History Week Highlights

17 Nov History Week Highlights

Gruffalo and Elmer Classes marked Remembrance Day with great thoughtfulness, creating their own poppies, writing letters to people who have supported our country, and laying a wreath at the church.

In Gruffalo Class, the children explored their own personal timelines, thinking about how much they have grown and changed since they were babies. They also learned about Kings and Queens through history, beginning with Queen Victoria, and compared toys and games from Victorian times to the ones they enjoy today.

Elmer Class began History Week by learning about time capsules and considering what they would choose to include. We were delighted to welcome Nikolai’s granny, who shared wonderful memories of what Norton St Philip was like when she was a child. The class also continued their work on the Great Fire of London and tried out activities that Victorian children would have experienced.

In Paddington Class, the children spent the week travelling through time, exploring how toys and technology have changed over the past 100 years. Starting in Victorian times, they learned about simple toys such as peg dolls and even made their own. Their journey continued through the decades as they investigated typewriters, Brownie cameras, Cobb bottles, record players, VHS tapes, tape decks and CD players. They explored toys from every era, from 1950s metal robots to 1970s Fisher Price drill sets, 1980s chat bots and Atari games, and 1990s favourites like Tamagotchis and Furbys before finishing with the modern technology they use today. On Friday, the class stepped into the Victorian era to learn about medicine in the 1800s and how it differs from modern healthcare. They also studied the work of Victorian artist William Morris and created beautiful botanical artwork inspired by his style.

In Wild Things and BFG, the children discovered Tudor health remedies and some of the unusual ways people in Tudor Britain tried to stay well. They especially enjoyed making their own Tudor-style pomanders, just like people would have carried in those times!

Earlier in the week, the children in BFG explored different historical sources to understand what life was like for evacuees during World War Two. Using both primary sources such as photographs, letters, posters and diary extracts and secondary sources from books and historical websites, they compared evidence and began building a picture of what it might have felt like to leave home during the war. On Wednesday, they delved into the dramatic world of Highwaymen, exploring what made these figures so notorious. The children designed their own “Wanted” posters and studied the first two verses of The Highwayman, discussing how to perform it using expressive voices and actions.

To finish the week, both classes investigated Victorian schooling and reflected on how different school life was in the 1800s!

A huge thank you to all of our visitors who helped bring the past to life for the children this week.