Look at cholera: Activity 1

The poor standard of health during the Victorian era can be attributed to many factors. Poverty and poor diet meant that people were vulnerable to diseases. Inadequate sewerage, drainage and waste disposal meant that water supplies could become contaminated. Food was stored or handled badly. Diseases spread easily and were difficult to control.

This activity will look at symptoms of cholera through a health warning. The children will be required to look at the language of the health warning and discover how cholera can start and was treated.

The activity suggested in this topic will be an extension of the Children's Zone which requires the children to make their own health warning poster whilst on-line.

Click here to see teachers' notes about the Children's Zone.

Activities

Introduction (30minutes)

Ask the students to look at the poster and pictures above (click each to enlarge) and list all the symptoms of cholera. Discuss as a class what the Central Board of Health suggested people should do.

Discuss who can become ill with this disease and using the adverts ask the pupils to list how a person can get cholera and what they suggest would be a good way of preventing it.

Activity

In pairs ask the children to write a diary as if they are either a Victorian doctor or patient. They have to write one diary entry that explains how they are feeling.

If they are a patient, they should write about themselves being ill with cholera.

If they are a doctor, they should write about having to treat someone with it.

Ensure that they include symptoms, preventative measures, cures and opinions of the disease.

Click here to download a file in Microsoft Word format which provides an example letter for you to use.