From sail to steam power
I can explain how Turner's painting 'The Fighting Temeraire' shows an important change in seafaring from sail power to steam power.
From sail to steam power
I can explain how Turner's painting 'The Fighting Temeraire' shows an important change in seafaring from sail power to steam power.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- 150 years ago, steam power was replacing sail power for ships.
- Wooden-hulled ships, which had been used for thousands of years, were being replaced by iron-hulled ones.
- JMW Turner's painting, The Fighting Temeraire, is symbolic of this process, showing the final journey of the Temeraire.
- The Temeraire, an old ship used in important battles, is being towed by a steam boat on its way to be broken up.
- It is unlikely that Turner witnessed this event, but he has imagined it to make the point that seafaring was changing.
Keywords
Steam power - something uses steam power when it uses a steam engine to heat water to create steam and movement
Witness - if someone is present at an event, they witness it
Common misconception
Some may think that the ship was called 'The Fighting Temeraire'.
'The Fighting Temeraire' was the name of Turner's painting, the ship was called HMS Temeraire.
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: From sail to steam power, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: From sail to steam power, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
people who paid more for a luxurious cabin and 4 meals a day
people who could not afford a cabin or meals on board
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a simple early boat
a boat used by the Vikings
a boat used by Chinese seafarers
a boat invented 150 years ago