If only they could talk

This activity is suitable for students aged 6-14, you can download a free, printable PDF version here.

Waterloo teeth were dentures made from the teeth of real people – usually young soldiers killed in battles like The Battle of Waterloo – hence the name. Read the Waterloo teeth notes to find out more.

But what if they could talk?

Give students a picture of the Waterloo teeth and ask them to write speech bubbles, from the point of view of the teeth. What might they say about:

  • The soldier the original teeth belonged to
  • The wealthy man or woman who wore them as dentures
  • An aspect of the 1800s such as how people travelled or how bad conditions were for people working in factories
  • The everyday lives of the students in the class – compared to life in the 1800s?

What questions might the teeth ask the students?

 

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