About the Roadshow and Workshops

History workshops that advance the creative curriculum!

• Hundreds of children have taken part in our hands-on Victorian workshop days and the exciting World War 2 Home front experience. We are now pleased to offer a Tudor workshop.

• Our workshops are delivered by Ian Roberts, an experienced ex-deputy head teacher and co-author of resource books for teachers. (jointly written with Brian Moses and published by David Fulton and Granada Learning).

• Role play and drama activities enable children to handle numerous genuine artefacts.

• Many of your history learning intentions covered in a single day and opportunities to extend experiences across the curriculum including English, drama, art, design technology and personal and social education.

• The workshops come to your school so there are no pre-site visits or coach bookings for you to organise and you will not have to worry about wasted time in traffic jams or travel sickness.

• Praise from OFSTED and hundreds of letters from satisfied children and staff.

 

Victorian Workshop

Session Details

Morning Session (Option 1)

School Room Experience

Your school hall or large classroom is converted into a Victorian schoolroom complete with wooden benches, abacus, blackboards, slates, dip pens, Victorian pennies and many genuine Victorian educational artefacts including scholars’ work, medals, certificates and school log book.  

•  Pupils are invited to become history detectives interpreting evidence of similarities and differences between Victorian education and their own.
• A dip pen activity in which children study and report on extracts from a genuine log book using dip pens and ink.
• Role play in which children are examined by a “Victorian school inspector” who guides them through a series of Victorian lessons including recitation, handwriting on slates, reading, mathematics, drill and object lessons including a demonstration and explanation of a working steam model.
• A Victorian play time in which children can recover from the strict regime of the classroom and play with a range of traditional toys and games including iron hoops, spillikins, cups and balls, skipping ropes and board games.  
  

 

 

Session Length

1 Hour and 45 minutes (approximate timing)

Numbers

A maximum of 35 pupils.

 

OR

Morning Session (Option 2)

Servant Work Experience

Your school hall is transformed into the “Squire’s House.” Children are introduced to the demands made of Victorian servants and they are warned of the consequences of failing to find employment on leaving school. They are led through the rooms of the Squire’s house and are informed of the tasks required of them in each. They are also taught about an alternative life as street traders. Children then participate in a circuit of activities as they practice the skills necessary to make them employable as working Victorian Children.

Activities enable children to:

• Pump water and launder clothes in the scullery.

• Polish boots, repaint the croquet hoops, and maintain the Squire’s sports equipment in the butler’s pantry.

• Make the bed, sweep the rugs, sieve the coal and carry water in the servants’ bedroom.

• Sieve the flour, cut out pastry, grind coffee and make ice cream in the kitchen

• Attract the attention of passers by as a chimney sweep, shoe shiner, crossing sweep or street trader.

Session length

Approximately 90 minutes;

This is a shorter session than the schoolroom workshop due to the length of time taken to set up and dismantle equipment.

Numbers

A maximum of 35 pupils.

 

Afternoon Session (Option 1)

An investigation of a wide range of Victorian gadgets and inventions leading to:

1. An artefacts quiz

2. The use of artefacts in drama based on market traders and door to door sales people

                                                                  

OR

Afternoon Session (Option 2)

An opportunity to examine component parts of artefacts and produce exploded   diagrams / observational drawings.

Session Length

 

90 minutes (approximate timing)

 

Numbers

A maximum of 35 pupils.

 

Alternatively the chosen morning session can be repeated for a second group.

Slates and traditional toys at pocket money prices can be made available for sale at the end of the day if you wish.

 

WW2 Homefront Day

(There is an emphasis on role-play and hands on activities throughout)

Morning Session:

Scene 1  (London, September 1939)

Children are greeted by a wartime teacher who briefly explains why evacuation is considered necessary. This is followed by evacuee kit inspection in which children aim to collect, barter and swap items necessary for evacuation.

Scene 2 (On the train.)

Role play in which children are led to empathise with the worries and concerns of evacuee children.

Scene 3 (At the Reception Centre)

Role play in which children meet representatives from their host family.

 

....................Break....................................................................................................

 

Scene 4 (September 1940)

In this session children meet a wartime policeman who explains that increased enemy activity may indicate imminent invasion. Using numerous artefacts from the period, the police officer’s talk covers civilian responsibilities including blackout restrictions, air raid and gas mask procedures, the dangers of picking up shrapnel and a reminder that careless talk might cost lives. In addition children are urged to be on the lookout for enemy parachutists and spies.

Scene 5 (Circuit of hands on activities)

The police officer informs children that a circuit of activities has been set up to help them to remember information given. These include:

• Cranking the air raid siren.

• Taking cover in an Anderson Shelter, listening to the sound effects of an air raid whilst researching public information leaflets and posters.

• Learning how to deal with incendiary devices including the use of sand boxes, scoops and hoes.

• Learning how to use civilian fire fighting equipment! Use stirrup pumps to pump water (access to outdoor area essential!)

• Dealing with casualties found next to an unexploded bomb and carrying them to safety  using a stretcher.

• Taking part in a quiz based on public information campaigns.

• Investigating/playing with toys and games from the period.

Throughout these activities, children are encouraged to look out for a suspicious character who may be an enemy spy/fifth columnist!

 

Session Length

2 Hours (approximate timing)

Numbers

A maximum of 35 pupils

 

Afternoon Session

 

A circuit of the following activities:

•  Speak like an East End evacuee. - Learn how to speak with a cockney accent and learn a little rhyming slang!

• Investigate the contents of the suitcase carried by the suspicious character met in the morning session and compile a wanted poster to alert others.

• Take part in a quiz based on public information leaflets.

• Role play using specially prepared drama cards.

• Design further public information posters.

• Plenary with suggestions for follow up activities.

Alternatively the morning session can be repeated for another group

 

Session Length

80 minutes (approximate timing)

Numbers

A maximum of 35 pupils

 

Tudor Roadshow

Session Details

This new workshop concentrates on Medicine, Crime and Punishment and Entertainment in Tudor Times.

Activities include opportunities for your pupils to:

• Use quill pens and ink to practise Tudor handwriting.
• 'Contract' a Tudor ailment!, diagnose the condition of others and discover that the remedies available from the Physician, the Apothecary and the Wise Woman will depend on how much money they have.
• Look for signs of unbalanced humours including an examination of urology samples' and then discover how to rebalance these humours.
• Meet the Barber Surgeon and learn about the skills needed to become his apprentice (including blood-letting, tooth extraction and amputation).
• Learn how to play merelles, try their hand at nine pins and target games or play with other traditional toys.
• Defend themselves in a Tudor courtroom, await the verdict from the Justice of the Peace and witness the punishments handed down to the guilty.
• Learn how to 'run the rings' in a team game jousting tournament (indoor space or outdoor weather permitting).
• Many opportunities for cross curricular follow-up activities including drama, literacy, historical research, science and technology.

Session Length

An all day visit enables two classes to participate (one group in the morning and another in the afternoon).

Numbers

A maximum of 35 pupils.

A hall is required for the workshops but equipment can be cleared for lunches and set out again for the afternoon session.

 

Booking Information

Home:	Sussex
Travels to:	Anywhere
Prices:	Available on request

Publications by the Author