Curriculum Links

Key Stage 2

Design technology

  • Investigate and analyse a range of existing products.
  • Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world (e.g. the switch from metal to plastics).

Science

  • Forces – recognise that some mechanisms, including levers, pulleys and gears, allow a smaller force to have a greater effect.

History

  • Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901.

Key Stage 3

History

  • Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745-1901.
  • Britain as the first industrial nation – the impact on society; party politics, extension of the franchise and social reform.

Science

  • Energy changes and transfers; simple machines give bigger force but at the expense of smaller movement (and vice versa).
  • Other processes that involve energy transfer: changing motion, dropping an object, completing an electrical circuit, stretching a spring, metabolism of food, burning fuels.

Suggested research questions

Key Stage 2

  • What other items were made in the Jewellery Quarter? How are they similar to the products made by Newman Brothers?
  • Where do the items that you use daily come from? How has that changed over time?
  • Newman Brothers was known for its goods made by the stamping process. How does this process work? Where it might still be used today?
  • What would it have been like to work at Newman Brothers? Describe the work environment using each of the five senses.

Key Stage 3

  • How has the manufacturing of items changed over time?
  • Why did Newman Brothers move their factory to Fleet Street in 1894? How did the manufacturing industry that was centred in this area affect Birmingham’s growth?
  • What can we learn about how Newman Brothers changed over time from the factory building?
  • Act as a Health and Safety Inspector at Newman Brothers during the Victorian times, what concerns would you have?

Suggested Activities

  • Categorise the various items that Newman Brothers sold. Design a web page that could be used to sell their products.
  • Write instructions for making a handle using the stamping process.
  • Create a Health & Safety poster for the Stamp Room.
  • Write a diary entry as a new employee who has just started work in the Stamp Room for the first time.

Links & Downloadable Resources

Film Resources