the lady who dared
Upper Key Stage 2 Scheme of Work
“The Lady Who Dared” is a Year 6 active learning resource covering Citizenship, English, History and RSHE. It explores the issues and history of women’s rights, equality and the right to vote.
‘It’s not fair because women don’t have a chance.”
Year 6
In December 2018, Sheffield Hallam University was awarded funding for Gertie Whitfield to create and trial a Primary teaching resource based on historical sources being researched by Paul Whitfield for his MA. Paul, a local writer and creative historian, had discovered the story when researching a World War 1 project.
The resource explains how Miss Outram, headmistress of the Girls’ section of Dronfield Elementary School, and her teaching made national news for a few months in 1914, before the outbreak of WW1. Miss Sarah Outram answered questions from her pupils and read them two stories about what we would now call relationships and sex education, over 100 years before it became statutory. She faced huge and determined opposition from elements within the Dronfield community, including the school managers.
Year 6s decided:
‘Miss Outram is a heroine as she never stopped teaching even after all the hate.’
‘I think she’s a heroine because she is brave and she didn’t care what others said about her.’
‘I think she’s a heroine because she turned down all the money and fame.’
‘Miss Outram is a heroine as she never stopped teaching even after all the hate.’
‘I think she’s a heroine because she is brave and she didn’t care what others said about her.’
‘I think she’s a heroine because she turned down all the money and fame.’
Students will have the opportunity:
- to debate
- to form and justify their own opinions
- to write in many formats
- to experience a verbatim theatre script
- to reflect actively through collective voice on their learning
- to gain an understanding of the life of ordinary people just before WW1
- to start to understand issues of gender equality
- to gain an understanding of the fight for suffrage in Britain and the importance of voting
- to understand Britain’s parliament today
Liz Williamson, a teacher at Stonelow Junior School, worked alongside Gertie to trial and develop this resource. This is what she says about the resource:
“The Lady Who Dared” has taken our Y6 children on a fascinating – and sometimes quite disturbing - journey through time, enabling them to examine how the nature of society has changed since the beginning of the 20th century, as well as opening their eyes to significant local and national events, which have brought about and impacted on these changes.
At every step of this journey the children have been encouraged to form, express and justify their own opinions, developing not only critical thinking and communication skills, but also the confidence to share these, whilst showing respect for differing points of view. Many of the discussion points throughout the project do not have a ‘right answer’, allowing the children to be creative in their thinking and responses (and also to change their mind in the light of compelling evidence).
“The Lady Who Dared” has taken our Y6 children on a fascinating – and sometimes quite disturbing - journey through time, enabling them to examine how the nature of society has changed since the beginning of the 20th century, as well as opening their eyes to significant local and national events, which have brought about and impacted on these changes.
At every step of this journey the children have been encouraged to form, express and justify their own opinions, developing not only critical thinking and communication skills, but also the confidence to share these, whilst showing respect for differing points of view. Many of the discussion points throughout the project do not have a ‘right answer’, allowing the children to be creative in their thinking and responses (and also to change their mind in the light of compelling evidence).
The children have enjoyed many aspects of the project, but especially the opportunity to work as real historians, analysing primary sources of evidence to formulate opinions and answer questions. They have been shocked, amazed and inspired at different points in Miss Outram’s story; wondered at her courage and resilience despite the obstacles she faced and marvelled at her steadfastness. “The Lady Who Dared” has given our children a new appreciation for ordinary people who have made, and continue to make, a difference in our everyday lives.
The project provides background information to enable non-specialists to deliver it with confidence. The children are engaged in a range of interesting and thought-provoking tasks designed to inform, stimulate discussion and challenge their perceptions.”
The project provides background information to enable non-specialists to deliver it with confidence. The children are engaged in a range of interesting and thought-provoking tasks designed to inform, stimulate discussion and challenge their perceptions.”
Download the resource from the tes learning resource page here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-the-lady-who-dared-12443203
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-the-lady-who-dared-12443203
