Wally Web Whippet Sniffs Around

Find out more about Charles Darwin

The following are just suggestions- pick and choose.

To link to a website:-
Click on the icon if cursor changes to a hand
and/or
on the hyperlink if more than one website

Background
  • This provides a short biography of Charles Darwin, Charles' father intended that Charles should train in first one profession, and then in another profession. The opportunity to take a particular journey changed his life.
  • This second site expands on Darwin's theories.
Task Read both then outline his life using bullet points.
How?

West Midlands -Literary Heritage Site

LucidCafe biographies

 

Background
  • Darwin wrote and received many letters as did most Victorians. There were several deliveries a day. The first site lists many of his letters. Just scan through them to spot the references to Malvern.
  • On the second site read about the history of mail delivery. Work out how Darwin's letters may have been delivered.
Task Note how many letters he might send and receive in one day. Would he be using stamps at this time? Would he post letters in a post box?
How?

Darwin's letters
Scroll through to numbers 1228 -1418

Bath Postal Museum Web Site 1

Bath Postal Museum Web Site 2

 

Background This is an enormous web site just about Charles Darwin. Explore any part of it but the time line is very interesting. Scroll from August 1848 to November 1851. But did he lose all faith in hydropathy? Scroll through to 1857 April and to a year later! Where was he? Then look at October 1859; Have you heard of this place before? September 1863 shows another entry too.
Task Copy and paste all dates and information about Darwin's links with The Water Cure or hydropathy.
How?

About Darwin .com Web Site - Time Line - Early Research

 

Background This describes a typical day for Darwin
Task Write a diary entry for such a day
How?

About Darwin .com Web Site

 

Background
  • The first site is part of a large web site about Darwin. On this page you will find their dates of birth and death.
  • Compare it to Queen Victoria's family on the second site
  • Compare it to Charles Dickens' family
Task

Work out a way of displaying this information. If you use a spread sheet or a database you could find out the maximum, minimum and means of the ages for each individual family etc.

What does it tell you about typical Victorian families?
How?

 

Background
  • Site 1. An interesting site for many things but follow the link below. Discover Darwin's ranking from 'The 30 most influential persons of the last 1,000 years'
    Do you think this is right?
  • Site 2. Revisit the BBC animation about ten people who brought about Victorian Achievements. How would you rank those people?
Task Prepare information for a class debate. You will need to provide brief information and put forward your ideas to persuade others.
How?

Click on "Top 30 " link on Hyper History Online

BBC Animation -Victorian Achievements

 

Background The first two sections of this page tells you about Darwin's physical characteristics - his looks and his mannerisms.
Task Read the information then put Darwin in the 'hot seat', Get people in the class to ask him questions about some agreed aspect of his life. 'Darwin' must then respond, using the correct mannerisms.
How?

About Darwin.com - Who Was Charles Darwin?

Both 'Darwin' and the questioners will need to research the agreed area. Any links on this page could provide material.

 

Background Your teacher will need to download this resource but it will provide copies of the handwritten census form for Darwin's household for April 1881 just a year before his death. There is also a typed copy which is much easier to read.
Task Answer the questions provided on the site using the census form.
How?

Census at school Web Site - a site worth knowing about for your teachers!

 

Background Pupils have written in to the BBC seeking answers to questions they do not understand. These answer questions about evolution.
Task It will help you to understand more yourself.
How?

Question 1

Question 2

 

Background You now know that Charles Darwin tried hydropathic treatments at various times in his life. Why do you think he went to Ilkley in 1859?
Task You are a bath attendant treating Darwin. The national newspapers report on his new book and you have heard about it. Act out the conversations you might have with him.
How?

About Darwin.com
Go to the very bottom of the page and on to the next page to April 1860

 

 

Background A report of Darwin's funeral.
Task

You are in a time machine and you hover over Earth in April 1882 and witness a carriage drawn by four horses making a journey. You watch for a while then decide to land to find out what you can about it. You report back to your Planet with your observations about

  • the occasion
  • the sights
  • the person
  • his family
  • his influence at that time
  • how people regard him in the 21st Century
How?
  • Guardian Book Summary-
    Read the first few paragraphs describing Darwin's funeral.
  • Use your own knowledge you have now gained.

 

This BBC site provides a list of books about Darwin thought to be suitable for children, aged 9 -12