This enquiry encourages students to reflect on the different punishment methods used in the 18th to 20th centuries.
It takes an overview approach.
The enquiry begins with the story of Elizabeth Lavender, who was executed for infanticide in 1799. It then introduces a range of other punishment methods used during this period, as students are tasked with working out how typical Elizabeth’s punishment was.
Students work out the changing nature of punishments (to deter or to reform), plotting their ideas on to a pendulum.
Finally, they practise writing ‘like an historian’, explaining how and why punishment methods changed between the 18th and early 20th centuries.
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- Lesson presentation: PowerPoint
- Lesson write-up: PDF – new
- Resources 1-4 including the artist reconstruction and sources:PDF
- Worksheet 1: PDF
