History For Kids

Sunday, 13 October 2013

Rich Roman's Homes

Rich Roman families lived in single-storey houses which were built around a central hall known as an atrium. Atrium had rooms opening up off of them and they were also open to the weather as they had no roofs. Many atriums had a trough built into their design so that water could be collected when it rained.

Beyond an atrium was a second open courtyard known as a peristylum. This area included a garden and it also had rooms opening up off of it. Gardens served as a meeting point and they were shady and comfortable.
The main rooms were decorated with coloured plaster walls and, if they family could be afford they had mosaics to decorate the floors.
Furniture tended to be basic. Stools were common and reclining couches were used.

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Rationing Word War II

At the start of World War II. Britain imported lots of food from abroad. We imported 50% of our meat, 70% of our cheese, 70% of our sugar, 80% of fruits and about 70% of cereals, and 70% of our fats from abroad. The Germans attacked cargo ships carrying food bound for Britain. They hoped to starve the British nation into submission.
To deal with shortages, the ‘Ministry of Food’ introduced a rationing system. To buy rationed items, each person had to register at the shop of their choice. They were provided with a ration book containing coupons. The shopkeeper was provided with enough food for registered customers. Customers had to take ration books with them when shopping. The relevant coupon would be cancelled when they bought the goods.

World War II – some Food rations amounts per week per adult

Bacon and Ham	4oz (100grms)
Sugar	8oz (227grms)
Tea (loose)	4oz (113grms)
Meat (by money not weight)	1s 2d
Cheese	2oz (50g)
Butter	2oz (50g)
Sweets	4oz (113grms)

Bacon, butter, sugar meat, tea, jam, biscuits, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, lard, milk, canned fruit and dried fruit were some of the foods that were rationed.

Fish wasn’t rationed but became very expensive. Fresh vegetables and fruit were not rationed but supplies were limited. Some types of imported fruit disappeared. Lemons and bananas became unobtainable for most of the war; oranges continued to be sold but greengrocers usually reserved them for children and pregnant women. Other domestically grown fruit such as apples still appeared from time to time, but again the sellers imposed their own restrictions so that customers were often not allowed to buy, more than one apple each. Many people grew their own vegetables. Children become used to wartime restrictions. When asked about bananas, many did not believe such items existed!

It wasn’t just food that was rationed, petrol, soap, coal, (for heating homes) paper and clothing were also some of the things rationed.

Restaurants were initially not included in rationing, but this was resented, as people with more money could increase their food rations by eating out frequently. Restrictions on restaurants were eventually introduced.

Whether rationed or not, many consumer goods became difficult to obtain. Examples included razor blades, alarm clocks, frying pans and saucepans. Many fathers saved bits of wood to build toys for Christmas presents. Christmas trees were almost impossible to get.

Wednesday, 9 October 2013

Roman Schools

The poor in Ancient Rome did not receive a formal education. Children from rich families were well educated and were taught by private tutors at home or went to what we would recognise as schools. Schools were for rich boys only.

Girls did not go to school. Girls from rich families did receive an education, but this was done at home. They Learnt how to run a good home, how to be a good wife music and sewing, ready for when they got married.

WWII Evacuating Children

Many children who lived in the city during WWII were evacuated to the countryside, to take them away from the danger of bombs.Theywwerevacuated by train, bus and even boat. Few evacuees knew where they would end up after a long and tiring journey.

Many adults who took the evacuees into their homes were kind but some were not so kind.

Sunday, 6 October 2013

Victorian Schoolroom

In 1880 school became compulsory. All children had to attend a school until they were 10 years old. In 1889, the school leaving age was raised to twelve, and in 1891, the school's pence fee was abolished and schools became free.

Up until 1891children had to pay to go to school. There was no such thing as a free education. So poorer families couldn’t afford to send their children to school.

Some poor children went to free charity schools, Dame or Ragged schools, they also went to Sunday Schools which were run by churches. There they learnt bible stories and were taught to read a little.

Children from richer families were taught at home by a governess until they were 10 years old. A boy went away to Public schools like Eton or Harrow when he was 10. There were very few schools available for girls, Wealthy girls were mostly educated at home

The Victorians thought that all children should go to school. They thought that it was important for people to be able to read and write. The Church of England opened National Schools they taught children reading, writing, arithmetic and religion.