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Darwin Correspondence Project

Darwin’s scientific women

Key Stage: 
3
Topics: 
English
History
Science
Ages: 
11-14

Darwin’s letters shed light on the lives of some otherwise little-known women and reveal how much he valued the contribution they made to his scientific work.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the activities pupils will be able to:

  • demonstrate an understanding of the lives of some lesser known Victorian women
  • evaluate the contribution that they made to his work
  • assess the position of women in middle-class Victorian society
  • understand more about women in Darwin’s family

 

Science activities

How to attract moths at night.

Duration: 35 minutes plus observation time

Science activities

What does an insectivorous plant eat?

Duration: 2 hours plus observation time

History activities

Study Victorian satirical cartoons.

Duration: 1 hour

History activities

Learn about Victorian women travellers.

Duration: 2 x 50 minutes

History activities

Discover Darwin’s family workforce.

Duration: 50 minutes

English activities

Is there a female language?

Duration: 45 minutes

English activities

Learn about Darwin's marriage through his letters.

Duration: 2 x 50 minutes