate cause and effect charts for understanding.
• Assess storyboards for sequencing and comprehension.

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Lesson 6: Celebration and Sharing Learning

Learning Objectives

• Consolidate knowledge about Liverpool and the suffragette movement (NC: make connections between events and developments over time)
• Communicate historical knowledge confidently and creatively

Key Activities

• Class Exhibition: Curate work from previous lessons (timelines, diaries, placards, storyboards) into a classroom exhibition for parents or other classes.
• Suffragette Newspaper: Create a simple class newspaper featuring articles, interviews, and pictures about Liverpool’s campaign.
• Reflective Quiz: Fun quiz testing key facts and vocabulary learnt during the unit.

Discussion Points

• How have your views on the suffragette movement changed?
• What was the most interesting thing you learned about Liverpool’s history?
• How can knowing history help us today?

Assessment Ideas

• Self-assessment checklists on knowledge and participation.
• Peer feedback on exhibition presentations.
• Teacher assessment via quiz results and overall engagement.

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Additional Notes for Teachers

• Differentiation: Tasks are scaffolded to ensure all students can engage meaningfully; provide sentence starters for writing activities and mixed-ability grouping for discussions.
• Cross-Curricular Links: Literacy (reading and writing reports, diary entries), Art (poster and placard design), and PSHE (understanding rights and responsibilities).
• Resources Needed: Historical source replicas or printed extracts, large map of Liverpool, art materials for creative tasks, video equipment for media presentations.
• Assessment Strategy: Use both formative (observation, questioning) and summative (written tasks, presentations) assessments to gauge understanding and skills development in line with NC goals.

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This unit thoughtfully immerses students in Liverpool’s vital but often overlooked role in the suffragette movement, linking national history with local heritage while fostering critical historical skills.