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What was life really like for children in Victorian times?
We've been working with the makers of new CBBC drama Dodger to bring history to life in this Victorian-themed lesson for 7-11 year-olds.
Dodger is a ten-part family adventure set before the events of Charles Dickens' iconic novel Oliver Twist.
It follows the exploits of the infamous pickpocket, The Artful Dodger, and Fagin’s gang as they find ingenious ways to survive the grim and exploitative conditions of early Victorian London in the 1830s.
The full series of Dodger is now available to watch on iPlayer.
With the help of specially filmed messages from Dodger characters, we challenge pupils to think about the differences between their modern lives and those of Victorian children, particularly during the Industrial Revolution.
We also examine primary and secondary sources, to see what they can tell us about the harsh reality of child labour.
Curriculum links: History/Social Studies/The World Around Us for 7-11 year-olds.
Useful links to sources highlighted in the programme:
How to get involved:
Download our resources to accompany the Live Lesson here:
Supporting resources from Twinkl
This Live Lesson is supported by free teaching resources from Twinkl, additional materials that can be used to help extend the learning. Download using the links below:
BBC Live Lessons - 2025/2026. document
Information about our latest series of Live Lessons, to bring schools and year groups together for shared learning.
Dodger's Guide to Victorian Britain. video
From crime and punishment to key inventions, Dodger and the gang provide an entertaining and informative introduction to life in Victorian Britain in these new short films for primary schools.
The Victorians collection
A cross-curricular series of short films exploring famous figures from Victorian Britain and their achievements.
