Watch the programme carefully. You will see that the point of the Exhibition was to show off Britain’s greatness to the world. Your task is to decide what your area did send or might have sent to the Great Exhibition in 1851.

http://piranesi.anu.edu.au/midjpg2/greatexhib.midjpg/bytype/index.html

Hint on using the A-Z index: the index covers various headings, so C might contain Ceramics, but S will contain Staffordshire.

You may be able to search the Internet for web sites about your area and its products in the 19^th century. If you cannot find anything you may want to base your work on an area like Staffordshire (pottery) or Sheffield (iron and steel).

Use the style of the web site as the basis for your work. Your task is to write a small information plaque which would have accompanied the item from your area at the Great Exhibition.

Use the programme, the quotes and pictures in the Resources section, and the Internet sites as well if you can. Now read these statements carefully and:

A Decide whether you agree, disagree or partially agree with each one

B Find evidence to support your decision. This could be facts and figures, quotes from the newspapers, pictures, or material you find on the Internet.

Here are the statements:

• British people felt that the British way of life was an example to other countries.
• Everyone in Britain supported the decision to hold the Great Exhibition.
• Many people in Britain were proud of the country’s achievements.
• Some people were concerned that it would be an attraction for the ‘lower orders’ in society.
• The design for the building was very unpopular.
• The Exhibition was a great success and was very popular.
• The Great Exhibition was about education, not fun.
• There was very little interest in the industrial machinery.

There is a great deal of debate and controversy at the moment about whether the Millennium dome is a good idea or a waste of money. You can find plenty of information about the dome at The Millennium Experience ( http://www.dome2000.co.uk/static/html/index.htm).

Your task is to send an email to the government. You have to convince them either that the dome is a good idea or a bad idea. However, you have to use historical arguments. In other words:

• First of all you have to decide whether you think the Great Exhibition was a success or failure, and support your view with evidence.
• Then you have to decide whether the Dome will go the same way as the Great Exhibition.

You may be able to email your actual answer to the web site. Ask your teacher.