Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution transformed life on Earth with a powerful new energy source: fossil fuels. This era sparked massive changes in society, technology, and the global economy. Our classroom-ready lessons and teaching materials invite students to think critically about the causes of the revolution and its far-reaching impacts in Europe and beyond, using historical thinking skills to connect this turning point to today’s world.
How to Teach the Industrial Revolution
Blog Post: The Industrial Revolution: Unlocking the Modern World
Coal fired Manchester; Gulf oil built Abu Dhabi. Use those lived parallels to hook students on how the Industrial Revolution still shapes work, cities, and global power today.
Big History Lesson Guide: Industrial Revolution
Students investigate how new technologies and energy sources fueled industrialization and reshaped societies worldwide. The teaching guide provides structure for examining the origins, scale, and lasting impact of the Industrial Revolution.
Historical Thinking Skill: Causation
Guide students to use their causation skills to determine why industrialization began in Europe.
Using AI to Assess Child Labor and the Industrial Revolution
Check out teachers’ ideas for using AI to spark students’ thinking about primary- source images of child labor in the Industrial Revolution.
Lessons Plans on The Industrial Revolution
Lesson 6.3
Industrial Revolution
Fossil fuels were the key to unlocking a huge amount of energy. Using these fuels has led to increases in population and innovation, but they’ve also caused pollution and climate change.
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Lesson 5.2
Origins of Industrialization
For millions of years, immense coal deposits slept underground, holding the secret to one of the great technological revolutions in human history. In eighteenth-century Britain, that secret was brought to light.
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Lesson 3.3.3
What Caused the Industrial Revolution?
Explore the innovations and technologies that made industrialization possible and then apply your understanding in an activity by examining the historical context that gave rise to industrialization.
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Industrial Revolution Activities and Resources for Deeper Learning
Urbanization Game
Activity
Urbanization Game
Industrialization led to rapid changes in the ways people lived and worked. Think you can keep up with the pace of change?
Origins of the Industrial Revolution
Video
Origins of the Industrial Revolution
During the long nineteenth century, Britain had several advantages that allowed it to industrialize first. What were they? Travel to England to mine for answers.
Geography: Industrialization Mystery
Activity
Geography: Industrialization Mystery
What were the ingredients and Goldilocks Conditions for industrialization? Time to use your geographic detective skills to decide why industrialization began in one place but not the other.
The Global Transformations of the Industrial Revolution
Article
The Global Transformations of the Industrial Revolution
Consider the effects of industrialization in England by looking at three case studies on trade goods—sugar, wheat, and copper—and their impact on industrialization around the world.
Industrialization and Migration
Article
Industrialization and Migration
During industrialization, people moved in ways never seen before: Some traveled short distances, others crossed continents. Some chose to move, others were forced.
Ottilie Baader
Graphic Biographies
Ottilie Baader
Ottilie Baader became a leader of the German labor reform movement, but she also lived a life of work, not unlike many industrial workers of her time.
