Venn Diagram / PowerPoint Lesson
What does it take to be a successful businessperson?
As an introduction, students consider the careers of Bill Gates, Richard Branson and James Dyson (teachers can use this powerpoint as an aid). They compare the three men using a Venn Diagram and then each student considers whether they have what it takes to succeed in business.

Interactive Game
Horatio Ramsbottom: Victorian Entrepreneur
Students take a series of decisions about how to run their new business. How should the workers be treated? What transport system should be used? Should they invest in the triangular trade and the Great Exhibition? Complete with a worksheet and follow-up tasks, this activity provides a thorough overview of the main factors affecting the Industrial Revolution. There is also a paper-based factual test that can be used to test how much students have learned., and a markscheme for the follow-up newspaper report task.

Video worksheet: "Brunel" by Jeremy Clarkson | Factual Test
A worksheet to accompany the excellent documentary on Brunel by Jeremy Clarkson. I get students to play the Horatio Ramsbottom Game, then we watch this and complete the worksheet, then students choose whether to base their imaginary interview on Brunel or Ramsbottom. Based on their choice, they then complete either the Ramsbottom factual test or the Brunel factual test.

Balloon Debate / Research Task
Who was the most important person in the Industrial Revolution?
Each student produces a single powerpoint slide (using this template) as a key figure from the industrial revolution period explaining why "they" deserve to be remembered as the most important character overall. The debate which follows is a great way of encouraging students to link and prioritise different types of achievements.

Paper people project: Instructions for students | Blogpost for teachers

"Your task is to produce a ‘paper people’ chain which:
Highlights at least FIVE key individuals within different categories we settled upon in our last lesson
Includes an image of each key character (e.g. the ‘face’ of each paper person)
Includes the name of each key character (e.g. across the ‘shoulders’ of the paper person)
Includes detail about the achievements of these key individuals (e.g. in the ‘body’ area of a ‘paper person)
Includes two key words to sum up the qualities of each person (e.g. in the ‘legs’ area)
Establishes connections between these people (e.g. on the ‘arms’ area linking the paper people together)
Merits / double merits / commendations will be awarded as appropriate to the work containing the most detail, the clearest links, and the most attractive presentation"

Extension Activity
Flash Jigsaw Exercise: Causes of the Industrial Revolution (based at www.classtools.net interactive whiteboard resources)