Essential information
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Key Stage |
Key Stage 3
|
| Curriculum links |
Citizenship
History
|
| Session length | 3.5 hours with a 30 minute lunch break |
| Session times | Tuesday, 10.00-14.00 |
| Session dates | Available spring and summer term 2027 only |
| Capacity | 60 pupils per session |
| Price | Free |
Session overview
The session comprises three activities with an introduction and conclusion. These are:
Looking at historical documents
Led by a member of the Library and Archive Team, learners will look closely at a range of different historical documents and work out what they can tell us about Transatlantic Enslavement. In groups, they will get a chance to analyse copies of a document.
Object handling
In groups, learners will handle replica objects and consider what they can tell us about the lives left behind in Africa by enslaved people, the realities of trading goods for people and the many types of resistance shown by enslaved people.
Gallery visit
Learners will visit the Atlantic Worlds Gallery to look in detail at objects and artworks and what they tell us about the lives of enslaved people.
Learning objectives
Learners will:
- Investigate what the Museum’s collections reveal about the lives of enslaved people
- Understand that many enslaved people actively resisted and the many forms this took
- Be able to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different sources
Curriculum links
KS3 History
- Content - Ideas, political power, industry and empire: Britain 1745-1901
- Enquiry Skills - various, but especially 'understand how different types of historical sources are used rigorously to make historical claims'
- Explore their own attitudes and responses to this history
Key words
Enslaver, enslaved, resistance, archive, trade, traffic
Suggested pre-visit knowledge and activities
This session works best for learners if they have already talked about Transatlantic Enslavement in class. In particular, the scale and scope, the Atlantic (Middle) passage, conditions for enslaved people and abolition.
Suggested post-visit knowledge and activities
We recommend you explore the legacies of Transatlantic Enslavement back in the classroom.
We have produced a set of videos to support this.
We also suggest looking at UCL’s Legacies of British Slavery website and Slave Voyages—its timelapse video is on display in our gallery.
Useful links
Transatlantic Enslavement Enquiry Day Resource
Legacies of Transatlantic Slavery - Video Resource
Content guidance
This session deals sensitively with the horrors of Transatlantic Enslavement. We take time to discuss terminology and difficult language, and we also offer some scaffolding to support emotional wellbeing. However, due to the nature of Transatlantic Enslavement the day will include discussions of violence and trafficking along with racist ideas and terminology.