History in Action

The phrase living history contains a verb and an adjective, depending on how one interprets it. This ‘living history’ is often trotted out without due regard for its true import – one that thankfully we have never had to question before. All that changed in 2020. Our children are living through a period in our history that chimes somewhat interestingly with those great pestilences of the past – from the Black Death of the 14th century to the global influenza epidemic of 1918-1920… It’s been a boon to history teachers – proof that history can predict what humans will do in the future, in similar circumstances, is not lost on our children in school. History is very much a tool of the present and a guide for what will come. Our Christmas Term saw Romans and the Egyptians visiting, younger children experienced a day in the life of a fairy tale castle, and we had a reminder of the cleansing effects of the Great Fire of London. Furthermore, the epic clash between King Harold II of England and the Norman Duke William has been debated and argued over, and we have walked into the school woods to gather flints and rocks and to identify some of the edible plants and pliable saplings our forebears would have encountered in the Mesolithic era. We have handled the Swiss Army tools of the Stone Age in the form of flint arrowheads, hand axes and spear points, all the while marvelling at the ingenuity of our ancestors. I think that much the same will be said of the people who have worked hard to overcome the current pestilence, and that we too shall go down in the history books of the future. We had plenty to talk about and a great deal of fun this term. History never seems to go out of fashion and is the subject du jour, because we all talk about the time before, and how we live now… > Mr J E Grice, Head of History After half term, Year 1 children were transported to ‘A Day in the Life of a Fairy Tale Castle’, provided by History Off The Page. The day was fun-filled with activities and crafts, ending with an array of performances at the fairy tale banquet.

Year 2 thoroughly enjoyed our ‘London Then and Now’ topic and learned so much from our fabulous ‘Great Fire of London’ day with so many hands-on activities taking them back to 1666. Year 3 were guided through life in Roman times and helped to create some super craft items, all whilst learning about the Roman period. It was a step back in time for Year 4 and a chance to sample how things were done in Egyptian times. Queen Nefertiti (alias Mrs Tse) organised a day steeped in history for Year 4 to immerse themselves in. There were various craft workshops making scarab beetle soaps, oil candles, clay amulets and plaited bread. The children worked on their own Egyptian entertainment and then shared it whilst enjoying an Egyptian banquet of “wine”, grapes, pomegranates, figs, bread and cheese. The children were, however, glad to return to Year 4 afterwards as the cruelty of the Pharaoh (Antony) and his Queen (Devangi) had far- reaching consequences!