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Scotland Then and Now

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Scotland Then and Now

Read the two information cards, then help the space-crew historians compare everyday life in Scotland during the Victorian era and today. Use evidence from the cards in your answers.

Mission briefing: read the evidence

Victorian Scotland means Scotland during Queen Victoria’s reign, from 1837 to 1901. Life varied between cities, towns and rural areas, and between families. These cards describe common experiences, not every person’s life.

HOME, 1880s: Many people in Scottish cities lived in crowded tenement flats. Some homes had no indoor toilet or running water, so residents shared facilities. Coal fires provided heat and cooking. Wealthier households often had more space and servants.

SCHOOL AND WORK, 1880s: The Education (Scotland) Act of 1872 made school attendance compulsory for children aged 5–13. Lessons often involved copying, reciting and strict discipline. Some children still worked, especially before attendance rules were fully enforced. Scotland’s industries included shipbuilding, coal mining, textiles and ironworking.

TRAVEL, 1880s: Steam trains connected many Scottish towns and cities, and horse-drawn vehicles travelled on roads. Walking was common. Steamships also carried passengers and goods. Travel could be slower and less comfortable than it is for many people today.

SCOTLAND TODAY: Homes may have electricity, central heating, running water and indoor bathrooms, though housing and access to services still vary. Children attend school and use books, computers and other learning tools. Work includes traditional industries as well as healthcare, technology, education and many other fields. People travel by buses, trains, cars, bicycles and aeroplanes.

Crew tasks

Use the evidence cards. Give a reason or an example when asked.

1.Which date range describes the Victorian era? Select one.

1700–1760
1837–1901
1914–1945
2000–today

2.The Scottish Education Act of 1872 made school attendance compulsory for children aged 5–13. True or false?

3.Zainab is sorting the crew’s Victorian transport notes. Name two forms of transport used in Scotland in the 1880s.

4.Isla is comparing homes. Give two ways that many Scottish city homes in the 1880s differed from homes today.

5.Match each Victorian industry to the kind of work it describes.

Shipbuilding
Coal mining
Textiles

Digging coal from underground
Making cloth
Making ships

6.Sophie says, “Every Victorian child went to school all day and none ever worked.” Use the evidence card to explain why this statement is too simple.

7.Complete the comparison: One change in Scottish travel since the 1880s is . One thing that has stayed similar is .

8.Choose one topic—homes, school, work or transport. Explain one important difference between Victorian Scotland and Scotland today, using a detail from the evidence cards.

9.The crew finds a claim that Victorian life was exactly the same for every Scottish family. Is the claim reliable? Give one reason from the briefing or evidence cards.