Shropshire Routes to Roots

8. Resources for teachers

Introduction

The Tale of Two Towns theme is designed to encourage users to explore Oswestry or Shrewsbury on foot. Although the text is written for an adult audience, the significant pictorial content of the theme should enable it to be adapted easily for teaching to younger pupils. The following headings suggest ways of using the material in class, in relation to the National Curriculum for History.

National Curriculum

In relation to the History Schemes of Work, the theme ties in with Key Stage 2, Unit 13: 'How has life in Britain changed since 1948?' and Key Stage 2, Unit 18: 'What was it like to live here in the past?'. The theme could form part of Key Stage 3, Unit 12: 'Snapshot 1900 what was British middle-class life like?'

As well as supporting History, the theme could relate to Geography at Key Stages 1 and 2, Unit 20: 'Local traffic - an environmental issue' and Geography at Key Stage 3, Unit 9: 'Shopping - past, present and future'.

The theme might also raise Citizenship issues, especially Key Stage 3, Unit 21: 'People and the environment'.

Worksheets for Key Stage Two

The following worksheets are designed to allow you to utilise the material in the classroom. They are 'printer-friendly', which means they will print without unnecessary links or logos, and as such can easily be distributed to a class:

• Old Map, New Map (Opens in a new window). Pupils compare an old and a modern map of a town, looking for developments and changes. The worksheet could be used for any map, although those used on this site are:
  
  • Shrewsbury: 1881 Map [Large file: 223kb] and Modern map, grid SJ505115
  • Oswestry: 1884 Map [Large file: 213kb] and Modern map, grid SJ289293
• 'Spot the Difference' (Opens in a new window). Pupils compare 'before' and 'after' photograph(s) and write down what has changed. You could use any photographs from this theme, but the best might be:
  • Shrewsbury station forecourt: Old and Modern
  • Shrewsbury station bridge: Old and Modern
  • Coleham Brewery: Old and Modern
  • Oswestry New Street: Old and Modern
  • Oswestry horse market: Old and Modern
• A shopping trip (Opens in a new window). Pupils write two diary entries describing a shopping trip in 1900 and one in 2004. The following sources may offer ideas for pupils:
  • Shrewsbury Pride Hill: Old and Modern
  • Shrewsbury High Street: Old and Modern
  • Cross Street in Oswestry: Old and Modern
  • Oswestry market hall: Old and Modern

Alternative approaches

Instead of using the prepared worksheets, you may wish to present the material in your own way. In particular, you could:

• Use an interactive whiteboard or print-outs to compare images in class, perhaps using one of those listed above as a starting point.
• Use the theme as a basis for a class field-trip. In this case, they could have a copy of the old images as they visit the places in person.
• Combine the theme with other themes and sources, as listed on the Further information page of this theme.

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