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?